Bob isn’t quoted in the story but his attorney, a man who spent a decade as an Assistant Attorney General, is. He claims that since when he first met with the search committee Bob “expressly said, this is not an interview and I am not a candidate,” that made it OK. The Ethics Commission has put out an advisory ruling saying otherwise, and even his statement that the meeting wasn’t an interview seems a little tough to swallow since it was set up by the search firm hired to find a new president.
The Conflict of Interest law and the subsequent Advisory opinion “attempts to insure that a public employee’s loyalty to the public interest will not be clouded by potentially competing private loyalties. There is a substantial risk of conflicting loyalties whenever a public employee negotiates for prospective employment with a party with whom the employee has concurrent official dealings.”
E-mails obtained by the Globe “show Coughlin’s role in overseeing the administration’s life science issues extended well past his June 11 meeting with the search committee.” These activities include playing “a key role in the governor’s life sciences initiatives, including a $1 billion proposal that was unveiled in early May.” In addition, “the Biotechnology Council will potentially increase its membership and gain additional dues if Patrick’s life science initiative is approved.”
This was a big mistake, and one I am surprised Bob made. He should have known much better. I am sure the Ethics Commission will be investigating this, and I can’t imagine what the MBC is thinking. They lost their last president, former House Speaker Tom Finneran, because he broke the law. Is that really how they want their new CEO to come in?
I think the MBC has a stipulation that you must be under investigation to get their top job. đŸ˜‰
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In all seriousness though this is another example of people around Patrick not doing him any justice. This administration needs a serious ethics training conference and they need it NOW.
Whatever the answer, he broke it.
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Mass. Biotech should rescind its offer. I think their strategy of getting a leader from the public sector is sound, but they must be rethinking it now.
MGL Chapter 268a, section 6
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a. MBC person passed over for the top job (or likely to be let go by Coughlin)?
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b. DP staffer who didn’t like Coughlin?
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c. Rubin or DP…ticked at Couglin?
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d. Bobby Kielty?
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If “C”, I’d be worried if I were MBC Board. You pick a guy cuz he’s tight with the Admin, and boom, that’s gone.
There was a quote in there from someone who was also offered the job. Sen. hart was publicly known to be in the running. Think he’s behind it?
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Reporters, and esp. Phillips, file public records requests every day. This one wasn’t rocket science — Coughlin was the economic development guy, which obviously means biotech is part of his portfolio, and then suddenly he’s working for the MA Biotech Council. So once the announcement is made, it’s 2+2 for a reporter to say “give me everything you’ve got on Coughlin and biotech.”
ain’t much when you consider the salary Coughlin would get.
As much as $500,000 per year?
could be sort of an inconvenience. maybe he can telecommute! đŸ˜€ actually, i doubt the council can afford to hire a known (albeit yet to be convicted) criminal. the fine wouldn’t be a problem, but bad PR is deadly.
. . . . especially because that’s exactly the reason that they told the last guy to leave.