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.
