The R.I. Ethics Commission has ruled it’s likely that R.I. Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano violated the state ethics code by failing to report income that he received from West Warwick for legal work related to the Narragansett Indian casino proposal.
Do you believe Montalbano’s work for the town created a conflict of interest?
* Yes 87.5%
* No 12.5%
If you believe his conduct was wrong, what do you believe is an appropriate punishment?
* A fine 63.6%
* Imprisonment 18.2%
* Loss of office 36.4%
Do you believe that Rhode Island’s political system encourages similar conflicts of interest?
* Yes 90.9%
* No 9.1%
What do you believe are the root causes of ethics violations in Rhode Island?
* Having a part-time legislature 30.4%
* Rhode Island’s smallness 21.7%
* A culture of favors 60.9%
* Widespread corruption among politicians 39.1%
The Providence Business News Executive Poll is a weekly survey of 70 business leaders throughout the state, representing small and large companies in a variety of industries.
