Advisory Opinion 07-01
Date
12/20/2007
Number
07-01
Requester
Joanna E. Arlow
Topic
Conflict of Interest - Legislative Duties and Pending Employment
Issue/Question
Should a legislative employee recuse herself from duties related to certain issues which are of interest to a third party when that employee has accepted employment with the third party effective following the 2008 legislative session?
Summary
The employee offered to recuse herself from working on these issues and represented she would be proactive in establishing a firewall and separating herself from other as yet unidentified issues as well if it appears those other issues would be of concern to her new employer. The Board agreed that these would be appropriate steps to take in this situation. RCW 42.52.020 (conflicts), 42.52.140 (reasonable expectation) and 42.52.080 (employment after public service) were discussed.