MORGAN CALLS OUT BORRELLO‘S UNETHICAL PAY-TO-PLAY

Freedom, NY – State Senate candidate Austin Morgan today criticized Republican opponent George Borrello for an ethical lapse and possible campaign finance violation regarding a fundraiser held at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel on Thursday September 12^th. Morgan contends that when Borrello accepted and attended a campaign fundraiser organized and hosted by David Hart and Peter Krog, the developers who received state funds and county tax-breaks to build the hotel, he breached Chautauqua County ethics rules and potentially election law.

Austin Morgan

“This fundraiser is unethical at best and a severe campaign finance violation at worst. I will be filing a complaint with Risa Sugarman, chief enforcement counsel for campaign finance at the New York State Board of Elections. I will also be requesting that the Chautauqua County Board of Ethics investigate Mr. Borrello’s misdeeds and take appropriate action in accordance with the law and their authority,” Morgan said.

The Jamestown Post-Journal and Dunkirk Observer have previously reported: “The Western New York State Regional Economic Development Council, on behalf of the [Chautauqua Harbor Hotel] developers, sought $2.8 million in state funding through the competitive awards to support the tourism project, but the project ultimately received $1.9 million. It also received a $750,000 community development block grant economic development award from New York State Homes and Community Renewal…The project will also receive tax breaks from the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency.”



Chautauqua County’s code of ethics states that no county employee may, “...solicit any gift, or accept or receive any gift having a value of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) or more per year from any Person, other than a Family member, whether in the form of money, service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing or promise, or in any other form, who the County officer or employee knows is considering or has had any transactions with the county that involves any discretionary act by the County officer or employee.”



Morgan stated: "David Hart and Peter Krog, the developers of Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, are tonight returning the favor of county money used to finance the Chautauqua Lake destination by providing a multi-thousand-dollar party for my opponent in return for taxpayer dollars. These two developers are great men who are now tangled up in George Borrello's web of mistakes, mismanagement, and continued disregard for the rule of law. It's obvious that the County Executive would not change the culture of corrupt, unethical behavior that has morally bankrupted Albany for years."



Morgan continued, “The hard-working, everyday people of our counties will not stand for this unethical and potentially criminal behavior. My promise to the citizens of the 57^th Senate district, and all of New York State, is to stand for the principles of transparency, good government, and ethical representation. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Drain the swamp, don’t keep filling it with guys like Borrello.”