PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Common Cause Rhode Island is urging Governor Chafee to withdraw his recommendation of Eva-Marie Mancuso for Interim Commissioner of Higher Education, on grounds the appointment would place her in violation of the state ethics code.
The Board of Education has scheduled a vote Monday night, on the recommendation that Chafee made Friday that it appoint its own chairwoman as the $200,000 a year interim head of the state college system that includes the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and the Community College of Rhode Island.
"We believe this to be a clear-cut case of the Chafee administration not conducting
due diligence on this appointment," Marion said Monday morning. Mancuso, a lawyer, has chaired the new educations board since its formation in March.
In a letter to Chafee and an almost identical letter to Mancuso, Marion said: "We believe Ms. Mancuso's appointment would result in her being in violation of the Code of Ethics and subject her to prosecution by Ethics Commission.''
"This appointment would be in clear violation of Regulation 36-14-
5006 of the Rhode Island Code of Ethics that imposes a one-year revolving door
prohibition on members of state boards,'' Marion wrote.
The section he cited says: "No elected or appointed official may accept any appointment or election that requires approval by the body of which he or she is or was a member, to any position which carries with it any financial benefit or remuneration, until the expiration of one (1) year after termination of his or her membership in or on such body, unless the Ethics Commission shall give its approval....(and) such approval shall not be granted unless the Ethics Commission is satisfied that denial of such employment or position would create a substantial hardship for the body, board, or municipality.
Marion wrote: "Accepting this appointment could subject Ms. Mancuso to prosecution by the Ethics Commission and a fine of up to $25,000. '
'
"Common Cause has alerted both Governor Chafee and
Chairwoman Mancuso to this conflict and urged them to withdraw the appointment
and cancel tonight's vote,'' Marion said.
Christine Hunsinger, Chafee's spokeswoman, said Monday morning that "it was always expected that the board would seek an opinion from the Ethics Commission."
Common Cause letter to Governor Chafee.pdf
Common Cause letter to Eva Mancuso.pdf
(The original version of this story was published at 8:57 a.m. It was updated at 10:03 a.m. and 10:22 a.m.)