The Massachusetts Ethics Commission is weighing changes to state rules that could allow state Sen. Dan Wolf, owner of Cape Air, to renew his campaign for governor.
Last month, Wolf said he would resign his senate seat and suspend his gubernatorial campaign, while he fights a decision from the ethics commission. It had found Wolf’s ownership stake in Cape Air violates conflict-of-interest rules because state employees are not allowed to have financial interests in state contracts, and Cape Air has a contract to use Logan Airport.
Appearing before the commission yesterday, Wolf’s lawyer, Carl Valvo, argued the contract is standard for all airlines and there’s no bidding or negotiating involved.
“Senator Wolf’s contracts were made well before he went into public service, he did not use his official position to make those contracts, to design the program under which they were issued and he has not used his official position since he was elected to change any of that in his favor,” Valvo said.
The commission appeared to agree with Wolf. It voted 4-1 to consider a change that would allow elected officials and candidates to have contracts with the state when those contracts are more like licenses or fees.
Wolf is allowed to keep his seat in the legislature while the commission revisits the law. He says he’s pleased with the decision.
“I’m hopeful,” he said. “I’m positive about it. But there’s still a lot we don’t know that we still have to find out.”
The commission’s staff will now begin drafting a new regulation, which must go through public hearings and a final vote. Wolf says he hasn’t decided if he’ll resume his campaign for governor in the meantime.
