Washblog || New GOP chair Luke Esser starts job with apparent ethics violations.

New GOP chair Luke Esser starts job with apparent ethics violations.

By Particle Man
Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 09:43:36 AM PST
Section: Diary Topic: Campaign Finance

[Front paged: NM]

David Postman posted a fluffy story about how Esser spent Monday replacing GOP employees in Tukwila and then on meetings with the GOP house and senate caucuses, posing for press photos and stopping by for press interviews in Olympia.

Now I know that one could argue that his meetings with the GOP caucuses only involved the small, powerless remains of a crippled party, but David's story got me thinking about just who was paying for all of this political activity. See, Luke told David that he intends to hold both jobs over the next several weeks and while David may be inclined to give Lukus a huge pass in exchange for future access to the GOP's chair, the taxpayers should care and here is why. (see story)

We can all remember past occasions where the press latched onto state employee afternoon Mariners baseball games and things like personal long distance calls on state phone lines. But these things pale by comparison to ANY use of ANY State machine or ANY spending of state paid time doing the business of either state wide party's business.

Lukus is paid $84,000 a year + benefits as an attorney for state Attorney General Rob McKenna. That's $1,615 each week or $323 every weekday. And if Lukus is doing party work at the taxpayers expense it is Rob McKenna as head of the agency and as his boss who is responsible for enforcing the ethics and PDC laws of this state.

It should also not be overlooked that Rob is up for reelection in Luke's term as chair and his campaign will be funded largely by the same usual suspects (BIAW etc.) as those who fund the GOP party. So, even if Luke does not take pay for the next few weeks of work he does for the state party, it can be said that WE the taxpayers are paying for any party activity Luke does while on the clock with the Attorney Generals office.

And that only gets to Luke's direct pay. Any and Every use of a state machine, phone, cellphone, blackberry, email by state computer, car, or office for doing state party work breaks the law. Each and every use is a separate violation and you can bet that it is hard to keep things strait. Chairs, donors, and GOP movers from across the state and in DC will all be reaching out as will Lukas in return. Whose time will these contacts take place on and on whose equipment and in which office space and if not in a state car, who will Luke bill the miles to?

The simple fact is that this job change is in no way like a change in the private sector or even a change from one agency to another. In fact, within every agency is a policy that employees like Luke must do NOTHING that would even call into question the propriety of the action. As such and given the high profile of Luke's situation the choice to keep him on by Rob McKenna is a huge political favor and one at the expense of every taxpayer.

So, what to do? Write letters to the paper and call Rob McKenna's office to complain 360 753-6200 or file a complaint with the PDC.

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New GOP chair Luke Esser starts job with apparent ethics violations. | 17 comments (17 topical)

Correct, the only

Real answer is for the GOP Chair to resign his state office immediately (yesterday) and return all equipment. Any further work for the state should be pro bono.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 09:51:58 AM PST

* 1 none 0 *

We can't expect justice from McKenna

My election day story, Rob McKenna OKs fake Attorney General letterhead for partisan mudslinging was quickly buried in other election matters, but brings up an important issue for Washingtonians. Our attorney general is partisan to a degree that appears to very clearly affect his decisions.

We will find no justice with Mr. McKenna. In fact I wish that Washblog had a writer/ investigator to focus just on this particular public servant. He is not, imo, serving the public interest. I was truly shocked by what I learned, the more I read.

by noemie maxwell on Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 11:16:51 AM PST

* 2 none 0 *

Well, with all due respect ... by Particle Man, 01/30/2007 12:23:23 PM PST (none / 0)

It isn't just the campaign letter -- by noemie maxwell, 01/30/2007 01:00:27 PM PST (none / 0)

I agree and I think he by Particle Man, 01/30/2007 01:05:54 PM PST (none / 0)

Luke, Lukus, Lukas

Ok, we're all talking about the same guy, right? What's the background on how Luke Esser got his job with the Attorney General's office?

Is Esser getting paid for his party position at the same time that he's being paid from his state job?

Our Attorney General is actively encouraging this ethics violation by not demanding Esser's resignation the same day he took on the GOP top slot.

Any more talking points we can think of?

by chadlupkes on Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 12:29:57 PM PST

* 4 none 0 *

Luke Lukes Lukus ..ok so I'm a smart ass by Particle Man, 01/30/2007 12:59:02 PM PST (none / 0)

Luke's work history by willisreed, 01/30/2007 07:37:40 PM PST (none / 0)

With the AG's office by Particle Man, 01/31/2007 08:43:16 AM PST (none / 0)

Doesn't sound like a lawyer job by gibney, 01/31/2007 09:36:08 AM PST (none / 0)

Phone use could be "de minimus" by willisreed, 01/31/2007 10:49:38 AM PST (none / 0)

Willis you do not know the law. by Particle Man, 01/31/2007 11:58:34 AM PST (none / 0)

Never claimed to know the law... by willisreed, 01/31/2007 02:06:35 PM PST (none / 0)

Sorry for grumpy response. by Particle Man, 01/31/2007 02:25:56 PM PST (none / 0)

Levels o "de minimus", skirting the edge by gibney, 02/01/2007 08:57:04 AM PST (none / 0)

Health Insurance

He probably wanted to remain on the payroll through at least yesterday. Working one day a month qualifies for insurance coverage.
It'd be to bad if he or his family have any pre-existing conditions and he has trouble finding replacement insurance. There goes that raise.
Insurance coverage is one reason Jim West fought so long to remain in office after his ethics lapse.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Thu Feb 01, 2007 at 09:01:04 AM PST

* 16 none 0 *

Sounds good but in fact, fed cobra laws by Particle Man, 02/01/2007 09:50:58 AM PST (none / 0)

New GOP chair Luke Esser starts job with apparent ethics violations. | 17 comments (17 topical)

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