In case you missed it – Former Patrick aide fined for ethics violation leading to $350k job

The State House New Service reported the following story on Christmas Eve:

Former Patrick administration Undersecretary for Business Development and ex-state representative Robert Coughlin admitted to violating state conflict of interest laws and has paid a $10,000 civil penalty, according to the State Ethics Commission.

Coughlin was found to have repeatedly weighed in on "matters of interest" to the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council after he had applied to become the group's president. The Ethics Commission found that Coughlin had indicated his interest in the MBC presidency, the post he holds now, as early as April 1, 2007, and had emailed a resume to the presidential search committee. Coughlin did not inform the governor's staff of his interest in the job until July 24, 2007, a week before he was formally interviewed by the search committee, according to the report.

Coughlin accepted the $350,000-a-year job on Sept. 4, 2007. While the search process was going on, Coughlin, in his capacity as undersecretary, met with MBC staff regularly, advised the governor on life sciences issues, met with the administration's economic development team to discuss tax incentives for life sciences companies, and met with other industry officials.

“After Coughlin submitted his resume in April, his official actions taken in connection with the MBC and its members raised numerous appearances of conflicts of interest,” said Ethics Commission Executive Director Karen Nober, in a statement. “The penalty reflects the seriousness of those violations.”

A $1 billion, ten-year life science industry investment law is one of the most highly touted laws passed this session.

And since $350,000 minus $10,000 equals $340,000 Mr. Coughlin should be fine in ’09.