Colorado Ethics Watch, a nonpartisan, nonprofit legal watchdog group, is calling on the Independent Ethics Commission (“IEC”) to release information about the executive director it recently hired, Jane Feldman. Without any notice to the public, the IEC announced its decision to hire Ms. Feldman in a one-sentence statement on the IEC’s website. The announcement was apparently posted on June 30, 2008, the day before she began her official duties, July 1, 2008.

“The voters who created the Independent Ethics Commission have a right to expect it to lead by example in promoting government transparency,” said Chantell Taylor, director of Ethics Watch. “We are delighted that almost two years after Amendment 41 was passed, the IEC has finally hired its first full-time staff. We hope, however, that the closed-door decision to hire Jane Feldman does not establish a precedent that the IEC intends to thumb its nose at public scrutiny. Such stealth decision-making violates the letter and spirit of the Colorado open meetings law. To rectify the situation and provide the public with full disclosure, the IEC should immediately release information about the skills Ms. Feldman will undoubtedly contribute to the IEC and commit itself to operating transparently in the future.”