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`substantially benefited' in a contract would mean some worthwhile advantage, profit, or good." In re Krause's Estate, 173 Wash. 1, 21 P.2d 268, 270 (1933) (citations omitted). 15. 16. Minn. R. pt. 4515.0100, subp. 5 (1997). Minn. Stat. § 10A.01, subd. 4 (1998). 17. The Minnesota Supreme Court has stated: "There is no settled general rule as to whether [a direct personal] interest will disqualify an official" from participating in public proceedings in a decision - making capacity. Lenz v. Coon Creek Watershed Dist., 278 Minn. 1, 153 N.W.2d 209, 219 (1976) (footnote omitted). According to the Court, "Each case must be decided on the basis of the particular facts present." Id. 18. Cf. 16 C.F.R. § 5.2(d) (1998) (personal fmancial interests are insubstantial financial conflicts and excepted from federal conflict of interest laws if the personal fmancial interests are "too remote or too inconsequential to affect the integrity of an employee's services "). 19. 24. Minn. Stat. § 10A.07, subd. 1(1) (1998). 20 ' See Minn. Stat. § 10A.07, subd. 1(3) (1998) (a member of the governing body of a metropolitan governmental unit who has a potential conflict of interest must "deliver a copy of the statement to the presiding officer of the body of service "). 21. See, e.g., Minn. Stat. § 10A.07, subd. 1(2) (1998) (a public official who has a potential conflict of interest should "deliver copies of the statement to the official's immediate superior, if any "). Although the statute does not clearly identify the individual to whom the Chair should provide a copy of the statement, the Chair probably should submit a copy of the statement to the Governor, who is the appointing authority for the Chair. The Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, previously known as the Ethical Practices Board, at one time adopted a rule that stated: "`Superior for purposes of notification of a potential conflict of interest' means: if the public official is a * * * member of a metropolitan agency, the chair of such board, * * * or, if the potential conflict of interest involves the chair, the superior shall be deemed to be the appointing authority for that office." Minn. R. pt. 4515.0100, subp. 7A (1993). Part 4515.0100, subpart 7A subsequently was repealed. See 20 Minn. Reg. 2504 (May 13, 1996) (adopting proposed new rules). 22. See Minn. Stat. § 10A.07, subd. 1 (1998) (if a potential conflict of interest arises and there is insufficient time to prepare and deliver a statement describing the conflict prior to the action or decision, "the public * * * official shall orally inform the superior or the official body of service or committee of the body of the potential conflict "). 23. Since Chapter 10A requires public officials to prepare a written statement when a potential conflict of interest arises and the statement must describe the nature of the potential conflict of interest, it probably would not be sufficient for a Council member to generally declare that a potential conflict of interest exists. See Minn. Stat. § 10A.07, subd. 1 (1998) (the required written statement must describe "the matter requiring action or decision and the nature of the potential conflict of interest "). The statute suggests that at least the general "nature" of a potential conflict must be disclosed when a member orally informs the Council or a Council committee about a potential conflict. Minn. Stat. § 10A.07, subd. 1 (1998). 25. See Northern States Power Co. v. Minnesota Pub. Util. Gomm'n, 414 N.W.2d 383, 386 (Minn. 1987) (even though there was no direct evidence that a member of the public utilities commission who participated in a rate case decision involving a potential employer unduly influenced the commission's -9-