CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An Ohio County delegate says political party chairs in West Virginia should not be allowed to also work as lobbyists at the State Capitol.
“On its face, it’s a bold conflict,” said Del. Shawn Fluharty (D-Ohio, 03). “Essentially, the way it is now, you have the head coach of the team down here lobbying.”
According to the 2015 West Virginia Ethics Commission’s Directory of Lobbyists, Conrad Lucas, chairman of the state Republican Party, is working as a lobbyist for Brickstreet Mutual Insurance, Capitol Resources and Northwood Health Systems during the ongoing legislative session.
Larry Puccio, chairman of the state Democratic Party, is not included on that latest available list of lobbyists which reflected those registered as of Dec. 19, 2014.
In the list of registered lobbyists dated for Nov. 2014, Puccio’s clients included Anheuser-Busch, Charles Town Races and Slots, FirstEnergy, Frontier Communications, The Greenbrier Resort, Hospitality & Travel WV, Ohio Valley Medical Center, Pallotine Health Service, the West Virginia Press Association, Southern Coal Corporation, United Health System and West Virginia University Research Corporation.
Puccio became a lobbyist in 2010 right after leaving then-Gov. Joe Manchin’s Administration where he had served as chief of staff. He was later selected to lead the West Virginia Democratic Party.
Fluharty is one of the sponsors of legislation designed to address such conflicts with lobbyists in the future
“Obviously, they’re (lobbyists) influential and they have a part of this process and that’s the process we have and we must live with it but, at the same time, we must be clear with the people that we’re going to do it the right way,” he said.
His concern is possible punishments for candidates who do not support a party chair’s clients.
“You may not have the full support of the party, as a whole, because they may not be satisfied with how you’re representing their interests which are conflicted with the lobbying groups that they represent,” Fluharty said.
“I feel as a party chair, you should be beyond and outside of any particular interest. The interest should just be of the party and not any self-serving interest.”
As proposed, Puccio and Lucas would be grandfathered into the legislation so, if it’s approved, they could continue to work in dual roles.
Fluharty was a guest on Wednesday’s MetroNews “Talkline” which originated from the State Capitol where the 2015 Regular Legislative Session continues. As of Wednesday morning, his bill had not yet been introduced in the state House of Delegates.