Report: No disclosures filed by some on state boards

September 13, 2007
The Associated Press

A watchdog group says more than five dozen people, including several officials within Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration, haven't filed required disclosure forms for their positions on state boards.

The Better Government Association says 66 political appointees haven't completed the appropriate paperwork to document potential conflicts of interest, the Chicago Sun-Times reported today.

The forms, which must be submitted to the secretary of state's office, were mandated in 2005 as part of an ethics law. The measure requires anyone serving on a state board, task force or commission to submit disclosure forms detailing contracts that person - or their family - has with the state.

"To me, the primary fault lies with these individuals for not filing and the Blagojevich administration for not making it clear to these individuals that they need to file," said Jay Stewart, executive director of the association.

Those with outstanding forms include chief operating officer John Filan, Aging Department director Charles D. Johnson and Human Services secretary Carol Adams, according to the organization.

But Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said some cabinet officials whose forms are outstanding sit on boards in an administrative capacity because of state government jobs. She also said the secretary of state's office should do more to alert the administration when forms aren't filed.

"We take this law seriously," Rausch said. "I think it's important to know that the vast majority of our appointees have turned in their paperwork. Some have not, and we're making sure they do."

Lawyers for Secretary of State Jesse White said they believe the forms are required only for political appointees with contracts and those without a conflict aren't required to submit them.

The Better Government Association disagrees.

"To me, it's irrelevant if there's a conflict or not. Even if there is no conflict, you're supposed to file," Stewart said.

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