Tag: Joan Parker

W.Va. Ethics Panel Interviews Director Candidates

More than a dozen people have applied to become the next executive director of the West Virginia Ethics Commission.

Commissioner Betty Ireland is chairwoman of the commission’s personnel committee. She tells The Charleston Gazette that the committee is interviewing 15 applicants.

Ireland says the applicants have a wide variety of legal experience and backgrounds. She says some are living out of state and want to return to West Virginia.

State law requires the executive director to be a lawyer and a member of the West Virginia bar for at least five years.

The commission fired former executive director Joan Parker on June 5. Charleston attorney Rebecca Stepto has been serving as interim executive director.

W.Va. Ethics Commission Votes to Fire Executive Director

The West Virginia Ethics Commission voted to fire its executive director and gave no reason for her termination.

The commission’s 5-4 vote Thursday ends Joan Parker’s tenure as director. The commission discussed her firing behind closed doors for about an hour.  
 
Parker started as director in February 2013. She had served as the commission’s general counsel for four years.
 
Ethics Commissioner the Rev. Douglas Sutton said the panel believed Parker’s termination was in the best interest of the commission. He said the commission is not stating a reason for the dismissal because Parker is an employee at will.
 
Before the vote, Parker said she had done everything possible to comply with ethics laws, even when it was unpopular.
 

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