Cohen and Wolf Attorney Ken Bernhard Elected Chairmanof Citizens' Ethics Advisory Board for Connecticut

October 2, 2009

G. Kenneth Bernhard, principal at the law firm of Cohen and Wolf, P.C., has been elected to a two-year term as chairman of Connecticut's Citizens' Ethics Advisory Board. Mr. Bernhard, who was originally appointed to the Board by House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero in 2008, will begin his term as chairman in October. The Board was created in 2005 to serve as the governing body for the Office of State Ethics, an independent watch-dog agency that replaced the State Ethics Commission.

Mr. Bernhard, who represented Westport from 1997-2005 in the Connecticut General Assembly where he served as Assistant Minority Leader, said, "There is nothing more important to the democratic process than having a government that maintains the highest ethical standards. Under the very capable oversight of outgoing chairman Robert Worgaftik, the Office of State Ethics has successfully fulfilled its important role to the Connecticut community. I intend to work diligently, as the new chairman of the Ethics Advisory Board, to ensure that it continues to do so."

"Mr. Bernhard's wealth of experience and commitment to good government has proved invaluable to the Office of State Ethics and the Citizens Ethics Advisory Board," said Carol Carson, Executive Director of the Office of State Ethics (OSE). "Ken's impressive background, including his roles as state legislator, Attorney Trial Referee and instructor of constitutional law to emerging democracies, will propel the agency forward as we grapple with issues such as coalitions and grassroots lobbying. I look forward to working with Ken and, together with him, advancing the OSE's mission to provide the citizens of Connecticut with ethical state government."

The Citizens Ethics Advisory Board and the Office of State Ethics are charged with ensuring honesty, integrity and accountability in state government through education, interpretation, and enforcement of the state's Code of Ethics. Meeting on a monthly basis, the Board issues advisory opinions, makes legislative recommendations to the General Assembly, and adjudicates enforcement matters for violations of the state's Code of Ethics.

As an attorney at Cohen and Wolf, Mr. Bernhard represents businesses, individuals and municipalities in Connecticut on a wide range of matters. He is currently serving as the Town Attorney for Wilton and Weston. He previously served as Town Attorney for Westport.