Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau has been hired to run a city housing agency, prompting taxpayers to call out insider greasing.
“So the Speaker of the House lands the executive director job at Biddeford Housing Authority, and we’re supposed to believe there’s no conflict of interest?” asked SF O’Leary on Facebook. “Give me a break. This is exactly why so many people think Maine politics is one big insiders’ club. The people making the rules shouldn’t be the same people walking into the jobs that benefit from them.”The housing agency issued a press release earlier this week announcing Fecteau’s hiring.
Two Biddeford news outlets that posted the news immediately began hearing from angry readers.
“No conflict there LOL,” commented David Hook.
Fecteau is currently working for Avesta Housing of Portland in addition to his job as head of the Maine House.
“OK, Ryan Fecteau works full-time for Avesta Housing while serving as speaker,” said Chuck Cote, noting that Fecteau had recently sponsored legislation imposing a new tax on real estate sales over $1 million.
“Part of the additional revenue is directed to state affordable housing programs,” Cote said. “Avesta Housing is one of the organizations that can receive funding from those programs, meaning Fecteau’s employer stands to benefit from a tax he supported.
“While the money isn’t paid directly to Avesta, this is definitely a conflict of interest,” Cote opined. “He led the charge on this tax to benefit himself and his company. I’d like to see full disclosure from Avesta on the money they receive and what Ryan makes for a salary. Also The Maine Legislative Ethics Law requires lawmakers to act in the best interest of the public rather than their own wallets. This is a clear violation.”
Now Fecteau’s “housing advocacy” as a legislator has helped him slide into a new job at the Biddeford housing agency.
“I am really excited about being able to work right in my back yard on issues that I have been working on for several years,” Fecteau told the Biddeford Gazette.
Fecteau “says his new job will not interfere with his work as a legislator,” reports Randy Seaver, the Gazette’s editor.
Put a blue ribbon on that.
“This is a huge CONFLICT OF INTEREST! “ Vincent Barra told the Biddeford Buzz. “Is everyone blind? He’s passing housing laws, working for the developer and now making decisions on Biddeford Housing. Are you people blind????”
Amid the questions over Fecteau’s apparent conflict, Assistant House Republican Leader Rep. Katrina Smith said she has asked that the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices review whether his new job prevents his working as a legislator.
I like Massachusetts approach: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/state-ethics-commission
They include spouses and family members
Ryan Fecteau Is not going to let Troy Jackson be the only crooked scumbag filling his pockets with money working at the state house.