[Ohiogift] Bryan Williams resigns

[anngift at aol.com]

 Update: State board member Bryan Williams resigned a few minutes ago. No resignation from board members C. Todd Jones. 

 

 

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From: anngift <anngift at aol.com>
To: Ohiogift <Ohiogift at lists.service.ohio-state.edu>
Sent: Sun, Dec 8, 2013 10:07 am
Subject: Another article on state board members who lobby while making educational policy decisions


Elected official’s lobbying likely wrong

		   																				    		    			    		    		    		 			     	    	    				
											
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						        			        				               				                	The Columbus Dispatch			                			                Sunday December 8, 2013 6:04 AM			        			        			        			        			
										    			    
	
	
				
 
					    					    		    
		    		    			    		    		    		    		    		    						    		    
A state school-board member apparently is breaking the law by lobbying the legislature and otherstate agencies at the same time he holds his elected post.


Bryan Williams is a board member elected from the Akron area as well as a lobbyist for theAssociated Builders and Contractors of Ohio. This year alone, he lobbied on behalf of theassociation of nearly 1,000 commercial construction contractors on a dozen bills, including the $60billion-plus state budget and an education bill on post-secondary enrollment, state recordsshow.


“The Ethics Law prohibits an elected member of a state board or commission from receivingcompensation for services he or she performs personally on a matter that is before any stateagency,” said Paul M. Nick, executive director of the Ohio Ethics Commission, citing a 2007advisory opinion.


“Although the law does provide a limited exception for non-elected board members who performservices before agencies other than the one they serve, there is no such exception for electedmembers.”


A violation is a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum of six months in jail and a$1,000 fine.


That “limited exception” would apply to another school board member, C. Todd Jones of NewAlbany, a registered lobbyist for the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio.Because he was appointed by Gov. John Kasich to his board post, Jones can lobby state lawmakers oragencies — but only if he files appropriate paperwork annually with the Ethics Commission.
On those forms, board members attest that they will refrain from participating in matters beforethe board that affect the state agency they are lobbying.


However, Jones’ latest filing came in May 2011. He said he thought that filing was good for twoyears, and he didn’t turn in new forms until less than three weeks ago, when he added another stateagency he is lobbying.
“Nothing had changed from those (2011) filings. Everything was exactly the same,” Jonessaid.


He called his lack of filings for 21/2 years an unintentional technical error.
Jones said, “That was my mistake, and I told them (ethics-board staff members), if you guys needto do something, I accept responsibility and will never do that again.”


He added, “I’m very scrupulous about making sure that I don’t cross the line. ... The public wasnot denied any information about my activities.”


Nick noted that Ohio law requires the forms to be filed “prior to rendering services.” Jonesalso lobbied on the state budget and post-secondary education act this year, state recordsshow.
Williams, a former Republican state representative and Summit County elections administratorfrom Fairlawn, did not return calls or emails seeking comment.


The 2007 advisory opinion from the commission noted, “The prohibition is intended to serve thepublic interest in effective, objective, and impartial government by prohibiting a state officialor employee from using the influence of his or her position on behalf of clients. All publicofficials and employees must accept necessary restrictions to avoid any likely interference withthe responsibilities of the public positions they hold.”


The Ethics Commission discussed state school-board members’ ethics last week in light of Akron Beacon Journal stories and a subsequent Dispatch editorial last month, Nick said.


Williams told the Beacon Journal that ethical conflicts are inevitable: “There’s no way around it. Peopleare going to gravitate to the position that they have interest in.”


The state school board, which hires the state superintendent and establishes overall educationpolicy for the state, has 11 elected members and eight appointed by the governor.


drowland at dispatch.com
						

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