Cheryl Thomas of Welcome does not believe the Charles County Ethics Commission acted properly when it did not find Commissioner Vice President Reuben Collins (D) in violation of the ethics code. She has filed lawsuit against the county’s ethics commission over the matter.
 
Thomas also believes County Attorney Barbara Holtz may have been pressured to have subpoena power left out when a new ethics ordinance was passed last year. Attempts have been made by Commissioner President Candice Quinn Kelly (D) and Commissioner Ken Robinson (D: 1st) to restore subpoena power, but they have been outnumbered in votes each time.
 
“The model ordinance drafted and proposed by the State which was adopted by the Commissioners did not contain a provision for subpoena powers,” Holtz said in an email to TheBAYNET on Wednesday. She said, however, she could not comment on the lawsuits themselves since the matter remains in litigation.
 
Holtz represents the Charles County Board of Commissioners, but also represents the Charles County Ethics Commission. Thomas believes that is a conflict of interest as well since the ethics commission is supposed to act as an oversight panel.
 
The issue first arose last November when Thomas filed an ethics complaint against Collins in regards to his employment status at the Scott Law Group. Collins claimed he was only renting office space, but his name was listed on the website at the time as an active employee of the Scott Law Group. The ethics commission dismissed the complaint after striking a deal with Collins where he would recuse himself on any votes that may affect Scott Law Group or any of attorney Steve Scott’s clients for 120 days. 
 
Thomas has appealed their decision to the Circuit Court of Charles County where the matter remains in litigation.