Press Center

GARCIA: LESKO KNEW WHILE CHLER'S BANK ACCOUNT GREW

Probe Should Expand to Include Deputy Town Clerks
After Supervisor Admits Knowledge of "Wedding Bandit" Allegations During His Political Campaign

5/12/2009

MEDFORD, NY: Brookhaven Republican Chairman Jesse Garcia today renewed his call for the expansion of the Democratic Town Clerk “Wedding Bandit” investigation, following admissions in the press by the Democratic Supervisor that he knew about allegations of crimes being committed while he was campaigning for office. Garcia also called for the investigation to include the conduct of the two Democratic Deputy Town Clerks.

“Once again, the Brookhaven Democrat Party has demonstrated that they will put politics ahead of the interests of the voting public in their win-at-any-price quest for one party rule in Suffolk. That’s outrageous,” said Garcia. “With a Democratic Town Clerk under investigation by the District Attorney, and Democrat Supervisor Mark Lesko stating in published reports that he knew about possible wrong doing but failed to take action or disclose this during his campaign, this investigation needs to be expanded.”

Garcia called upon the two Democratic Deputy Town Clerks – who are also marriage officers – to voluntarily provide the Town Attorney with sworn statements and supporting documentation that all offsite marriages they performed were at the legal rate of $75.

Garcia added that the independent investigations underway should include the Deputies as well, to determine why they didn't bring the Democratic Clerk’s alleged gross disregard of the residents and newlyweds to the attention of the proper authorities.

“Last week I called for the Town Board to take pro-active measures against the Democratic Town Clerk accused of illegally overcharging couples seeking to be married, and for the scope of this investigation to be expanded to include other parties who were either involved in the alleged scam, or knew of it but did not take action or report the alleged abuse,” said Garcia.

“Now that we've found where the bodies are actually buried, Democrat Town Supervisor Lesko seems to have lost his shovel, or at least his will to dig,” said Garcia. “This smells of a politician protecting one of his fellow clubhouse party members, and the perk that adds an estimated $40,000 to her annual $92,000 salary. We need a watchdog, not a lapdog, to protect us from crooked politicians.