Heated Exchange Between Dutchess Legislators
The Majority Leader for the Dutchess County Legislature Jim Miccio filed a complaint with the Dutchess County Sheriff's office over actions by his colleague, Legislator Marc Coviello of Beekman.
During a break in the monthly meeting of the legislature on Tuesday, Legislator Coviello was discussing the merits of the “Pay to Play” campaign finance bill with legislative counsel, Scott Volkman.
The legislator was explaining the research and opinions he had obtained from the NYS Board of Elections lawyer Brian Quail when, according to Coviello, the Majority Leader interrupted the conversation and asked Coviello “where did you go to law school?”
Coviello, already upset with what he perceives as a condescending attitude from Miccio, threw his coffee down, causing it to splash up on Miccio.
According to Miccio’s complaint filed with the deputies, after throwing the coffee, Coviello told the leader “I will hurt you!”
When asked about the incident, Coviello, who is not seeking re-election, said that “the Pay-to-Play legislation is something I am very passionate about. If we can send a message to Washington that the 300,000 residents in Dutchess County want to put an end to the practice of pay-to-play at all levels of government, I don’t understand why my colleagues are against it.”
Miccio expressed displeasure with the incident and is hopeful that it won’t happen again.
“It escalated quickly, hopefully we can shake hands and put this behind us,” said the majority leader.
The Hudson Valley Post contacted the office of Dale Borchet, Chairman of the Legislature, for a comment but has received one as of press time.