BOSTON (August 26, 2013) – A recent ruling by the Massachusetts Ethics Commission involving a state senator and gubernatorial candidate could have a chilling effect on other business leaders whose experience is badly needed in government, said the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) today.
In a letter to commissioners sent today, NFIB State Director Bill Vernon said their ruling on Sen. Dan Wolf, involving the airline he founded and its relationship with Logan International Airport, needs to be clarified for the benefit of small business owners and entrepreneurs who may be serving currently in elected positions or who might be considering public service.
“The Ethics Commission’s decision in the case of State Senator Dan Wolf, founder and principal shareholder of Cape Air, acts to discourage candidacies and voluntary governmental participation from the private sector just as we need the expertise those persons can offer,” wrote Vernon.
Cape Air is a regional air carrier that leases space at Logan. The Commission decided recently that Wolf’s ownership stake in the company presents a conflict even though, as the Senator pointed out, neither Cape Air nor the Massachusetts Port Authority can alter the fixed fees.
“With the expansion of government over the past few decades, many small businesses have contracts or work for or with state and local governments,” said Vernon. “Some of those contracts are non-bid contracts because the contracts are either too small to come within the bidding laws and regulations, or, as in the case of Sen. Wolf, the amount paid or collected by government is uniform.”
Vernon stressed in the letter that small business owners often have the kind of experiences that government lacks, and that the ethics rules should not be construed so broadly as to disqualify candidates whose relationships clearly do not violate the ethics or public bidding laws, or which do not threaten the integrity of government.
“Dan Wolf and I have disagreed on many issues, such as paid leave and minimum wage, but he is an honorable man who brings a great deal of practical experience to public service,” said Vernon. “There are thousands of small business men and women whose service at every level would be a benefit to the people of Massachusetts and I’m concerned that this ruling could discourage their interest and deny voters the chance to consider some very highly qualified candidates for public office.”
In response to the ruling, Wolf announced last week that he would suspend his campaign for governor.
“It’s highly unlikely that NFIB would have endorsed Dan Wolf,” said Vernon. “But we fully support his right to run. And we call on the Ethics Commission to clarify its decision or, in the alternative, we call on the Legislature to act so that small business owners and entrepreneurs will know that their expertise is needed and wanted in state and local government.”
For more information about the National Federation of Independent Business, please visit www.nfib/massachusetts.
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