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McHugh's potential conflicts of interest causing stir in Coeymans
Steve Hughes reports in the Times Union that area residents are questioning Coeymans Supervisor George McHugh's ties to one of the biggest businesses in his small town. McHugh's previous job was as general counsel and spokesperson for the Port of Coeymans. McHugh is also an attorney for three surrounding towns as well as full-time legal counsel for Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple. And McHugh's wife is in charge of coordinating Albany County's economic development efforts. McHugh has also installed a local business owner as Planning Board chair, and then moved his town office to a building that businessman owns. McHugh's adult son works for a port in South Carolina with the same owners as the Port of Coeymans. Several residents complaining about all these potential conflicts of interest would not speak on the record because they said they feared possible retribution. Sara Pruiskma would go on the record, saying of the trouble speaking out brings, "I don't need it, I don't want it, but I'll be damned if I'm going to be quiet." McHugh himself also refused to comment for the story, instead emailing a statement that had nothing to do with potential conflicts of interest. Read the full story in the Times Union.