State Ethics Commission Could Investigate Hiring of Jeff Perry

Although they can not confirm or deny that they are investigating the hiring of Jeff Perry as a Special Sheriff, the State Ethics Commission is the body who investigates patronage, which some in the media and the political community have charged is the case with Sheriff  James Cummings choice of Perry for a $110,000 a year job.

In an off-the-record interview today a state official explained that when a friend hires a friend, as is the case with Cummings and Perry, paperwork must be filed and sent to the ethics commission before the hire can take place. Further he said the person hired has to meet all the standards as required for the job or a "conflict of interest" might be  present.

He said the first step is for the person doing the hiring to "disclose to the committee" that he is a personal friend of the person he is hiring." This step is required by law. He said "a friendship by itself wouldn't disqualify an individual" but it would "certainly recquire a much closer look than if he had hired somone with whom he was not a friend." He refused through the entire interview to confirm or deny whether Cummings hiring of Perry was being investigated.

Further, he said the State Ethics Commission welcomes all letters and phone conversations with citizens in situations such as this.