Allen Must Recuse Herself Says Ethics Commission

By Clare Whitbeck

     LEONARDTOWN - The Ethics Commission met on May 16 to consider how the $1 per year lease of St. Mary’s County School Superintendent Dr. Lorraine Fulton’s horse by Board of Education President Cathy Allen should affect Ms. Allen’s performance of her job as a member of the Board of Education.

     The Ethic Commission reached two conclusions,

     1.  The existence of the lease agreement between Mrs. Allen and Dr. Fulton should be disclosed in future financial disclosure forms of both Mrs. Allen and Dr. Fulton.  

     2.  That Mrs. Allen should not participate in the discussion to select a superintendent so long as Dr. Fulton is a candidate.  

     These findings may account for the announcement earlier this week that Dr. Fulton was no longer a candidate for superintendent.  

     The Commission said it was laudable that Mrs. Allen had recused herself from discussions regarding the selection of the Dr. Fulton as Superintendent.  They noted that the knowledge of the lease had reached the public, and there already was a perception that “there is a special relationship that will taint the objectivity of the Chair of the Board of Education in the section of the next Superintendent.”  Therefore, they felt that special actions should be taken.

     In support of its position, the Commission cites the paragraph of the Ethics Ordinance that proclaims the right of the people to be assured of the impartiality and independent judgement of public officials and the section which talks of avoiding even the appearance of improper influence.  

     The Commission said that Ms. Allen had told them that such a lease is common and in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, the Commission would assume that statement is true.