September
12, 2007
Contact: Arthur C. Barton 323-1148
Download this press release HERE
On September 11, the Rhode
Island Ethics Commission announced
a
settlement with Senate President
Joseph Montalbano of an ethics
complaint brought by Operation
Clean Government (“OCG”)
in 2006. The complaint by OCG
cited his conflict of interest
as a paid attorney for the Town
of West Warwick doing work related
to land in the vicinity of the
proposed Harrah’s casino,
while at the same time the
town of West Warwick was trying
to
advance legislation in the
General Assembly that would
facilitate
the establishment of that casino.
The OCG complaint also cited
failures of Senator Montalbano
to report on his annual financial
disclosure forms that he received
money from the Town of West
Warwick and that he failed
to file conflict
of interest forms before participating
and voting on the bill to allow
a question on the ballot for
a gaming facility in West Warwick.
The
settlement agreement includes
the third highest fine ($12,000)
in the history of the Ethics
Commission. While the Senate
President admits no wrongdoing
and claims to have made inadvertent
mistakes in filing paperwork,
the amount of the fine is
telling, according to OCG President
Chuck Barton. “The fact that
the Senate President agreed to
pay this substantial fine indicates
how serious his breach of the
public trust actually was,” said
Barton.
“
I am pleased with the settlement
primarily because Senator Montalbano
has acceded to the jurisdiction
of the Ethics Commission, recognizing
the Commission has a proper role
in assuring the citizens of Rhode
Island that public officials
are held to a high standard of
ethical behavior. When the actions
of an official violate the public
trust, the Ethics Commission
provides a forum to hold the
official accountable, including
prosecuting legislators for votes
that present a conflict of interest.
Senator Montalbano’s
legal brief and appeal in
Superior Court challenged
that fundamental
right of the public to hold
legislators
and other public officials
accountable for conflicts
of interest and
trading on their positions
for personal and professional
gain.
“
While the specific conflict of
interest charges were dropped,
the settlement recognizes the
importance of filing complete
and accurate statements that
allow citizens to determine if
legislators are involved in conflicts
of interest. The fact that the
Senate President acknowledges
the importance of filing these
documents, as evidenced by the
agreed upon fine, implies that
he has reversed his position
on the role of the Ethics Commission,” said
Barton. “Prior to this,
Senator Montalbano seemed
to hold himself above the
rules
and regulations of the Ethics
Commission.”
“
I hope that the Senate President
now recognizes the importance
of holding himself and his fellow
legislators to high ethical standards
of both public and professional
conduct. His example should be
noted by both former Senate President
William Irons and current Senator
Frank Ciccone who are trying
to avoid accountability for their
actions using arguments that
Senator Montalbano has now abandoned,” said
Barton.
