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Ethics office reports surplus, temporary hire; committee advises limiting graduation mailings to district seniors
Summary
The Ethics Office reported a FY2025 surplus of $63,437.79 and a one-year Legislative Council authorization of $70,000 for a temporary hire; the committee discussed mailings of over 15,000 graduation certificates and advised limiting mailings to graduating seniors within legislators’ districts.
Administrator Kevin Reeve told the Select Committee on Legislative Ethics that the office finished FY2025 with a surplus of $63,437.79, largely because the administrator position was vacant for part of the year and outside‑counsel funds were unused. He said FY2026 includes an anticipated $32,000 increase in salaries and a one-year Legislative Council authorization of $70,000 to fund a temporary position; that temporary hire is Jamie Benton, whom Reeve introduced earlier in the meeting.
Reeve reported the print shop printed and distributed over 15,000 graduation certificates and letters in 2025. He said the letters are addressed both to graduates and to parents of younger students and suggested the practice might be a means of increasing name recognition. Committee members debated whether sending letters to parents of elementary students or to students in online schools who may live outside a legislator’s district serves a legislative purpose.
Representative Alyse Galvin said she saw value in congratulating high‑school and college graduates but suggested limiting official mailings to graduating seniors. Deb Fancher recommended restricting graduation letters to graduating seniors only. Chair Joyce Anderson noted graduation certificates are listed among approved office allowance expenses; Administrator Reeve reminded members that an advisory opinion previously stated mailing outside a legislator’s district is not allowed. The committee agreed to advise legislators to limit mailings to students and parents within their districts and to consider restricting official mass mailings to graduating seniors.
Why it matters: The discussion balances constituent engagement, appropriate use of office allowance funds and compliance with advisory guidance about district mailings. The committee’s guidance will affect how many legislators use state resources for constituency mailings.
Next steps: Administrator Reeve said he would draft a policy; the committee agreed to advise limiting graduation mailings to in‑district graduating seniors and to provide guidance to legislators about acceptable print‑shop usage.
