Ethics Commission Front-Runner Has Corporate Ties to Large State Government Contracts

[TexasTowelie]

There has been a lot of debate over the Ethics Commission that is currently being created in North Dakota as a result of the passage of the Measure #1 in 2018. Sixty-eight North Dakotans (including this writer) applied for positions on the Ethics Commission. The governor, senate minority and majority leaders will decide which five will make it onto the commission.

But one somewhat disturbing tidbit of news was released a few weeks ago.

According to the Bismarck Tribune, the Chief Legal Officer for AE2S, Jonathan Sickler is a front-runner for a seat on the commission.

The selection panel on Wednesday whittled 25 names to 17 and found consensus on two more people all three agree on. They are Bill Knudson, of Mandan, a member of several local boards and organizations; and Paul Richard, of Fargo, an attorney and retired Sanford Health executive. They join retired judge Ronald Goodman, of Oakes; Cankdeska Cikana Community College President Cynthia Lindquist, of Devils Lake; and Jonathan Sickler, chief legal officer for AE2S in Grand Forks, as front-runners, but not finalists.

Now, Mr. Sickler may be a very good legal mind, but day-job working for AE2S is clearly a disqualifying conflict of interest by the fact that AE2S is a major recipient of taxpayer funds by way of government contracts.

Read more: https://www.sayanythingblog.com/entry/guest-post-ethics-commission-front-runner-has-corporate-ties-to-large-state-government-contracts/