Reformers wants former lobbying watchdog for new post
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- January
- 26
Good-government groups want Gov. David Paterson to appoint a man many think was Albany’s most effective watchdog for more than a decade as the new chairman of the state Commission on Public Integrity.
Their pick is David Grandeau, who spent years infuriating lobbyists big and small for his tough enforcement of the lobbying law when he was executive director of the Lobbying Commission – a panel that was absorbed by the new ethics commission in 2007, putting Grandeau out of a job.
“Mr. Grandeau was widely viewed as an effective executive director of the Lobbying Commission.He was willing to enforce the law without fear or favor, ‘’ the good-government groups said in a letter to Gov. David Paterson. “Indeed, while we did not always agree with the actions of the Lobbying Commission, we never had doubt that Mr. Grandeau was endeavoring to act in the public’s best interest.’’
A spokesman for Paterson said the governor will consider the idea.
John Feerick, the current chairman of the public-integrity panel, is quitting effective Feb. 12.
The commission “has been unfortunately controversial, and it has been reported that it is currently under scrutiny by the State Inspector General’s office,’’ the watchdogs (Citizens’ Union, Common Cause, League of Women Voters and New York Public Interest Research Group) said in the letter to Paterson.
The inspector general is investigating whether commission officials leaked details of its probe of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer to the now former governor.
“It is imperative that you move to restore the tattered reputation of New York State by choosing an extremely well-qualified replacement for Mr. Feerick,’’ the watchdogs said in their letter to Paterson.
This entry was posted
on Monday, January 26th, 2009 at 5:25 pm by Jay Gallagher.
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