EKB News

Friday, the Executive Branch Ethics Commission voted 3-0 to allow former Governor Paul Patton to serve as Pikeville College President while remaining Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education Chairman. John Steffen, Executive Director of the Ethics Commission, had advised that, in order to avoid the appearance of impropriety, it would be best if Patton not serve in both positions, noting that, as chairman, he had the ability to appoint committees and had control over closed-door sessions. However, Robert King, President of the Council, says the chair is not powerful under the current makeup of the commission, and decisions such as which universities and colleges can teach certain programs are made by him, not the board.