Aubertine votes raise questions of conflict-of-interest

Aubertine votes raise questions of conflict-of-interest (valleynewsonline.com exclusive)
Posting Date: 02-23-2008

 link to full story valley news online.com exclusive
by Carol Thompson

Assemblyman Darrel Aubertine, candidate for the 48th District Senate seat in the special election Tuesday, Feb. 26, may have a conflict-of-interest involving his own interest in wind-power turbines and votes he made on legislation that favor tax benefits for property owners who host the turbines.

A May 23, 2003 story in the Watertown Daily Times reports that a company had approached Aubertine about installing wind-powered generators on his property. Less than two weeks later, June 4, 2003, he voted in favor of legislation that would allow farmers to host wind turbines without having their property-tax assessments increased.