Friends-
I am pleased to announce that yesterday the Commission extended its deadline for my taking action to comply with its August 2, 2013 advisory opinion until its next regularly scheduled meeting on September 19. The Commission granted this extension in response to the request I made on Monday, August 26, 2013.
As I informed the Commission, I intend to join with a group of civic minded people to petition the Commission to adopt a regulation that would allow and even encourage citizens from many walks of life to enter public service while protecting the public from any potential conflicts or undue influence. Although the petition does not take issue with the Commission’s interpretation and application of section 7 of the conflict of interest law, the Commission nevertheless has agreed to consider the petition and extend my compliance deadline.
This petition will be submitted to the Commission in advance of September 19 and provided to the public after it is provided to the Commission.
I extend my thanks to the Commission and its staff for its continuing willingness to further examine this issue, knowing its strong commitment to enforcing and expressing the letter and spirit of the law.
Until then, I will remain as State Senator for the Cape and Islands with hopes of a positive resolution to this matter, which would also allow me to resume my gubernatorial campaign.
Sincerely,
Dan
…the Commission needs to adopt a regulation when the conflict is defined by a MGL statute?
Will Commissions now adopt regulations to contravene legislation if legislators are embarrassed to change the law, or don’t think it necessary to change the statute – except for Fred, because we like him – and that way, it can become a matter of discretion instead of law allowing those we don’t like to still be banned?