PLATTSBURGH — Clinton County Legislator Simon Conroy returned to the legislature Wednesday night after an extended troubled absence.
Conroy (D-Area 4, Town of Plattsburgh) appeared in the legislative chambers just before the 7 p.m. meeting began and took his seat.
ARRESTED TWICE
During committee reports, he gave a brief statement saying that he apologized for his absence, but it was due to seeking treatment in Albany for an “encounter with alcohol.”
He also said he was back and ready to work hard to make the county a “better place to live, work and play.”
Conroy has been arrested twice in the past six weeks after incidents in the City of Plattsburgh.
On Sept. 6 he was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after an incident that started outside the Green Room on Bridge Street, and wound up on the steps of City Hall.
On Sept. 28 he was arrested around 4 a.m. and charged with criminal trespass after an incident at Bombardier Transportation on Wall Street in the south end of the city.
Conroy is also facing a seventh-degree criminal possession charge, a misdemeanor, for cocaine, police have said.
LEGISLATURE STATEMENT
He has missed several regular legislative meetings and committee meetings since early September.
At the Oct. 2 meeting, the legislature issued a statement regarding Conroy’s absence.
“Simon Conroy is a public officer and duly elected official selected by the citizens of Clinton County Legislative Area 4. As such, the County Legislature does not have the legal ability to simply remove him, or any other legislator for that matter, from their elected position unless certain statutory provisions are met,” the statement said in part.
“We wish nothing but the best for Mr. Conroy and sincerely hope he receives the help he needs and deserves.”
CONGRESS ELECTION
Conroy said after Wednesday night’s regular legislature meeting that he was much better, and was setting his sights on running for Congress against incumbent Republican Elise Stefanik in 2020 in New York’s 21st District.
The declaration that he is running for Congress comes after he said last month that he would be seeking the chairmanship of the legislature.
“I’m clean and sober and I’ve dealt with my personal relationship problems that I’ve had as well as some mental health problems as well as some financial problems, which was the big part,” he told the Press-Republican.
“I am not taking it easy. I am not re-thinking it. I’m running for Congress. Tedra (Cobb) (Democratic candidate in 2018) had her chance.”
Email Joe LoTemplio:
jlotemplio@pressrepublican.com
Twitter: @jlotemplio
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