SIX MINUTES!
...and by the way, the person who spearheaded this inquiry was Chairman Arthur Mannion. Who's Mannion you ask? Here, I'll let The Fairfield Weekly tell ya!
Adding to the intrigue, Mannion is an area lawyer who serves on the Republican State Central Committee as co-chairman for the 24th District. His co-chair is Michael McLachlan. The man who could clear McLachlan on behalf of the City of Danbury has worked side-by-side with him for partisan goals.
Isn't this another conflict of interest?
Les Pinter, Corporation Counsel for the City of Danbury, says that "only an officer or employee of the city who has a potential conflict can raise the issue" of McLachlan's closeness to Mannion. "That is not likely to happen. Either of them would have to recuse themselves."
How nice huh! A member of the Republican State Central committee does an inquiry on his fellow member...doesn't make sense does it!
Oh, it gets better...look what happens when the reporter questions McLachlan on his relationship with Mannion (NOTE: I was in the hallway at City Hall during January's Common Council meeting when McLachlan was questioned about this subject by the reporter for the Weekly).
When asked if his closeness to Mannion was a concern, McLachlan simply answered, "No."
McLachlan has served many years on the State Central Committee, and serving as senator simultaneously is allowed. The day after I spoke with him, though, he tendered his resignation.
The conflict of interest isn't with McLachlan being State Sentor AND a member of the Republican State Central Committee, it's with McLachlan being a focus of an inquiry by the Chairman of the Board of Ethics who happens to be "serves on the Republican State Central Committee as co-chairman for the 24th District" with McLahclan being the OTHER CO-CHAIR!
It just makes you want to pull your hair out!
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of day laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
