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WASHINGTON COUNTY--Citing his concern that allegations that he was in violation of the federal Hatch Act would be disruptive to his campaign, Washington County attorney Roger Wickes has abandoned his quest to become the next Washington County Court judge.
Wickes announcement came just days after The North Country Gazette criticized his candidacy in the editor's Perspectives column on Monday.
http://www.northcountrygazette.org/articles/061806ProgressionOfAbuse.html
There had been numerous visits to the news publication's website since Monday from the IP number registered to Washington County government. On Thursday, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel had visited the website and read the Perspectives column.
An anonymous complaint against Wickes had been filed with OSC. Had he been found guilty, not only could he have been criminally prosecuted but the county could have lost its federal funding.
The Hatch Act applies to executive branch state and local employees who are principally employed in connection with programs financed in whole or in part by loans or grants made by the United States or a federal agency. The political subdivision of Washington County government receives both federal and state funding and as county attorney, Wickes is has control over the expenditure of some of these funds and in negotiating the contracts for various departments which receive federal monies.
As county attorney, he provides services and administrative support to the county's Department of Social Services and DSS seeks reimbursement from federal grants for the costs of that support. It would also appear that Wickes' subordinate employees, such as attorney Daniel Martindale, provide legal services to DSS and DSS would seek reimbursement from federal grants for the cost of those services.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel enforces the Hatch Act and if a covered individual knowingly seeks partisan office in violation of the Hatch Act, he is subject to criminal penalties and the municipality or political subdivision which employs him must either remove the employee or forfeit a portion of the federal assistance equal to two years salary of the employee.
Wickes had been endorsed by the county Republican Committee.
Wickes had reportedly claimed he didn't know if he was in violation of the Hatch Act or not.
With Wickes' withdrawal from the race, three Republicans are left including assistant district attorney Kelly McKeighan whose eligibility has also been questioned in that it appears that the DA's office is also the recipient of federal funding for programs such as domestic violence.
The other candidates in the judicial race are Granville attorney John Winn, brother of the former district attorney Robert Winn who retired and is now working as a part-time ADA in Essex County, and Washington County public defender Jeffrey McMorris. 6-22-06
© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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