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opinion
Should public-entity leaders be prohibited from exploring other employment opportunities while still in Rhode Island positions?
By PBN Staff
Posted 9/27/10
Recently R.I. Airport Corporation head Kevin A. Dillon and Rhode Island education commissioner Deborah A. Gist were found to be candidates for jobs in Tampa, Fla., and Washington, D.C., respectively (Dillon has since withdrawn his name from consideration).
While Rhode Island benefits from having talented people head its public institutions, people who are courted by other public institutions, there were questions about the leaders’ abilities to perform their duties to their fullest while interviewing for another position.
Where do you stand on the question, should public officials be allowed to search for a new job elsewhere while still working in Rhode Island?
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The poll did not give me an opportunity to vote. I add my vote to those who believe that public sector employees should be able to explore other positions while still employed (on their own time, of course!). If a public sector employee has or has recently decided or had significant input into a decision affecting a particular business (e.g., the business is an applicant for regulatory approval or benfefits or seeks to be a vendor to the governmental unit), a temporary bar on seeking employment with that particular business may be appropriate.
This is ridiculous. Unless these people are being offered lifetime employment in Rhode Island of course they should be entitled to look at jobs from time to time. Do you think we would ever be able to recruit talented people if we put these kinds of restrictions on them?
Public employees who oversee or regulate the affairs of non-governmental entities should have some reasonable time constraint before allowing employment with those firms in order to avoid a conflict of interest. Other than that, unless they are contracted otherwise, all employees should have the right to seek alternative employment at anytime, anywhere.
Additionally, it seems an exaggeration to state that Deborah Gist was a "candidate" for the DC position when she was merely a well qualified potential prospect according to the media?
Poorly worded answers. I voted for Yes but with reservation. If you take a public job you should commit to it for a period of time that insures that the public is served and NOT as just a stepping stone for something else.