NEW: Common Cause Files Ethics Violation Against Palumbo

NEW: Common Cause Files Ethics Violation Against Palumbo

Common Cause Rhode Island has filed an Ethics Complaint with the state Ethics Commission against Peter Palumbo, the State Representative from Cranston who made concessions bids at 3 state beaches.

Palumbo was reportedly the high bidder on 3 state beach contracts, but withdrew his bid and was instead hired to manage the operations by the second highest bidder, David Caprio.

Caprio resigned his position as Democratic State Party Chairman in July.

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Common Cause contests Palumbo violated Regulation 36-14-5007, which "places restrictions on state employment by members of the General Assembly."

Read the Full Regulation Below

Statement from Common Cause

"We do not take this step lightly," says John Marion, Common Cause Rhode Island Executive Director. "But clearly Representative Palumbo has run afoul of our ethics laws and needs to be held accountable for his actions."

"The ethics process requires someone to step forward and file a complain--otherwise all the improvements we make are a meaningless exercise," Marion continued. "By controlling the state budget, members of the Assembly control the purse stings, and shouldn't be allowed to stick their hands in the same purse for personal gain."

The Regulation

Regulation 36-14-5007 Prohibition on State Employment 

"No member of the General Assembly shall seek or accept state employment, not held at the time of the member’s election, while serving in the General Assembly and for a  period of one (1) year after leaving legislative office. For purposes of this regulation, “employment” shall include service as defined in R.I. Gen Laws § 36-14-2(4) and shall  also include service as an independent contractor or consultant to the state or any state agency, whether as an individual or a principal of an entity performing such service."