Metro Council considers next steps after Piagentini ethics ruling

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville Metro Council member could lose his seat for violating city ethics rules.

The Louisville Metro Ethics Commission ruled Councilman Anthony Piagentini, R-19, committed six ethics violations and unanimously recommended his removal from office.

This started last year when the council awarded a nonprofit healthcare group $40 million dollars in grants. Piagentini began working for that nonprofit soon after the measure passed the council.

He had been a co-sponsor, but removed his name before the final vote, and did not vote.

Councilman Kevin Kramer, R-11, one of nine Republicans on Metro Council testified in Piagentini's Ethics case, reiterating that he saw nothing unusual about his decision to abstain before the vote.

"I stated then that I believed Councilman Piagentini's abstention was consistent with abstentions previously made at the Metro Council by others in other matters," Kramer said in a statement. "Further, when asked if I thought a different abstention would have changed the vote, I stated that I did not believe it would have because the president of the Council was the original sponsor of the legislation and that he was the primary point of contact pushing this ordinance."

Even though the president during last year's vote was David James, Kramer was referring to current Metro Council President Markus Winkler. Winkler, a Democrat representing parts of east Louisville, was a co-sponsor of the funding.

As president, Winkler would be the presiding officer of any removal proceedings in Metro Council.

"If charges were brought, I would be one of the decision-makers," Winkler said. "And I would make that based on the evidence that's presented, and I don't really want to pre-judge what may or may not happen."

Right now, Metro Council members are reviewing the 50-plus-page ruling from the Ethics Commission.

Before any removal trial is possible, someone would have to bring charges forward.

According to state law, any elected officer in a case similar to this may be removed by Metro Council "upon charges preferred by the mayor or by any five members of the legislative council."

Mayor Greenberg's office released a statement, "The findings of the Ethics Commission are clear and unanimous. My administration will swiftly respond to these serious violations to preserve the public’s trust in Metro Government."

In past Council trials, Kramer said any 5-member charging committee included members of both parties.

"Every time we’ve done this, it has been a bipartisan charging committee. So I would want to see what’s in the record." he said. "If somebody brings that forward, or makes a suggestion that that would be necessary, I would hope and expect that the Council be consistent."

Winkler said there's no guarantee for a bipartisan charging committee.

"There's no way I could commit to it because any five members can bring charges," he said.

If a trial at Metro Council happens, any decision to remove Piagentini requires a two-thirds vote.

"There's 25 people who vote, but it's still two-thirds of the 26 people," Winkler said.

The 26-member Metro Council consists of 16 Democrats, one Independent, and nine Republicans. Winkler said 18 votes would be needed for removal, which would require at least one Republican to agree.

Related Stories: