Members of the Columbia County and Taghkanic Democratic committees filed an ethics complaint yesterday against Rob Fitzsimmons, a lawyer who represents both the County and also several of its municipalities.
The complaint alleges that Fitzsimmons improperly failed to recuse himself when a possible of interest arose between two of his clients, Board of Elections Commissioner Virginia Martin and Supervisor Betty Young. The complainants likewise accuse the attorney of "fraternizing" and "strategizing" with Columbia County Republican leaders, which may have resulted in Martin receiving incorrect advice and being put at a disadvantage in recent legal wrangling over second home voters' absentee ballots.
Fitzsimmons has replied in the local press that nothing unusual or untoward occurred. The text of the complaint against him can be downloaded as a PDF by clicking here.
