Here is a history of Jim Leftwich’s dual role with state government and Wright State University, which resulted in the termination of his state job and the matter being referred to the Ohio Ethics Commission for investigation.
March 2011: Gov. John Kasich taps Leftwich to be director for the Ohio Department of Development.
Aug. 1, 2011: Leftwich abruptly steps down, and the work is transitioned to the new JobsOhio, led by venture capitalist Mark Kvamme.
Sept. 1, 2011: Leftwich hired as "intermittent employee" at Ohio Department of Development advising the governor on aerospace and defense issues at $85 an hour.
May 4, 2012: Wright State signs first contract with Leftwich's company, Viance Partners, which covers period from March 1 to June 30, 2012 and pays $12,500 a month.
July 19, 2012: Wright State signs a 12-month, $20,000-per-month contract with Viance Partners.
August 2012: Kasich appoints Leftwich to Third Frontier Advisory Board.
October 2012: Kasich administration terminates Leftwich's job at the development department and refers matter to Ohio Ethics Commission. Leftwich resigns from Third Frontier Advisory Board.
December 2013: Federal Aviation Administration passes over Ohio and picks six other sites for unmanned aerial vehicle testing.
Nov. 12, 2014: Receives public reprimand, $21,000 fine by Ohio Ethics Commission..
Source: Dayton Daily News research
Former Dayton Development Coalition director and Kasich administration official Jim Leftwich avoided criminal prosecution for violating state ethics laws and agreed to pay a $21,000 fine, according to an Ohio Ethics Commission settlement agreement released Wednesday.
The Ethics Commission publicly reprimanded Leftwich for simultaneously holding a state job and consulting contracts with Wright State University without properly disclosing the dual roles. But the commission did not refer the case for prosecution because of mitigating circumstances, the agreement said.
Ethics investigators found that the director of the Ohio Department of Development originally wanted to hire Leftwich as a consultant — not a state employee — and his state business card said “policy consultant.” It is an important distinction because state employees and outside consultants have different requirements under state ethics laws.
Investigators also said there was no evidence that Leftwich double-billed his hours, used his state position to land the Wright State contracts or consulted WSU on matters related to his state work.
The $21,000 fine, which must be paid within 18 months, amounts to half of what Leftwich earned from the state development department during the months that he also had WSU contracts.
“They did their investigation and found what we knew from the beginning — that I should have filled out that (disclosure) form,” said Leftwich. He added that it was an oversight due to a “chaotic” beginning as an intermittant state employee.
The settlement agreement comes nearly two years after the Kasich administration dismissed Leftwich when officials learned of his dual roles and referred it to the ethics commission.
Leftwich originally joined the Kasich administration in March 2011 as state development director but stepped down six months later. A month later, his former department, which was renamed the Development Services Agency, hired him back as an intermittent employee at $85 an hour. He was paid $114,850 by the state over 13 months to help Ohio get a federal designation as a drone testing site.
Like many universities, WSU wants to increase revenue by commercializing technology research and growing technology startup companies. Wright State hired Leftwich and his consulting company, Viance Partners, to help. Viance Partners was to be paid $277,5000 over 15 months, according to the contracts, which ended in June 2013.
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