Collins’ Deputy Remains on the Company’s Payroll While Collins Collects Campaign Cash From Them
ERIE COUNTY, NY – Peter Anderson, the spokesperson for Mark Poloncarz campaign, called into question today the strange arrangement between Deputy County Executive Jeffrey Hart and National Fuel Gas Company.
“The Poloncarz campaign calls on Erie County Executive Chris Collins to release all documents relating to the unprecedented agreement between Collins and National Fuel. Collins’ Deputy County Executive Jeffrey Hart is ‘on loan’ from National Fuel and collects a salary from the company*, all while National Fuel rakes in business from the Collins administration. Chris Collins should release all records and come clean immediately about whether National Fuel has gotten sweetheart deals in exchange for campaign cash because of the unusual arrangement of having an employee on the inside of the Collins administration.
“In a letter dated May 9, 2011, Jeff Hart signed a letter requesting that the Erie County Legislature change a federal grant application to include funding to install a natural gas line in the Rath Building. This installation could directly benefit National Fuel. According to the Buffalo News story published in June of 2010, Collins spokesperson Grant Loomis stated that “Hart will abstain from any matter relating to National Fuel.” An installation of a gas line certainly can be seen as a matter related to National Fuel.
“At the very least, Hart’s appointment is a clear conflict of interest and violates every good government protocol. In its worst light, Collins is practicing pay-to-play. People should know the real deal. These are ethical questions that demand answers and the people of Erie County deserve to know exactly what this arrangement means for them. Did National Fuel get sweetheart deals because their PAC and former CEO contributed $37,000 to his campaign? Did Hart steer any contracts or business to his real employer National Fuel? Is his compensation tied to any business-generating incentive with Erie County?
“Collins’ Democratic challenger Mark Poloncarz has come up with a plan to make his Deputy County Executive a ‘Jobs Czar’ with actual duties like economic development and job creation. Poloncarz is not interested in lining millionaire’s pockets with more money, but in making sure the hardworking taxpayers of Erie County can make ends meet.”