Help Wanted, Ethics Department 鈥斅燩lease
Why doesn鈥檛 anyone seem to want to be the new executive director of the State of Hawaii鈥檚 Ethics Commission?
The Hawaii State Ethics Commission is looking for a new leader. Problem is, no one seems to want the job.
Former Executive Director Les Kondo began work as the state auditor 2陆 weeks ago, and the commission opened a search for his replacement right away. But as of Thursday, there were no applicants for the position, which has already caused the commission to start talking about extending the application deadline of May 31.
In a state where good professional jobs are often scarce 鈥 particularly those offering a current salary of $138,935 and good benefits 鈥斅爐his is a pretty remarkable state of affairs. only call for a licensed attorney who is a graduate of an American Bar Association-accredited law school and member of the Hawaii State Bar.
Preferred qualifications go a bit further, but not unreasonably so. The commission would like to have an attorney with 10 years of practice experience, preferably in administrative law, who has worked with budgets, is knowledgeable about state government and has high ethical standards.
The Ethics Commission executive director plays a significant role in this state, providing administrative oversight and investigative leadership for an office charged with enforcement of the state ethics code. The ED coordinates meetings of the five members of the volunteer commission and leads its professional staff.
All in all, a pretty good job, for the right candidate.
There鈥檚 no doubt Kondo leaves big shoes to fill. In his five years on the job, he aggressively took on legislators for taking gifts from lobbyists and prosecuted a strict interpretation of the ethics code, so much so that he drew the ire of some of the commissioners he worked for, nearly costing him his position a year ago.
In the end, Kondo鈥檚 principled approach to the job and the many supporters that approach created saw him keep the gig, despite having drawn the anger of House Speaker Joe Souki over his rigid enforcement of the code.
But all of that ought to be enticing for the right kind of attorney 鈥斅爋ne who values squeaky clean government and who doesn鈥檛 mind offending the sensibilities of the powerful to ensure that those who do the people鈥檚 business are playing by the rules. Someone who鈥檚 a bit of a crusader at heart, who appreciates government鈥檚 potential as a force for good and who doesn鈥檛 like seeing that undermined by officials who cut corners.
We were admittedly fans of Kondo鈥檚 work. He understood the sort of abuses that are prone to arise in a one-party government where the typical response to legislators鈥 acknowledgment that their public service may be compromised by their personal interests is a blithely offered 鈥there is no conflict鈥 from the House speaker鈥檚 chair.
Kondo’s take-no-prisoners approach set a standard that the next executive director would do well to uphold.
Applications are being accepted for at least 11 more days. Any takers?
