State Delegate Hamilton apologizes

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - WAVY.com investigated Del. Phil Hamilton and whether he created an appearance of conflict of interest in getting funding for ODU.

The Newport News 21-year legislative veteran secured $500,000 for a new teacher training center which instructs teachers how to better instruct SOLs and No Child Left Behind requirements.

Problems arose when Hamilton denied any wrongdoing and emails surfaced telling a different story.

"Clearly I want to apologize," Hamilton said.

He said this sitting in front of 5" of emails indicating he was using his position in the General Assembly to get start-up funding for the Center for Teacher Quality and Educational Leadership (CTQEL) at ODU.

"Obviously, this stack of emails indicate there were emails prior, during, and after the legislative system, and I apologize for that," Hamilton told WAVY.com.

The conversations center on a consulting job he wanted before he sought funding for the center. Hamilton wrote to then ODU President Roseann Runte: "When we talked about the center...I expressed an interest in being associated with the initiative from a professional perspective. If possible, I would like to discuss the possibility with you prior to my leaving for the GA on January 8, 2007."

Later, during that session ODU got $500,000 in funding and Hamilton got a $40,000 a year job.

"There was no promise of employment. Were there discussions of a job? Yes. Was there a suggested salary in a dollar amount? Yes, there was," Hamilton said.

We asked, "Was there a conflict of interest?" Hamilton insists there was no "getting this for giving that," but knows it looks like that.

"I know what it looks like. I'm not running from what it looks like. I know it was no quid-pro-quo," he said.

Hamilton also left the impression he wanted a job. An email sent from the Program Director Dave Blackburn to his boss William Graves, Dean of ODU's Darden College of Education, read,  "Phil must feel he will get money...and is ensuring that he has a home to go to...if you recall, he only wanted a small part-time deal."

Hamilton says for the $40,000 he set up several seminars, promoted the Training Center around the state, helped with grant writing, and in some cases found workers.

Current ODU President John Broderick was also mentioned in the Runte email on December 21, 2006.

"I enjoyed meeting with you and John yesterday. I sent him the information I have provided to the HAC staff for the budget amendment," Hamilton wrote.

Broderick was a government liaison for ODU and has a long working relationship with Hamilton. Hamilton says he's unsure how much Broderick knew about his employment, and Broderick refused an on camera interview to discuss what he knew.

In a statement on the ODU website, Broderick said the University and Hamilton agreed to mutually sever ties. Broderick appointed the Dean of the Darden College of Education William Graves to oversee the oversight of the CTQEL.

Ironically, Dean Graves, who appears in scores of emails concerning Hamilton's involvement in the school and who is aware of Hamilton's employment in the CTQEL, at no point questions whether it's appropriate for Hamilton to be associated with a program he secured funding for. Moreover, no one at ODU questioned it either.

When asked if Dean Graves oversight was like putting the fox in the hen house, a University Spokesperson said, "No comment."

In the end, it is clear what Hamilton brought most to the table was Hamilton himself, and all the connections that come with that.

"I let myself down. I'm not backing away from this. The ones I have most respect for are the ones who accept responsibility, step up and say so. I'm stepping up, and if I made mistakes and these emails say I have then I have to accept responsibility," a teary eyed Hamilton said.