Rowland's $6K monthly benefits package Ethics reform law sparked by ex-governor's resignation only applies to officials in office

Former Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland, Feb. 13, 2006. Former Connecticut Gov. John G. Rowland, Feb. 13, 2006. Photo: AP Photo/Bob Child, AP Photo: AP Photo/Bob Child, AP Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Rowland's $6K monthly benefits package 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

Despite the specter of returning to prison -- this time for alleged unlawful political activity as a campaign consultant -- former Gov. John G. Rowland would likely get to keep his state pension of $4,309 a month, even as a repeat offender.

An ethics reform law spawned by Rowland's 2004 resignation as governor, but narrowed in its scope by the Legislature, only applies to sitting public sector officials and employees who are convicted of abusing their powers.

Connecticut taxpayers also foot the bill, currently estimated at $2,050 per month, for medical, dental and prescription coverage for the 56-year-old former governor and his family, according to the state comptroller's office, which also provided Hearst Connecticut Media with Rowland's monthly pension amount.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Wednesday that he can relate to constituents who would object to shouldering the costs for Rowland's retirement benefits.

"Nobody understands that view point better than I -- and appreciates the frustration and anger about corrupt public officials who betray the public trust and then may receive a pension," Blumenthal said. "That's the reason I proposed and advocated cutting or eliminating pensions for corrupt public officials and sought to enforce the law."

Rowland, who served 10 months in prison for accepting bribes and work by state contractors on his Bantam Lake cottage, once again finds himself at the center of a maelstrom.

On Monday, Republican Lisa Wilson-Foley pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring with Rowland to pay him off the books when she was a candidate for Congress in 2012. Under their arrangement, Rowland received $35,000 as a consultant to a chain of nursing homes owned by the candidate's husband, Brian Foley, who also admitted guilt.

The couple, who face up to a year imprisonment and up to $100,000 in fines, is expected to testify against Rowland in a likely prelude to an indictment.

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Rowland's lawyer, Reid Weingarten, a former Justice Department counsel favored by Enron and WorldCom executives, did not respond to a message seeking comment Wednesday.

Multiple people close to the current investigation told Hearst last month that Rowland turned down an 18-month prison sentence as part of a plea deal. Because he is no longer a public servant, his pension is safe.

Rowland is now employed as a radio talk show host on WTIC-AM.

After his release from prison, he worked for the Waterbury Regional Chamber as a development official, a position that those familiar with the state's pension revocation law said would come under its umbrella. Rowland didn't stay in the position long enough to earn a pension, however.

The organization's president and CEO, Lynn Ward, did not respond to a message seeking comment.

When he was state attorney general, Blumenthal said he urged lawmakers to pass legislation that would have enabled a judge to strip the pensions of state and municipal public servants convicted of misconduct going back 10 years.

But legislators favored a pension-revocation mechanism for future situations, culminating with the Democratically controlled General Assembly approving an ethics reform package and then-Gov. M. Jodi Rell signing it into law in 2008.

Rell, a Republican, was lieutenant governor when Rowland stepped down.

"My general feeling is that stronger laws relating to denying pensions to corrupt public officials are always worth considering," Blumenthal said. "I think the Legislature is always well-advised to consider laws that uphold the public trust and deter corruption and wrongdoing by public officials."

Since the law came onto the books -- health care benefits are outside its scope -- a pair of local public servants have relinquished their pensions through court settlements. They are: Lori Tompkins, a former school board clerk in Salisbury who was sentenced to three years in prison for stealing $110,395 from Salisbury Central School; and Karen Guillet, an ex-tax collector from Oxford who was sentenced to four years in prison for embezzlement.

Five similar cases are pending: against James Santorella, a former city accountant in Stamford caught embezzling $20,000; Eddie Perez, the disgraced former mayor of Hartford; Bruce Sanford, a former Redding highway superintendent who skimmed taxpayer money to restore his vintage truck; and Brenda Edwards and Suki Handly, both former state Department of Social Services employees who made unauthorized payments to themselves and family members.

A spokesman for Gov. Dannel P. Malloy referred questions Wednesday on Rowland's pension to Attorney General George Jepsen. His office issued the following statement:

"Any state or municipal official convicted on corruption-related charges -- defined specifically as embezzling public funds; committing felony theft from the state; bribery in connection with one's service as a state or municipal employee; or committing a felony in using their position to obtain a profit, gain or advantage for themselves or someone else -- could face court action from the attorney general seeking to revoke or reduce their pension.

"Under state statute, Connecticut's attorney general is authorized to initiate a civil action seeking reduction or revocation of the pension of any public official who, in state or federal criminal court, is convicted of or pleads guilty to a crime related to state or municipal office on or after October 2008."

neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy