Conflicts of Interest
I will require the assistance of any readers with legal knowledge to settle something I've been arguing with myself about. What clearly defines a conflict of interest?
I was thinking about Gregory Patterson. Though he is frequently referred to as "the Governor's spokesman" in the newspapers (and derisively called "Governor Patterson" by newspaper writers), his actual position is Communications Director for the Executive Office of the Governor. In other words, though he reports to the Governor, he is paid by the citizens.
I have no idea what the Communications Director for the Executive Office of the Governor makes in salary. It has long been said that no one gets into government to get rich, but this is a position of some prestige and power. A salary.com report of jobs in the area with the title "Communications Director" lists a median base salary of $117,476 - but I think it's safe to assume that Delaware pays less than that. Let's pretend Mr. Patterson makes half that, or $58,738 before taxes. Not too shabby.
If Mr. Patterson is a real go-getter, he might find a second job. A lot of guys I know sell things on eBay. Greg found something a little more lucrative to do with his spare time. He is the campaign manager for Ruth Ann Minner's re-election bid, according to insider Celia Cohen. Though salaries in political campaigns vary greatly, he is listed as receiving $33,970.10 as wages in the 2000 campaign - and the Minner Campaign wasn't as wealthy then as they are now.
So Mr. Patterson has two jobs, and does fairly well with both of them. Are we to begrudge him that? Not exactly.
It would be next to impossible for him to perform the job of a campaign manager in the hours left for him after what I must assume is a 40 hour a week job. I sincerely doubt that the campaign manager for the incumbent Governor of Delaware is working on the campaign 4 hours a night, plus weekends (although it would explain a lot).
I have seen Mr. Patterson at debates. In Dewey Beach, when an attendee asked a question that would require additional information to respond, Governor Minner called for Greg, literally across the room, to find out the information. Was she asking her campaign manager, or the Communications Director for the Executive Office of the Governor? I'm helping pay the salary of one of those guys, and I'd like him working on the matters of government while he's on my dime.
Can Gregory Patterson, the Communications Director for the Executive Office of the Governor, co-exist with Gregory Patterson, the campaign manager for Ruth Ann Minner? Is the money that Gregory Patterson, the Communications Director for the Executive Office of the Governor earns helping pay the salary of Gregory Patterson, the campaign manager for Ruth Ann Minner?
Is this a conflict of interest?
I was thinking about Gregory Patterson. Though he is frequently referred to as "the Governor's spokesman" in the newspapers (and derisively called "Governor Patterson" by newspaper writers), his actual position is Communications Director for the Executive Office of the Governor. In other words, though he reports to the Governor, he is paid by the citizens.
I have no idea what the Communications Director for the Executive Office of the Governor makes in salary. It has long been said that no one gets into government to get rich, but this is a position of some prestige and power. A salary.com report of jobs in the area with the title "Communications Director" lists a median base salary of $117,476 - but I think it's safe to assume that Delaware pays less than that. Let's pretend Mr. Patterson makes half that, or $58,738 before taxes. Not too shabby.
If Mr. Patterson is a real go-getter, he might find a second job. A lot of guys I know sell things on eBay. Greg found something a little more lucrative to do with his spare time. He is the campaign manager for Ruth Ann Minner's re-election bid, according to insider Celia Cohen. Though salaries in political campaigns vary greatly, he is listed as receiving $33,970.10 as wages in the 2000 campaign - and the Minner Campaign wasn't as wealthy then as they are now.
So Mr. Patterson has two jobs, and does fairly well with both of them. Are we to begrudge him that? Not exactly.
It would be next to impossible for him to perform the job of a campaign manager in the hours left for him after what I must assume is a 40 hour a week job. I sincerely doubt that the campaign manager for the incumbent Governor of Delaware is working on the campaign 4 hours a night, plus weekends (although it would explain a lot).
I have seen Mr. Patterson at debates. In Dewey Beach, when an attendee asked a question that would require additional information to respond, Governor Minner called for Greg, literally across the room, to find out the information. Was she asking her campaign manager, or the Communications Director for the Executive Office of the Governor? I'm helping pay the salary of one of those guys, and I'd like him working on the matters of government while he's on my dime.
Can Gregory Patterson, the Communications Director for the Executive Office of the Governor, co-exist with Gregory Patterson, the campaign manager for Ruth Ann Minner? Is the money that Gregory Patterson, the Communications Director for the Executive Office of the Governor earns helping pay the salary of Gregory Patterson, the campaign manager for Ruth Ann Minner?
Is this a conflict of interest?
posted by RickJ @ 8:19 PM
3 Comments:
At October 12, 2004 at 7:44 PM,
Anonymous said…
I believe Greg Patterson has taken a leave of absence from the Governor's Office. Kate Bailey is the Acting Director of Communications. Now whether it is an unpaid leave of absence, or if he is using paid vacation time is unknown (at least to me).
At October 13, 2004 at 9:06 AM,
RickJ said…
I'm unaware of his status with the State. To the best of my knowledge, there was no statement from his office regarding any change of status. I do however, know that he has received $1304.40 in payments from the Minner campaign - dizzyingly less than the $33,970.10 he made to perform the same tasks in 2000. I'm sure the Governor has made sure he is well paid during his leave of absence - with our money.
At October 25, 2004 at 6:55 PM,
Anonymous said…
The Cabinet Secretaries were notified by the Governor's Office that Greg would be leaving (temporarily) to run her campaign, and that Kate would be filling in until his return.
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