Don’t you hate it when you’re a state ethics commissioner and you have to follow the rules? Here’s today’s amusing release from the Office of State Ethics. Its appointed chairman, Ken Bernhard of Westport, is a former member of the House.
Office of State Ethics Issues Statement
Regarding Political Contributions by
Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board Chairman G. Kenneth Bernhard
February 26, 2010
The Office of State Ethics (OSE) announced today that Chairman G. Kenneth Bernhard, a Westport attorney, may have inadvertently violated the Code of Ethics by making small political contributions to two friends and Governor Rell’s exploratory committee. In 2008, while serving on the Board and before he became Chairman, Mr. Bernhard made political contributions to persons subject to the Code of Ethics. Connecticut law prohibits members of the CEAB from making political contributions to any person subject to the Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees.
Mr. Bernhard made political contributions on three occasions during 2008:
· $50 to the “Say Yes to Nitzy” campaign for State Representative
· $100 to the “Marino 2008” campaign for State Senate
· $100 to Governor M. Jodi Rell’s Exploratory Committee
Chairman Bernhard stated:
“It was brought to my attention yesterday that because I made small contributions to three political campaigns, I may have violated the State Code of Ethics that prohibits someone in my position from making any political contributions in state races. The contributions were done openly with full disclosure. When I made these contributions as a gesture of support for the political process, I was unaware of the prohibition. As a member of the Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board, I have been entrusted with a great responsibility and I am very distressed at having technically violated the Code, even as everything was in public view and inadvertent. I expect that my conduct will be evaluated and handled in the same fashion as everyone else who is subject to the code.”
CEAB vice-chairman, Thomas H. Dooley, of Vernon, will appoint a sub-committee early next week to review this matter and make recommendations, consistent with Board policy regarding alleged violations of the Code of Ethics by CEAB members. Options include instructing the Ethics Enforcement Officer or another member of the enforcement division to conduct an evaluation or preliminary investigation; conducting the review as a subcommittee; or referring the matter to another state agency or outside counsel for review.
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