Delgaudio to Fight Disciplinary Actions by Loudoun Board

While members of the Loudoun Board of Supervisors hoping the case of Eugene Delgaudio – the Sterling Supervisor censured by the board July 17 based on an earlier grand jury report – would quietly fade away, many who keep a watchful eye on the county’s political landscape probably knew better.

Delgaudio (R) does not plan to drop the matter without a fight, and despite losing an injunction to stop the board from censuring him and stripping him of control of his office budget, he has vowed to continue to attempt to have the court order the board to reconsider its action.

Earlier this year, supervisors suspended a review of accusation against Delgaudio while a special prosecutor assembled a grand jury to investigate allegations that Delgaudio misused the aides in his office, including having them perform work for his political campaigns and private job as well ass alleged abuse. The grand jury was not asked to consider any indictments, but issued a report indicating that the members believe state laws and local policies were inadequate.

On July 17, the Loudoun board voted 8-1 to censure Delgaudio and remove him from county committees during a heated debate. The vote was 6-3 to strip him of control of his office budget and to eliminate money for his aides, with Supervisors Geary Higgins (R-Catcotin) and Janet Clarke (R-Blue Ridge) indicating they believed that action went too far.

Delgaudio argued that supervisors did not give him ample time to respond in full to accusations against him, which included anonymous allegations with limited information that were not part of the grand jury report.

“Expecting my client to be able to respond to vague written charges, emailed to him less than two days before last Wednesday’s meeting, is patently unfair,” wrote Charles L. King, the attoney representing Delgaudio, in a press release issued Monday. “By vague, I mean the charges referred to unattached documents, unnamed witnesses, and unspecified dates.”

Supervisors during the July 17 meeting argued that they were within their legal rights to discipline Delgaudio, citing previous precedent, which came out of a Loudoun County case from the 1990s. In addition, they pointed out that much of the report to which Delgaudio wanted to respond had been available for a week.

“The notion the Board’s Committee of the Whole was Supervisor Delgaudio’s chance to respond is ludicrous,” King wrote in the statement. “Given the opportunity, Supervisor Delgaudio would have made a thorough point by point response.”

The thrust of the dispute appears to be between York and Delgaudio who have not exactly been allies on the board. Delgaudio first won his seat in 1999 when York, then a Republican, first became chairman. York later became an Independent for two terms as chairman, often butting heads with Delgaudio. York essentially ran with seven Democrats and a Republican in 2007 before switching back to the Republican Party prior to the 2011 election, which also involved cozying back up to Delgaudio.

Among the accusations in the grand jury report were that Delgaudio received envelopes of money that were never reported on his campaign finance disclosure documents. In the press release, King suggests such envelopes could come to light that ended up in the hands of other supervisors.

“If the report was effectively conclusive, why did Chairman York omit a charge involving the most serious allegation, that Supervisor Delgaudio and other Supervisors received envelopes containing money?” King asked. “Why was there no discussion of this topic on Wednesday?  When will Chairman York announce an investigation into the envelopes given other Supervisors?”

Board Chairman Scott K. York (R-At Large) said Monday that was unaware of any other such accusation and wondered if Delgaudio’s attorney was acknowledging the alleged contribution.

“Is he admitting, Eugene Delgaudio got an envelope full of money?” York asked when told of the statement. “I’ve heard nothing about others and nobody has brought anything to my attention.”

York said he welcomes the debate. So Loudoun residents can prepare for at least on more battle in the case.