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Panel debates what counts as a 'lobbyist' in ethics rewrite
Summary
Committee members asked whether informal endorsements or non-registered residents who advocate for candidates should be treated as lobbyists; the town clerk pointed to section 13.8, which applies to persons required to register under that section.
Committee member asked for clarity on the draft ethics language: would an unregistered resident who publicly endorses a candidate be considered a 'lobbyist' subject to registration and reporting?
Town clerk pointed members to the code's definition: "the definition is means a person required to register reporting to lobbying under 13.8 of this chapter," i.e., the threshold is whether the person must register under section 13.8. Members discussed whether the panel wanted to add clarification and agreed to review 13.8 in the next packet.
Committee member raised the practical example of someone saying publicly "I this guy is really good. Vote for him," and asked whether that would trigger the lobbyist definition; the panel noted that the draft uses the statutory trigger rather than an expansive behavioral test.
No formal motion was made on the definition; the panel paused to consult the current 13.8 text and planned to resume the discussion when members had the most recent copy.
