Loudoun County board votes to investigate Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to pursue an independent investigation into allegations against Supervisor Eugene A. Delgaudio reported last week.

The investigation follows accusations that the supervisor used county resources to benefit his political campaign. He has repeatedly denied the allegations.

(Tracy A. Woodward/THE WASHINGTON POST) - Loudoun County Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio poses outside Sterling Elementary School on Friday, August 24th, 2012.

For Loudoun County supervisor, blurred lines on fundraising

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Former aide to Eugene Delgaudio questions calls to donors she was tasked with while on county time.

SPLC demands Delgaudio’s nonprofit stop using gay couple’s photo

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The organization has been using a same-sex couple’s photo as part of anti-gay campaign literature.

Delgaudio group faces lawsuit

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Loudoun supervisor’s nonprofit organization could face legal action after allegedly altering a same-sex couple’s engagement photo and distributing it on campaign fliers without permission.

Loudoun’s Eugene Delgaudio sings against gays in the Boy Scouts

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A protest video shot before the Boy Scouts actually reinforced their ban on gay members.

Delgaudio responds to ‘hate group’ designation

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Loudoun County supervisor said he was neither surprised nor alarmed by the addition of his conservative advocacy organization to a list of designated “hate groups.”

At the board meeting Wednesday, the supervisors — including Delgaudio — unanimously supported a motion by Chairman Scott K. York (R-At Large) directing Loudoun County Attorney John R. “Jack” Roberts to retain an outside party to investigate the allegations against Delgaudio (R-Sterling). The board authorized up to $15,000 to fund the investigation, the results of which will be released publicly, York said.

The investigation follows a report in The Washington Post that detailed the allegations of a former county aide who said she spent the bulk of her working hours making phone calls to schedule fundraising meetings for Delgaudio.

York reiterated that the aide’s complaint had been previously provided to Loudoun Commonwealth’s Attorney James E. Plowman (R), who referred it to the commonwealth’s attorney’s office in Arlington County. That office did not recommend pursuing charges against Delgaudio, York said.

Although there was no pending legal investigation, York said it was imperative for the board to conduct its own inquiry into whether Delgaudio violated a policy that prohibits county staff members from conducting political activities on county time.

The consequences of such a violation remain unclear.

“If we get a report back and it is found that our colleague has violated policy, then we will have to take care of that,” York said. “But I want the public to understand — this board has very little that it can actually do to a colleague. . . . I cannot fire Mr. Delgaudio. I do not have that authority.”

The board also voted unanimously Wednesday to review all county policies concerning staff aides. The county Finance, Government Services and Operations Committee will address the matter at a meeting this month and will return to the board with any recommendations for changes or additions to the standards.

Delgaudio said Wednesday that he supported both motions by the board, but he vigorously defended himself against the accusations and reiterated his assertion that his fundraising efforts were for a youth football league.

“This is more than an attack on my simple methods at finding support for youth sports leagues, more than an attack on my non-controversial and straightforward record of winning four elections in Sterling,” he said. “There is a spot lamp on what I do and how I do it. That’s great. You won’t find anything.”