LA CROSSE, WI (WXOW)—The La Crosse Tea Party and Citizens for a Responsible Government held a press conference on Wednesday to discuss their allegations La Crosse County Administrator Steve O'Malley used county resources for political campaigning; O'Malley said it was part of his job.
Among the allegations, the groups said, O'Malley sent emails on county time using his county email address violating a County ordinance.
"Your county Administrator spent quite a bit of time the last four months working on a political campaign, raising money for a political action committee," Mike Tellier, La Crosse Watch Dog said.
The political action committee they are referring to is Administrator Yes, a group that supported the city administrator.
O'Malley admits using the time and computer in support of the concept of a city administrator, but said it was part of his job.
"It is job related because the inefficiencies of the City of La Crosse cost the tax payers and La Crosse County money," O'Malley said. "And my involvement in supporting the majority of city council members that wanted to create a city administrator was strictly a professional relationship."
The ethics board will meet on Thursday in response to an advisory opinion request on O'Malley's activity.
O'Malley asked for the hearing after an open records request for his emails was made.
