Bay to Bay News | by Glenn Rolfe
Delaware’s Department of Transportation said Friday a possible violation of state code of conduct is being addressed in-house amid a connection linking Delaware Transit Corporation Chief Operating Officer Richard Paprcka’s name and state email to a funding site supporting the Freedom Convoy staged at the U.S./Canada border in protest over COVID-19 mandates and restrictions.
“We are aware of the report and are addressing it internally,” said DelDOT spokesman C.R. McLeod.
Mr. Paprcka continues to serve in his role as COO, Mr. McLeod said.
At issue is a donation of $50 and the following message: “God bless you all, need your spirit here in the US!” attributed to a Richard Paprcka via the email address: rich.paprcka@delaware.gov.
An email request for comment sent to Mr. Paprcka at that address early Friday afternoon received no response.
Wilmington resident John Flaherty, of Delaware Coalition for Open Government, believes this sets a bad example.
“At a minimum this gentleman has committed an act of appearance of impropriety. As a state employee they are compensated, they get medical, they get a lot of benefits. They should not be using state assets at work for their own private, political purposes,” said Mr. Flaherty
“Now in this case it was about the truckers up in Canada. But it didn’t matter what it was about. It could be about the truckers. It could be about cab drivers. It could be about bus drivers. But if you want to express your own personal political views, you don’t do it at work, particularly if you’re the boss. The boss sets the example,” said Mr. Flaherty, past president of the coalition and a current board of directors member.
“This sets a bad example for his subordinates. Not only is it a bad example, but it’s not in accord with the state ethics code,” said Mr. Flaherty. “I think he owes some explanation about what happened here.”
The Freedom Convoy encompasses a series of ongoing protests and blockades in Canada in protest of COVID-19 vaccine requirements for truckers to re-enter the country by land, introduced by the Canadian government on Jan. 15, 2022.