Advisory Opinion 99-01
Date
08/12/1999
Number
99-01
Requester
Confidential
Topic
Conflict of Interest - Staff
Issue/Question
Legislative employee had substantial policy and substantive legislative responsibilities as adviser to caucus leadership and sought advice on whether he could run for election to local school board.
Summary
Ethics Act does not prohibit employee from seeking election but if elected the duties of that position and his present legislative duties would present a conflict in violation of RCW 42.52.020. The presumption of outside employment, 42.52.330, is not applicable to staff when analyzing the conflict of interest statute. Rep. Pennington dissents.