does state law prevent Lisa Brown from Connecting with Commerce?
Posted 26 October 2023
In 1994, Lisa Brown voted for the “Ethics in Public Service” Bill. Thirty years later, that law may prevent her from fulfilling her biggest campaign promise
State law, RCW 42.52.080 Employment after public service includes,
(5) No former state officer or state employee may at any time subsequent to his or her state employment assist another person, whether or not for compensation, in any transaction involving the state in which the former state officer or state employee at any time participated during state employment.
Lisa Brown, in her speeches, during debates, on her campaign commercials and we suspect as she orders coffee can’t help but brag, “I’ll have a pumpkin-spice latte, and I worked at Commerce.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Brown was not elected Director of WA Department of Commerce. She was appointed by Governor Inslee months after her failed attempt to represent Spokane in congress.
Lisa loves to attack our Mayor with habitual claims that Nadine “left Commerce money on the table” during the past few years. Brown insists that she will be the government Golden Corral clean-plate-club mayor, gobbling up “free” taxpayer money through her Commerce connections.
But, will state ethics laws allow Lisa to have any contractual relations with that agency? The boxes preventing Brown from delivering on her Commerce connection promises seem to be checked.
What we know:
Brown is a former state officer (a director no less), having left Commerce in March of this year.
“At any time subsequent” for Brown is now and forever.
“Assist another person in any transaction involving the state in which the former state officer participated at any time during state employment” clearly says that Lisa can’t work with anyone involving a state transaction with which she participated.
Playing plug-in-the-politician, a rewrite of state law reads,
No Lisa Brown, former Commerce director, may at any time subsequent to March 3rd, 2023 assist another person, whether or not for compensation, in any transaction involving the state in which Lisa Brown at any time participated during state employment.
So if Brown’s cornerstone plan to solve all of our problems is deeply embedded in her promise of Commerce money (understand that Commerce serves as the administrator of billions of federal dollars as well), she legally can’t deliver, or so it would seem.
The law, at least to the layman, is incredibly clear = Lisa Brown as mayor would not be able to participate in programs that she initiated and engaged while at Commerce.
Given her track record, keeping her away from Commerce programs is a good thing. A few examples include …
Brown’s “Lifeline” program lacking
As reported by Crosscut recently, Brown initiated the state’s failing youth homeless “Lifeline” service. Crosscut’s story leads with,
“The $750,000 pilot program has struggled to meet promises after state officials chose a lobbying firm to build the hotline service from scratch.”
Also, “In response to questions from Crosscut and Youth Today, a spokesperson for the Department of Commerce wrote that the Office of Homeless Youth will request additional documentation from SDMC regarding its spending, including receipts and logs of purchases. She noted the department is “in conversation with SDMC about current practices.”
Brown’s “Working Washington” didn’t work for small business
In April of 2020, as Commerce director, Lisa Brown boasted, “These funds support very small businesses, many of which have not been able to access federal business assistance programs,” said Commerce Director Lisa Brown. “We are focusing where we know assistance funds will immediately recirculate and strengthen communities.”
Less than five days ago, Crosscut reported, “A Crosscut analysis of Working Washington grants found mixed results on equity initiatives and millions for large chains or franchises.” Lisa Brown’s high-ranking Commerce colleague is quoted by Crosscut,
“He also couldn’t say whether Commerce prioritized owners from disadvantaged groups, as legislators and the Office of Financial Management directed them to when it allocated the funds.
“Can I look at you in the eye and say we know definitively off those numbers?” Swenson said. “I can’t.”
