Not guilty plea in Water Authority case
We’ve talked about the Water Authority scandal a great deal in the past. It’s a classic case of local Republican corruption, one in which the law may have been broken. It’s in court now:
John Stanwix, former Monroe County Water Authority executive director, pleaded not guilty today to a single misdemeanor charge of violating the Public Authorities Law.
Stanwix, a former Monroe County Legislature president and former chairman of the county Republican party, is charged with violating the law in connection with his work for a consultant that had business before the Water Authority.
A 2007 audit from the state comptroller’s office found that Stanwix was paid unearned sums, stemming from a lack of oversight and lack of written policies.
By the time Stanwix left in 2002, he was earning $134,000, an increase of 44.8 percent over two years.
Update: Here’s more from a later article today in the D&C:
Any decision to file more charges against Stanwix would be up to the grand jury that brought the first charge, which is still in session, said District Attorney Michael Green.
Stanwix is charged with violating a section of the public authorities law that deals exclusively with the Monroe County Water Authority.
Section 1107 states officers and employees of the water authority should not have an interest in companies with the potential to work for the authority.
“No question from our perspective it’s a serious charge,†Green said. “If you’re the executive director of a public authority, it’s your job to be looking out for the public’s interest.â€
I like this line
What is the difference between “a misdemeanor” charge and “a single misdemeanor charge”
As if because it is only a “single” misdemeanor as a opposed of lots of charges, it isn’t that bad.
Now that the water authority is back in the news - I wonder if we will get episode 5 of MCDC’s groundbreaking youtube videos /snark
maybe tracy logel could take over at the WA. She needs a job, or John Auberger or Ralph Espostio. All rumored to be retiring soon
[...] getting traction, a not guilty plea in the Water Authority Scandal. The one were John Stanwix allegedly had illegal business relationships with Water Authority contractors, a date is set for the NY-48 State Senate Special election, [...]