article from THE STATE newspaper in Columbia, S.C. on Sunday, October 27, 2002.

John Monk
Staff Writer - THE STATE

"McConnell has largely given up his law practice to open a Civil War era memorabilia shop"

A proposed site for the Hunley Museum in North Charleston is about three miles from a Civil War Souvenir Store owned by Senator Glenn McConnell.

McConnell Attorney is Hunley Consultant

"IT JUST LOOKS LIKE ALL THIS IS A LITTLE TOO COZY." -Duke law professor Tom Metzloff discussing state workers with dual obligations.

a $78,466-a-year staff attorney for Senate leader Glenn McConnell has a $24,000-a-year consulting contract with a foundation he helps oversee.

As a staff attorney for McConnell, 35-year-old John Hazzard is chief counsel to the Hunley Commission. That commission created and oversees the Friends of the Hunley, which subsequently gave Hazzard a consulting contract. The chairman of the Friends also gave Hazzard free use of a $40,000 Porsche Boxster.

The Hunley Commission and the Friends of the Hunley are separate entities, but closely linked.

McConnell, who chairs the Hunley Commission, appoints the governing board of the Friends of the Hunley. The Senate leader also has steered public money--- more than $8 million in the past four years - to the Friends. The Friends spent that money to raise and conserve the Hunley.

Warren Lasch, chairman of the Friends of the Hunley, said he gave Hazzard free use of a Porsche because he can afford to and because Hazzard is a hard worker. Also, Hazzard is not paid his gas mileage costs while working for the Hunley, Lasch said.

The Friends handles millions of dollars in Hunley expenses. Hazzard reviews invoices and cosigns checks with Friends chairman Lasch.

McConnell said he sees no conflict in the arrangement.

All people on the Hunley project work as a team, he said, so there's no conflict.

McConnell also said:

Hazzard had taken a leave of absence in 2000 to work for the Friends of the Hunley and was familiar with the project.

Hazzard's contract with the Friends states that it and the Hunley Commission agree there's no conflict;

An informal opinion dated Dec. 10, 2001, by the Ethics Commission said no conflict existed. That opinion "Did not note the Porsche."

Two ethics experts, speaking generally, said such arrangements present problems.

"It just looks like all this is a little too cozy," Duke law professor Tom Metzloff said.

While there might not be a conflict, the arrangement "doesn't have the kind of independence you'd like to see" between a state agency and a foundation it is supposed to oversee, Metzloff said. Independence is important because if something goes awry, you don't want a potential conflict of interest, he said.

Public citizen ethics expert Craig Holman said arrangements in government should be set up so no one has a question about whether there might be a conflict.

"It gets to be mucky" when a government employee has a consulting arrangement with a group he regulates - whether or not those involved say it's OK, Holman said.

Hazzard said he saw nothing wrong with his arrangement - especially since he and McConnell have taken care to avoid conflicts of interest.

In any case, Hazzard said Friday that he's getting rid of the Porsche. "its lease ends today (Friday)."

Hazzard said he'll probably buy an Acura. "My wife wants me to get a more family-type car."