Brett Smiley Exits His Political Consulting Firm - Ownership Raised Ethics Questions
GoLocalProv News Team
Brett Smiley Exits His Political Consulting Firm - Ownership Raised Ethics Questions
Brett Smiley, RI Director of Administration has exited the political consulting firms he ownsA GoLocal investigative series published in 2017 found that while Brett Smiley served in top positions for Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and Governor Gina Raimondo, he simultaneously had an ownership interest in a complex web of companies involved in political consulting. His firms represented a range of politicians that needed to come before him in his official role in government.
Smiley tells GoLocal he has recused his ownership interest in the companies.
“I have turned back my ownership interest to my partner, “ said Smiley in an interview. His partner is Edward Galvin. who served as Raimondo’s campaign treasurer and owns a consulting firm that works with political candidates to comply with Rhode Island and federal campaign finance laws.
Over the past five years, Rhode Island state and local candidates have paid a web of Smiley-owned companies just under $300,000. Federal candidates both in Rhode Island and around the country have paid Smiley’s firms hundreds of thousands in additional payments.
“Smiley's continued ownership of the firm raises the questions that have yet to be answered. In the past we've told GoLocal that Common Cause believes Smiley should seek an advisory opinion from the Rhode Island Ethics Commission with respect to his continued ownership of the consulting firm,” said John Marion, head of Rhode Island Common Cause.
Even today Smiley defends his decision to own a political consulting firm while simultaneously holding high-level appointed positions in city and state government.
“I am confident that I did it appropriately,” said Smiley.
Gov. Raimondo was meeting with Smiley 's clients while Smiley was Chief of StaffIn 2017, then-State Representative Patricia Morgan told GoLocal, “Of course, this is a conflict of interest. Since the Governor’s Chief of Staff collects information and advises the Governor on policy decisions, he has influence that can either help or hurt a municipal executive. In this case, with taxpayer funding of the PawSox stadium on the table, there are too many gray areas that can come in to play. For instance, if the stadium is approved, the lease that controls the amount financial liability transferred from the ball team owners to the state’s taxpayers, will most certainly involve the Chief of Staff.”
