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QUESTION
What constitutes a conflict of interest and how is financial compensation considered?
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Milton Williams, the Chair of the Conflicts of Interest Board, explains that conflicts of interest can occur when individuals are unqualified for positions or given unfair advantages, including situations involving financial compensation.
- Conflicts of interest may arise if individuals are not qualified for a position or are given an unfair advantage.
- Financial compensation can play a role in determining conflicts of interest.
- Cases of potential conflicts, including those involving hiring family members, are evaluated carefully and individually.
- The board maintains a high standard of scrutiny for all evaluated circumstances, without heightened scrutiny for any specific circumstance.
Keith Powers
0:27:56
And what what would be what would be what would what would constitute a conflict then?
0:28:04
In this sense.
Milton Williams
0:28:05
If someone is receiving a position because of a a particular, like, I'm just saying in general.
0:28:13
K?
0:28:14
If a, they're not really qualified for the position and b, they're being placed there maybe the given advantage to somebody.
Keith Powers
0:28:24
Okay.
0:28:24
And does financial conversation have anything to do with that equation whether you were compensated or not?
Milton Williams
0:28:29
It could.
0:28:30
We have to look at a myriad of factors, but it it absolutely could.
Keith Powers
0:28:34
Okay.
0:28:34
Are there examples in recent memory where a family member has been denied a position.
Milton Williams
0:28:41
I don't not not that I recall.
Keith Powers
0:28:43
I'm sorry.
0:28:43
The the where Kauai has stated that it's a conflict to hire a family member even for minimal compensation.
Milton Williams
0:28:51
So a, not that I recall and b, gonna have to be careful about discussing specific cases.
Keith Powers
0:28:58
I'm not asking you to spit in specific cases, although they would well, I under I understand your point, but I think there would be certainly the beginning part of your answer seem satisfactory, which is not in your understanding.
0:29:11
Okay.
0:29:13
I I think that's putting aside the specific examples speaker was talking about.
0:29:18
I think that's also what we're trying to understand here sometimes is the how the application of the law and what the spirit of law says relative to that higher government family member because we've seen in other administrations as well.
0:29:32
It's not just about one situation in the current moment.
0:29:35
So I I think you have something else to add to that.
Milton Williams
0:29:37
Yeah.
0:29:38
Rest assured, that each circumstance is evaluated carefully.
0:29:43
I don't wanna say that there's heightened scrutiny to particular circumstances over others.
0:29:50
There's a high standard for everyone, and the and the board is very diligent about evaluating each set of facts.
Keith Powers
0:29:56
Well, I I may want there to be higher scrutiny.
0:29:59
I might we might want there to be a higher scrutiny in this case case of a family member being hired.
Milton Williams
0:30:03
Well, I I would I would assert that the the the standards that the board employees in terms of evaluating these facts and circumstances are are high enough that you could say everything's under heightened
Keith Powers
0:30:16
Okay.
0:30:17
It's a good answer.
0:30:18
Will I I also wanna recognize it will be joined by a council member of Hudson here as well.