Kaine wants ethics probe of Hamilton to continue

NORFOLK

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said Wednesday he opposes shutting down a state ethics investigation of former legislator Phil Hamilton's financial ties to Old Dominion University.

Kaine said halting the investigation after Hamilton resigned Sunday would prevent Virginians from understanding what happened.

"Sunlight is the best disinfectant," Kaine said during a meeting with The Virginian-Pilot's editorial board.

Making public an ethics panel's findings about the scandal could prompt changes, such as raising legislative pay, to avoid such problems in the future, he said.

Kaine also suggested that if left unexplained, the episode could taint ODU's reputation at a time when the university's stature is on the rise.

"I haven't thought of what is the precise mechanism for effecting change, but I do think that this story needs to be made public," Kaine said. "We need to analyze whether we have the right rules or not."

The governor said he has spoken with members of ODU 's Board of Visitors about his concerns.

"I've said this is very serious. I think you need to be very transparent about what happened, for the good of the university," Kaine said.

The investigation centered on Hamilton's negotiation of a $40,000-a-year job for himself at an ODU teacher training center while using his position as a legislator to help secure startup funds for the facility in 2007.

The controversy arose after The Virginian-Pilot began reporting details of the arrangement in July. House Speaker William Howell, a Republican, asked for the investigation in August after a growing public outcry.

Before his resignation Sunday, Hamilton, a 21-year veteran of the General Assembly, had been chairman of the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee and an acknowledged expert on education and health-services issues. The Newport News Republican lost his bid for re-election on Nov. 3 by a 1,500-vote margin to a political newcomer, Robin Abbott, who made the ethics issue part of her campaign.

Hamilton's term was to expire in January. After he stepped down, Howell and other officials said the ethics panel could not continue its investigation, because it has jurisdiction only over incumbent legislators.

Members of the ethics panel are forbidden by law to discuss any of their activities. Only if they complete an investigation and find wrongdoing are they allowed to make a public report.

Howell said Hamilton has paid a heavy price for his actions and suggested that Democrats who want to continue the investigation "aren't going to be satisfied until he's hanging from the gallows."

Kaine said he has not spoken with Howell about his wishes but has talked with the speaker in the past about his concerns with relatively low legislative salaries. House members are paid $17,640 annually plus expenses.

"We're expecting people to work an awful lot of time. It's not just a 60-day session anymore," Kaine said.

Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell has declined to comment on whether the Hamilton investigation should continue, saying through his spokesman, Tucker Martin, that it is a "legal matter for the House of Delegates."

Martin also reiterated McDonnell's campaign pledge to push for an independent ethics commission.

"As governor, he will work with the General Assembly to ensure that this commission is created and given all the resources necessary to fully carry out its duties," he said.

Pilot writer Julian Walker contributed to this report.

Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@pilotonline.com