The illegal use of more than $100,000 in public tax dollars by County Clerk Mickey Kearns should be investigated by the Attorney General of New York, Democratic Party Chair Jeremy J. Zellner said today.
Zellner’s call for an investigation is prompted by a story aired Monday night by WGRZ, which revealed that Kearns violated state law by using his image on thousands of public service announcements. Most of the PSAs appeared during Kearns’ 2022 reelection bid.
“This is a county clerk who has proudly proclaimed himself above the law in the past, and now we see where that reckless and irresponsible approach to his duties has led,” Zellner said. “At least 100,000 tax dollars spent on self-promotion during an election year, and now the possibility of literally millions in fines.
“It’s been clear for years that Mickey Kearns considers his office just another political platform, especially when he openly refused to enforce laws he didn’t agree with, such as issuing drivers licenses to immigrants. And during last year’s campaign we raised questions about nepotism in the clerk’s office and heard rumblings about PSA spending as a means of blatantly using incumbency as a political weapon,” Zellner said.
“But this is a new low, as is Kearns’ attempt to blame virtually every other official in county government for his own actions. He doesn’t deny it happened, but won’t take responsibility for it.
“It won’t wash, and we all know where the responsibility and accountability belong: County Clerk Mickey Kearns,” Zellner said.
Zellner also said Kearns should repay the people and taxpayers of Erie County out of his own campaign funds.
“If he’s as concerned about serving the people and protecting their tax dollars as he claims, he will do it immediately,” Zellner said.
