A past political opponent has reportedly filed an ethics complaint against House Majority Leader Doug Ley.

Ley, a resident of Jaffrey, has been a representative in the House since 2012, and became the House Majority Leader in 2018.

During that time, Ley has also served as the president of the American Federation of Teachers New Hampshire, a union which represents teachers.

The complaint, reportedly filed by Jaffrey resident Christopher Mazerall, alleges Ley violates the rules of legislative ethics by testifying on behalf of the AFT in the political arena while also serving as a Representative, and voted on bills the union has either endorsed or opposed. Mazerall ran against Ley for his State Representative seat in November of 2018.

When contacted, Ley declined to comment, writing in an email, “Under statute, complaints to the [Legislative] Ethics Committee are confidential. Therefore, I have no comment.”

Mazerall did not respond to requests for comment.

Ethics guidelines, which must be followed by all legislators, prohibit legislators from accepting anything of value if they know the intent of is to influence their actions, decisions, opinions or recommendations, or in return for introducing legislation or testifying before any legislative committee, or voting in session, or in return for having given a decision, recommendation, nomination or vote. 

The complaint has been compared to an advisory opinion submitted to the Legislative Ethics Committee in August of 2015, regarding Representative Gregory Hill. Hill was offered a position with the Children’s Scholarship Fund to serve as a fundraiser in the business community, a paid position. 

The Committee ruled Hill could accept the job. However, it also ruled he could still violate ethics guidelines if his participation in any official activity that would directly affect the interests of the Children’s Scholarship Fund. Disclosure of the potential conflict of interest in relation to his employment with the Children’s Scholarship Fund wouldn’t excuse any ethics violations.

 

Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.