Local elected officials are defending a recent trip to Ireland despite concerns over a lack of transparency.
During a candidate forum earlier this week, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin remarked about a recent trip to Ireland with another elected official. That official was Albany County Executive Dan McCoy.
The trip was billed as a meeting with the County Executives of America. The organization is affiliated with the National Association of Counties, but has operated independently since 1994. The group’s website says it serves as a way to give chief elected officers from across the country a chance to come together.
McCoy, a Democrat, is the organization’s board president. McLaughlin, a Republican, is the third vice president.
McCoy’s spokesperson said the unannounced week-long travel earlier this month was for “economic development” and “fact finding and sharing.”
Both McLaughlin and McCoy said the business trip was paid for personally. McLaughlin spoke with WAMC Thursday at a groundbreaking at Hudson Valley Community College.
“Not a dime of county money was expended, OK? Not a nickel,” McLaughlin said. “I paid for it myself. In fact, I expended my own money on behalf of the county because I was on a trade mission to try to build business in there. So, the taxpayers didn't incur a dime of that.”
McLaughlin said even if county taxpayers had paid for the trip, it would have been justified.
“I have a travel budget for exactly that reason to try to build this business, county up,” McLaughlin said.
There is no public information about the event on the organization’s website, McCoy’s or McLaughlin’s social media, or either county website.
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus, a Republican, is also on the County Executives of America’s board. Neuhaus’ office says he was aware of the trip but not able to go.
Chautauqua County Executive Paul Wendel Jr., also a Republican, is the chairman of the rules committee. A spokesperson in his office says he was not on the trip because he had a county event that took precedence.
His office says the County Executives of America holds annual meetings, which bring county executives from across the country together to discuss policies impacting their communities and to lobby at the federal level.
His office says newsletters are sent regularly from CEA, but noted not seeing anything regarding the trip to Ireland.
County Executives of America, which is based in Washington D.C., did not respond to WAMC’s request for information about the trip.
