I was really disappointed to learn that Gov. Josh Shapiro’s attendance at this year’s Super Bowl was financed by a nonprofit corporation that gets state grants and financing.

Originally, I was impressed with Shapiro’s rules about how he and his administration members would operate when it comes to taking freebies and other inducements from any company or organization that could be construed as quid-pro-quos for doing business with the state.

It turns out, according to Spotlight PA, an independent news organization that operates throughout the Commonwealth, that Shapiro and some of his top staff members went to Glendale, Arizona, on Feb. 12 to see the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, which the Chiefs won in an exciting come-from-behind nail-biter, 38-35.

When he took office last month, one of Shapiro’s first decisions was to establish a policy that prohibited him and executive department employees from accepting, among other things, tickets to recreational events such as the Super Bowl.

The tickets, along with the flight and lodging for the excursion, were paid for by Team Pennsylvania, a public-private partnership whose mission is to improve “competitiveness and economic prosperity.’’

The nonprofit organization received nearly $1.7 million from the Wolf administration in 2021-22, and a new contract worth $100,000 was approved last month by the Shapiro administration which is to be used for a study on how to incorporate hydrogen technology into Pennsylvania’s energy arsenal, according to Spotlight PA.

To date, Team Pennsylvania has received more than $17 million in state contracts during the last 25 years.

Abby Smith, president and CEO of Team Pennsylvania, told Spotlight PA that the organization is not covered by the gift ban because it does not recommend policy.

I don’t buy it, because it smacks of a case of splitting hairs.

Smith makes the case that there is no contractural agreement with the state, so this is a different animal from what the gift ban was intended to prohibit.

Hogwash!

I am not saying that Shapiro and some key lieutenants should not have attended the Super Bowl. In fact, since there was a Pennsylvania team competing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy before a worldwide audience, it was probably a good idea for him to fly the flag on behalf of state government and its citizens, but the trip should have been paid for from the governor’s travel budget as a legitimate expense as part of his job.

Public officials need to avoid not only actual conflicts but the perception of conflicts to restore integrity to the political system. What Shapiro and his staff did reeks of a perceived conflict, even if it does not fit the intent of his ban on accepting gifts.

My recommendation is that he reimburse Team Pennsylvania from his travel account, and I strongly urge him to stay clear of stuff like this for the remainder of his tenure.

In many ways, aside from this and a couple of less serious miscues, Shapiro is off to a good start, but it is way too early in his four-year term to be giving him a performance grade.

Beginning with his overwhelming election over Republican Doug Mastriano last November, Shapiro can boast of a public mandate and a honeymoon period of good will.

Do not squander it, Governor, with questionable ethical decisions, especially when there is no need for it.

By BRUCE FRASSINELLI | tneditor@tnonline.com

The foregoing opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Times News LLC.