HomeMy WebLinkAbout79-041 CavillDear Ms. Cavill:
STATE ETHICS COMMISSION
HARRISBURG, PA.
July 9, 1979
Wilma J. Cavill, Chairperson
Pennsylvania State College
Educational Services Trust Fund
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Sincerely,
�LLL�
Paul J. Smith
Chairm n
79 - 041
In your letter of June 14, 1979, you requested an
opinion from the State Ethics Commission on the proposed
appointment of Doctor Warren E. Ringler as Executive Director
to the Educational Services Trust Fund of the Pennsylvania State
Colleges. Dr. Ringler - up to June 29, 1979 - served as the
Deputy Secretary and Commissioner of Higher Education.
It is the Commission's opinion that as Deputy Sec -
retary and Commissioner for Higher Education in the Department
of Education, Dr. Ringler was a "public official" as that term
is used in Act 170. Section 3(e) of the Act prohibits a
former official from representing any person, broadly defined
in the Act to include corporations, associations, "or other
organizations or groups of persons" on "any matter before the
governmental body with which he has been associated for one
year after he leaves that body ".
It is the Commission's opinion that Dr. Ringler's
duties as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania State Colleges
Educational Services Trust Fund, as defined on Page 2 of your
letter, would represent no conflict with Act 170 as long as
Dr. Ringler does not represent the Fund before the Department
of Education for a period of one year after he leaves that body.
While the ban on representation would not prohibit general in-
formational inquiries, Dr. Ringler would be prohibited by
Section 3(e) from attempting to influence in any manner a
decision of that Department.
This letter is a public record and will be made
available as such.