Ethics complaint against Senate President Lawson dismissed

Rhode Island’s Ethics Commission voted 4-to-1 on Tuesday, Sept. 2 to dismiss an ethics complaint against Senate President Valarie Lawson, who also leads the National Education Association of Rhode Island. The complaint, filed by Defending Education, alleged conflicts in Lawson’s votes on a new three-year moratorium on new charter schools sought by the teachers union and a bill aimed at helping charter schools unionize, which died in the House. Commissioners found the complaint did not state sufficient facts for Code of Ethics violations; Hugo Ricci cast the lone dissent. Lawson said she followed ethics guidance and previously received clearance for dual roles.