Ethics Commission backs executive director in spat

The state Ethics Commission on Wednesday gave Leslie Kondo, its executive director, a vote of confidence after the commission’s former executive director asked that he be fired.

Daniel Mollway, the former executive director, had written a letter to the com- mission accusing Kondo of allegedly operating in a “rogue and arbitrary fashion.” Mollway cited public statements that Kondo has made suggesting that a for- mer member of a state mortgage foreclosure task force violated ethics law when no formal case has been brought before the commission.

But the Ethics Commis- sion was not convinced that Kondo acted improperly and voted unanimously to reject Mollway’s request that he be fired.

“Based on my contacts with the staff, I believe you’re doing an excellent job here,” Maria Sullivan, the commission’s chairwoman, told Kondo. “We evaluated you within the last year and you received very high marks.”

Kondo said he was frustrated and disappointed that Mollway made serious accusations against him and that he circulated the letter to the commission, state lawmakers and advo- cacy groups, but then
lacked the “courage” to at- tend the commission’s meeting Wednesday.

“My feeling is that Mr. Mollway continues to feel that he’s the executive director, and he’s not,” Kondo said.

Mollway, who served as the commission’s executive director for 24 years, was fired in 2010. The commission cited an investigative report critical of his work habits and management style.