The Mississippi Ethics Commission has cleared House Speaker Philip Gunn’s chief of staff to leave his full-time job but continue working for the state as a $10,000 per month contract worker while running a consulting business related to energy efficiency.
But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t leave the appearance and potential for conflicts of interest.
The Clarion-Ledger reported this week that Nathan Wells will depart from his $135,000 per year job for the $120,000 per year contract plus the sideline consultant business. He’ll continue doing the same duties for the state, which the Jackson newspaper described as “policy, political, communications and House-member relations work.” That is a very important role for Gunn, who is one of the three most powerful politicians in state government behind Gov. Phil Bryant and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves.
Wells wrote to the Commission that his work as an independent contractor outside of his legislative work would be: “While serving as an independent contractor, I would own and operate a business focused on helping private entities, city and county governments, and school districts utilize technology to create better efficiency in the areas of energy usage and monitoring utilities.”
The Ethics Commission, in an advisory opinion dated July 14, said the law prohibits a former public employee from working in the private sector on any matter in which he was personally involved while working for the government. However it said that Wells’ “private sector work is unrelated to any matter in which the former government employee was personally or directly related” and is thus allowed.
But you better believe that every client Wells gets will be acutely aware of the large role he plays in shaping state policy and how he has the ear of the powerful House speaker. As a lieutenant to Gunn, Wells has influence over every aspect of state government funding, including that related to local governments and school districts.
Gunn said in a statement to the Clarion-Ledger that the arrangement will cost the state less money in salary plus Wells won’t be receiving benefits or retirement. True enough, but how much will it cost the state in terms of its reputation for influence peddling?
Geoff Pender, the political writer for the Clarion-Ledger who broke the story, noted that Reeves, who presides over the Senate as Gunn does the House, has a similar arrangement with a contract employee. Pender also pointed out that Gunn and Reeves in the past have “criticized the practice of employees retiring from their jobs at state agencies, then returning as contractors or consultants doing the same job, calling it double dipping.”
How is this materially different?
— Charlie Smith
