Assemblyman Michael Doherty

DOHERTY CALLS ON OLS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO STEP DOWN FROM TWO OF THREE CONFLICTING STATE POSTS

SAYS PORRONI'S MULTIPLE JOBS ARE CONFLICT OF INTERESTFebruary 23, 2007
Assemblyman Michael Doherty/908-835-0552

Assemblyman Michael Doherty today called for Office of Legislative Services (OLS) Executive Director Albert Porroni to resign from at least two of the three public posts he holds in the Legislature, noting Porroni is statutorily required to devote his full-time to each of two of those posts.

"I don't understand how it is possible for Mr. Porroni to hold three jobs when he is required by law to devote his full-time to each of two of those positions," said Doherty, R-Warren and Hunterdon. "Furthermore, this appears to create a conflict of interest since he is making decisions as the executive director of OLS, while serving as counsel for the body and secretary to the ethics commission."

Doherty noted that Porroni currently holds three titles: Executive Director of OLS, Legislative Counsel for OLS, and Secretary of the Joint Legislative Commission on Ethical Standards. Under Sec. 52:11-59 and 52:11-60 of the New Jersey Statutes, the first two positions are to be held by an individual who devotes his full-time to those posts.

Doherty said that not only does this raise questions about the distribution of work between the posts, but it also presents the possibility for a conflict of interest since as Secretary of the Joint Legislative Commission on Ethical Standards Porroni sees all complaints as they come in, but as legislative counsel must then make legal recommendations on how to respond to such issues.

"We've heard a lot of talk about dual office-holding, yet right in our legislative offices there is an individual holding three distinct positions," Doherty said. "We have now seen the problems this can create with the recent revelation that Porroni had made a decision to approve the hiring of counsel to represent the Legislature without consulting the Legislative Services Commission."

Doherty, noting that Porroni has refused to answer lawmakers questions on the subject, also said it is time for Porroni to answer questions about how and when a decision was made by OLS to hire outside counsel and fight a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney as part of an ongoing corruption investigation.

"The separation of powers outlined in the Legislative Services Act of 1978 was done to ensure that there was more than one person involved in the actions of the OLS," Doherty said. "Legislative Counsel is not private counsel, and refusal to provide details on the hiring of outside counsel is inconsistent with the public charge of the office."

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