Ethics Commission Fires Its Executive Director

The Tennessee Ethics Commission fired its executive director Monday.

Bruce Androphy has been the only executive director the Ethics Commission has had since the legislature created it in 2006, but he’s also been a constant lighting rod for criticism.

Commissioner Charles Farmer made the motion to place Androphy on administrative leave for three months before the final termination date. He complained of the staff’s inability to work with the commission and said Androphy’s budget was inflated.

Farmer also said the executive director inserted himself into legislative politics.

“Lobbying, not for changes or improvements to the law. But just for the continued existence of the commission, and therefore the continued existence of jobs.”

Chairman Larry Brown of Memphis was the only commission member to object to Androphy’s dismissal. Brown argued the staff had never been given the authority to do their jobs.

Androphy said the threat of the change had been “pending for quite some time.”

He suggested it was tied in with moves to the merge the Ethics Commission with the Registry of Election Finance.

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Androphy says he knew the commission might consider his firing.

“Am I surprised? I can’t say I am. But am I pleased by the situation? I’m not necessarily that either. But… it happened.”

He complimented the staff.

“You know, obviously it’s going to be the commission’s choice, but I hope the staff will be able to continue. They’ve been hard-working, they know the business of ethics, and I hope they can continue.”

When asked he plans any legal action against the commission, Androphy replied, “No comment.”

The action comes as the legislature is faced with a decision – kill off the Ethics Commission or extend it for several more years. If no bill passes, the Ethics Commission will expire on June 30.

Senator Bill Ketron has put into play a bill that would transfer the ethics law enforcement to the Registry of Election Finance. The Ethics Commission itself would expire but the laws would stay in place – lobbyists would still have to register, etc.

Ketron’s bill to transfer the functions of the Ethics Commission to the Registry is SB 162 Ketron/HB 506 Todd.

That bill has advanced to the Finance committees of both houses.

The bill to extend the Ethics Commission – continue it until 2012, rather than killing it this June – is SB 358 Johnson/HB1050 Lynn.

The bill has been repeatedly deferred in the two Government Operations committees and is on the agenda in Senate Government Operations Tuesday and in the House committee Wednesday.