In a nutshell wasn’t Lucas under an ethics probe lodged by La Plata mayor-at-the-time, Gene Ambrosio, because he was in too tight with Faison, the developer of the new shopping center in La Plata with the Giant grocery? Lucas had business dealings with Faison, and Ambrosio thought he should recluse himself from any dealings with said developer, but he refused to do so. As I recall, the ethics committee found no conflict of interest, but there were hinky “doings” that surrounded the ethics committee and how they handled the probe.
Give me squeaky clean; no baggage, and fresh ideas to get CC off the sprawl development, over-crowded schools, crap-up-the-environment path of past mistakes!
Ambrogio claimed in the complaint that Lucas has negotiated a lease agreement with the Faison development company that is developing Rosewick Crossing in town. Faison is awaiting a decision by the town council regarding the annexation of about 15 acres across Rosewick Road from Rosewick Crossing so that the company can build La Plata Crossing. The land is currently occupied by Mitchell Supply Co.
Lucas and S&L Enterprises LLC signed the lease agreement with Rosewick Crossing LLC in February to open a Quizno’s Sub Sandwich Shop in Rosewick Crossing shopping center, according to the ethics commission report released Friday.
Ambrogio said Tuesday that the commission’s decision to clear Lucas is troubling because he feels that the councilman does indeed have a business relationship with Faison and that it could cloud his decision about approving or denying the annexation request.
Many would feel the same as Ambrogio that Lucas did indeed have a business relationship with Faison despite the Ethics Committee’s findings. What I don’t get is why Lucas didn’t recuse himself in the first place? Was he afraid Faison wouldn’t get the annexation if he wasn’t sitting on the Town Council?
1. In order to find that Councilman Lucas violated § 20-4A, the Commission must find that Councilman Lucas “participated on behalf of the Town of La Plata in a matter which would, to his knowledge have a direct financial impact, as distinguished from the public generally, on him, his spouse or dependent children or a business entity with which he is affiliated.” The two key components of this prohibition involve “participation” in a matter and then receiving “direct financial benefit” from that participation.
2. The evidence is clear and undisputed that Councilman Lucas satisfied one prong of this requirement - he participated in a Town Council discussion on July 8, 2008, regarding proposed annexation agreement terms and conditions.
3. The evidence is also clear and undisputed that Councilman Lucas and the business entities with which he is affiliated, S&L Enterprises, LLC, and Quiznos, will not receive any financial benefit, much less direct financial benefit, from Councilman Lucas’ participation in the July 8 discussions regarding annexation agreement terms and conditions. First, the Town Council has not taken any action with respect to the matters discussed on July 8. More
importantly, the financial benefit that the Mayor described - potential future rent increases imposed by Faison on tenants in Rosewick Crossing to recoup annexation cost burdens imposed by the Town for the annexation of the adjoining property is remote and speculative at best and, as described by Faison representatives, will not occur because the Rosewick Crossing project in which Councilman Lucas ’ business is located and the proposed La Plata Crossing project will be distinct projects with separate ownership and operating as separate cost centers.
4. Because Councilman Lucas will not receive any direct financial benefit as a result of his participation in the July 8 discussion, he has not violated § 20-4A of the Ethics Ordinance as alleged.
The evidence is clear and undisputed that Councilman Lucas satisfied one prong of this requirement - he participated in a Town Council discussion on July 8, 2008, regarding proposed annexation agreement terms and conditions.
Thanks again, Quack, for posting the Ethics Board conclusion. On the DD link you posted elsewhere one of the posters on the thread stated that CQK, when she was a Commissioner, was extremely careful to check with the county attorney before involving herself in any decision that might make her look unethical. This is what’s bothering me about Lucas. I don’t even know the guy so have nothing against him except that I think, ethics board decision or not, he should’ve recused himself from the get-go. But that’s just my take.
I think CQK was wise to erase any perception of impropriety before anyone could point the finger. Maybe Mr. Lucas should have done the same, but as the conclusion of the Ethics Commission reported, he did not violate any rules or laws. I don’t think it patently fair to accuse him of wrongdoing, when he did nothing wrong. But I agree that the perception is quite worrisome, if not damaging.
Did Gary Hodge get an ethics commission recommendation for the work he did for Opening Day Partners and Southern Maryland Baseball while voting on anything related to Regency Furniture Stadium and the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs?
Did Reuben Collins get an ethics commission recommendation for the work he IS doing for the Charles County SportsPlex and Learning Center, while he serves as a Commissioner and someone who may vote support, funding or even approval of the same business and building?
Did Edith Patterson get an ethics commission recommendation for her votes on anything related to the College of Southern Maryland while she’s served as a Commissioner and as the Director of the Educational Talent Search program at CSM and collecting a paycheck from CSM (even if it is funded through a federal grant)?
Did Wayne Cooper… I’ll just leave that one be…
Did Roger Fink get an ethics commission recommendation prior to contacting the administration from the school system on his wife’s behalf, demanding preferential treatment and accommodations due to her medical condition? Has he received one since he’s filed a lawsuit against the school system and still reviews County matters relating to the school system?
I’m not saying that any are right or wrong, perception is what perception is; legally all may be legit, maybe they’re not. In Mr. Lucas’ case, the verdict is in, and he didn’t break the rules.
Thanks triple, Quack, for clarifying Scot Lucas’s ethics probe. Perception, especially in this election for Commissioners, will play a big part. So much hanky-panky has gone on both behind the scenes and right up in the faces of CC citizens with this present group of Commissioners that anyone that even smacks of a perceived ethics violation will be under intense scrutiny.
Does anyone know what Mr. Lucas does for a living? In today’s Indy, they listed him as a store manager at a parts store.
I thought he was an agent for Allstate, but a search for him on the Allstate website comes up blank. His FINRA license has been inactive since 12/2008. Bu tthat doesn’t mean he is out of the business.
The whole ethics thing was about his buying a Quiznos sub shop in La Plata, right? Does he still own that?
It seems odd that the Indy would list him as a store parts manager if he is a business owner.
i thought i had heard that Lenny Rollman owned/operated the Quizno’s. of course Lucas could own the building, while Rollman owns the business. i know they are former high school classmates, Rollman could be managing for him, i don’t know.
maybe i’ll make a trip there today for lunch and skulk around.
up until Lucas made some details of his Facebook account private, his Employment was listed as Allstate Agent.
There was a Scot D Lucas who has 16.3l94 acres of land on Wheatley Rd listed in foreclosure on the Public Notice section of the Md Indie today. I’m assuming it’s one and the same person. Would this matter for a Commissioner? Not a very good money manager in my opinion.
The Rosewick Rd annexation was passed back in the 1980’s but the land was never developed. GP Homes bought the land and with it the requirements of the annexation, build a golf course, roads, set aside land for an elementry school and other stuff. So no Mr. Lucas did not have anything to do with the annexation. As to Quixno’s Mr. Lucas was part owner, not sure who his parnet is/was. The business had been for sale a few months back. I think he has had some finicial issues in the past check the MD. Judicial Record site.
Hello DD members and the Quack. I’d like to share a little more information about the ethics issue in the town from a few years back. If you are wondering why now, quite simply because I am running for County Commissioner. I did not think it was appropriate at the time to further the debate as I was found not to be in violation and it was a black eye on the town. I believe in putting the town, county, city, country, etc before myself.
Some of you have asked why I didn’t get an opinion on the matter before it got as far as it did. I did go to the town attorney and asked his opinion about the matter. He told me, in no uncertain terms, he did not see any issues with the matter. He also relayed that message to the then mayor, Gene Ambrogio. Even armed with this information, Mr. Ambrogio decided to file the complaint anyway, which was his right. It was also the right of any citizen of the Town of LaPlata to file a complaint. The ethics commission had a hearing and I was found not be in violation. I hope that sheds a little more light on the subject.
In the future should anyone ever have a question about myself, or need for me to elaborate, I would be happy to talk to them. I can be reached via e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or you can call me at 301-481-7740.
I still own my property. My voting record for the Town of LaPlata reflects my fiscally conservative beliefs. I will continue to apply those principles for the county if elected.
Thank you for your response, Scot. Your voting record will absolutely be a good indicator. Do you (or anyone else out there) know where voters can find that information?
TDW - The Town Clerk should have the voting record of all the past and present Council members. Most votes are “Yea” or “ney” however there are some roll call votes where the vote of each council member is recorded.
everything reads $0. was a filing deadline missed or something? is there a penalty for this? how can this guy be a commissioner if he misses simple homework assignments?
in particular, i’m looking to verify the loosely made claim from Ken Robinson that Lucas was taking a ton of developer money. i believe the last election finance funding should have been done a couple of weeks ago. we sort of let this go because Quack pointed out that there was still time to file the election finance report, and we might learn more then.
how can anyone vote for this person without knowing where is contributions are coming from? if he were 100% self-financing, would that be reflected in these reports?
that site can be a bit difficult to drive, but i think i am doin’ it right. at least i have no problem gleaning info on other candidates.
From the Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010 Maryland Independent
For the third filing deadline in a row, there was no information available about Republican District 1 candidate Scot Lucas.
Lucas said he did have confirmation for an 11:47 p.m. filing Oct. 22 — the deadline day — but no information listed for contributions before the general election was available.
“I’ve raised about $6,000,” Lucas said Monday.
When asked about claims from his opponent that he was accepting donations from developers, Lucas said that “the only money [I’ve] accepted has been from private individuals and small businesses.”
well it’s pretty late in the game at this point, but it’s a shame the info isn’t out there. the candidate could have posted the sources of his financing on his website. today is November 1st.
so if he had confirmation for an 11:47 p.m. filing, and the info isn’t available, what is the answer?
