While the Hudson Charter Change initiative is dead in the water owing to a missed deadline, the Columbia County Forward initiative to reform county government is challenging the powers that be in court. This evening, Sam Hodge, chair of the Columbia County Democratic Committee, who initiated the lawsuit against the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, Board of Supervisors Clerk Kelly Baccaro, and the Columbia County Board of Elections, reported on what happened in court today. The following are excerpts from his letter:
This afternoon, our attorneys stood in Columbia County Supreme Court to defend our popular, citizen-led petition to create a full-time, elected County Executive.
What followed was both outrageous and sadly predictable.
Only one of the three Republican objectors bothered to show up. But under oath, the lone objector admitted something truly stunning: he worked with the taxpayer-funded Special Counsel to craft his objections before submitting them for the very same counsel to review with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.
Let's be clear:
That is collusion. That is unethical. That is wrong.
The same lawyer paid with YOUR tax dollars to advise the Clerk about objections was secretly helping to write them. It's a conflict of interest and a breach of public trust. . . .
We knew Republican leadership would use every trick in the book to block this initiative. But even by their standards, this crosses a line. Chairman Murell and his allies should be ashamed for orchestrating this corrupt and partisan scheme.
And let's not forget: these are valid petitions, signed by nearly 4,000 of our neighbors--Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike--who believe Columbia County deserves better. . . .
The hearing will resume later this week, so the two absent Republican objectors can appear. Our legal team continues to press forward with strong arguments, and we won't stop until every voter has the chance to be heard. . . .
Columbia County Forward has established a legal defense fund. If you feel compelled to support the democratic process (note the lowercase d) in Columbia County, click here.
Well done on the clearly written statement, and indeed the complaint, Sam and team.
ReplyDeleteCertain leaders in the County GOP will have a very hard time with this well-founded lawsuit. Leave no stone unturned.
Now, it would be even better if you or your Columbia County / City of Hudson Democratic Party colleagues applied the same standard and scrutiny of "conflicts of interests" to the City of Hudson, the county seat.
- Where is your statement or legal action regarding conflicts of interests between Mayor Kamal and Galvan, and his Housing Justice Director Michelle Tullo?
- Or several 501c3s, some Galvan tenants with undisclosed Form 990s, participating directly in political campaigns, supporting individual candidates, and coordinating explicitly and implicitly with PACs in a recent election.
Corruption, fraud, and abuse of public office are not partisan issues. They erode trust in government across the political spectrum.