New ethics rules approved for appointees

RALEIGH — Gov. Beverly Perdue on Wednesday expanded ethics rules for people she appoints to state boards and commissions, her latest move to try to fulfill her campaign’s open government plank following several corruption-related convictions by fellow Democrats this decade.

By signing three executive orders, Perdue expanded the number of panels or employees subject to state ethics laws or rules and gives her the authority to fire appointees who don’t show up at meetings, have been indicted or fail to cooperate with an investigation.

“Folks really do need to feel comfortable in North Carolina ... that the folks who work in the public are acting in the best interests of the state, never for personal gain,” Perdue said. “Citizens deserve to feel relatively good about what’s going on in state government.”

Perdue considered the orders a “second wave” of improvements to the ethics rules since she took office in January. On her first full working day, Perdue signed a series of executive orders that in part took individual road-building decisions out of the hands of Board of Transportation members after accusations their votes benefited them of their families personally.

Wednesday’s directives largely apply to appointees over which she has authority and top-ranking officers in her administration. The next governor could choose not to follow the same rules. Perdue said she would ask others who make appointments, such as legislative leaders, to subscribe to her rules.

It will now be grounds for Perdue to remove appointees if they are indicted on a state or federal felony charge or they fail to cooperate fully in an investigation.

Most recently, a former aide to Gov. Mike Easley who serves on the Golden LEAF Foundation board attempted to block a subpoena from the State Board of Elections to testify at a hearing on Easley’s campaign finances.

The aide, Ruffin Poole, resigned from the board Tuesday, citing in his resignation letter to Perdue concerns on the board that he and another person from the same law firm where he works served on the panel.

Perdue said the provision wasn’t necessarily a response to Poole.

Instead, she said, all the changes come following a series of missteps by elected officials who ultimately went to prison, including former Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps and House Speaker Jim Black.

“Events of the last few years have proven that not everyone understands that public service requires integrity and complete honesty,” according to a release from the North Carolina Coalition for Lobbying & Government Reform, which praised Perdue’s orders.

The Legislature in 2006 approved ethics rules for legislators, the governor, executive branch officials and high-ranking appointees that essentially barred them from receiving all gifts from lobbyists. Other allegations of wrongdoing have surfaced, in particular involving activities surrounding Easley, who has not been charged with any crimes.

Wednesday’s orders also make it grounds for removal for a Perdue appointee who fails to attend 75 percent of the board’s regularly scheduled meetings in a calendar year and makes clear her appointees can’t accept gifts from contractors or suppliers to the board.

With appointees already now required to file disclosure statements with the State Ethics Commission as a result of the 2006 law, Perdue acknowledged the additional requirements may have a chilling effect on getting people to serve, but said ensuring the public’s trust is more important.

“I do believe that nobody should be appointed to a commission that doesn’t pass these high standards,” she said.

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