A former lawmaker seeks ethical guidance

Former state Rep. Joe Pickens of Palatka wants guidance from the Commission on Ethics in his new capacity as president of St. Johns River Community College. Pickens, who served in the House from 2000-2008, wants to communicate with the lawmakers who set his budget, but former legislators are prohibited from lobbying the Legislature for two years after leaving office.

The commission staff drafted two opinions, one concluding that Pickens cannot contact legislators and one concluding that he can talk with his ex-colleagues.

This is a much-reviewed area of ethics law. In 1981, the panel said ex-Sen. Sherman Winn of Miami could not take a job at a state agency if his duties included lobbying the Legislature. In 1990, the commission said former Rep. Pete Dunbar of Crystal Beach, serving as Gov. Bob Martinez's general counsel, could not lobby lawmakers, but could provide information "upon request" of a member or a committee chairman. In 2007, the commission said ex-legislators appointed to agency posts could appear before the Legislature in the course of their official duties. Read the two competing draft opinions here. The commission will consider them Jan. 23. 

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Comments

“The commission staff drafted two opinions, one concluding that Pickens cannot contact legislators and one concluding that he can talk with his ex-colleagues.”

Translation: “Of course you can; everyone does… just don’t get caught or we’ll have to pretend to do something about it.”

Isn't he exempt from the ban because he's lobbying for a governmental agency? Seems pretty stupid if the President of a college can't talk to lawmakers regardless of what he used to do ...

At least he's asking. Joe's a very solid guy. I'd expect nothing less from him.

The note above is exactly right. Joe is one of the few true statesmen who came through the Legislature in modern times.