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Randal Edgar
Journal State House Bureau
Governor Carcieri has taken his share of barbs from state lawmakers and labor leaders, but last week he was on the receiving end of unwanted attention from a new source: A Washington, D.C.-based group known as Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington released a list of 11 "worst governors" who "champion their personal interests over their states."
Carcieri's name was second on the list.
The CREW report lists three "charges" against Rhode Island's Republican governor: nepotism, for hiring his niece for a job in his Office of Constituent Affairs; mismanagement, for poor handling of the infamous Dec. 13, 2007, snowstorm that left schoolchildren and motorists stranded for hours; and ethics violations that include accepting expensive gifts and soliciting campaign contributions from state employees.
CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan said that while "there has been a great deal of focus on the ethics of Congress over the past few years ... CREW's report shows that state governments are not immune to ethics problems. Too often ... our country's political leaders are more focused on what's best for the favored few, rather than on improving the lives of Americans."
Carcieri spokeswoman Amy Kempe said in an e-mail that she had never heard of CREW and noted that 9 of the 11 governors on the list are Republicans.
"It's obvious this is nothing more than propaganda by an organization with an agenda," she said. "Don't be fooled by the name of this group. If they were even remotely responsible, ethical or legitimate, one would think they would have contacted our office to ask for information regarding the incidents they cite. Governor Carcieri is one of the most ethical, honest, available and transparent elected officials ever elected by the people of the state of Rhode Island."
Kempe also noted that Carcieri's name was second on the list because it is alphabetical.
According to Wikipedia, CREW is a "liberal watchdog group" whose mission is to "promote ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials." Another Wikipedia entry says Sloan is the former assistant U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia and previously worked for three congressional Democrats, including current Vice President Joseph Biden.
