PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Governor Chafee told reporters Tuesday he remains hopeful the state Ethics Commission will grant a revolving door waiver that will allow the chairwoman of the state Board of Education, Eva Marie Mancuso, to become the $200,000 a year interim higher education commissioner.
But Chafee acknowledged: "We are looking at our options.''
"I am aware there could be an adverse ruling from the Ethics Commission...[and] want to be prepared in case that's an eventuality,'' he said.
Asked if that meant he was interviewing other candidates, he said: "I wouldn't go that far... just aware that the revolving door, the waiver might not be granted.''
"You [have to always have Plan Bs in instances such as this....Just be flexible,'' he said. "Listen to all.''
He commented in response to reporters' questions after an unrelated, press conference to hail the legislature's passage -- and his earlier signing -- of a law providing up to four weeks of temporary disability insurance payments to people out of work taking care of newborns and sick relatives.
Just before the press conference began, House Speaker Gordon D. Fox offered his own advice: "Allow the chair to be the chair. Interim commissioners can be found elsewhere.''
Mancuso's ethics dilemma came to light after Governor Chafee announced on a Friday, that he was nominating her appointment as interim higher education commissioner to the Board of Education, with a vote on the appointment scheduled for the following Monday.
The vote was delayed after Common Cause of Rhode Island sent open letters to Chafee and Mancuso, warning that the appointment would put her in clear violation of the state Ethics Code; specifically, a provision that bars appointed and elected officials from accepting any appointment that requires the approval of a board on which they sit.
The Ethics Commission can grant a waiver, but only in cases where "denial of such employment or position would create a substantial hardship."
Among the arguments lawyer Mancuso raised in her letter to the commission on July 18: "Lack of direction for higher education would undoubtedly cause Rhode Island to fall behind and harm the quality of public education."
The Ethics Commission is expected to take up her waiver request at its next regularly scheduled meeting on Aug. 20.