Yesterday, a Senate ethics board heard allegations that Senators Thomas K. Norment, R-Williamsburg and Kenneth W. Stolle, R-Virginia Beach have engaged in a conflict of interest when legislating property rights. According to Roanoke lawyer G. David Nixon, the two powerful lawmakers have a conflict because they either represent clients that acquire property through eminent domain or engage in rainmaking activity for clients that do.
(See our coverage of this issue in “Is There a Conflict of Interest in the State Senate?” and “The Case Against Norment: Suggestive But Not Persuasive.”
The panel, headed by former James Madison University President Ronald E. Carrier, met five hours. Norment testified before the group, according to an article by Jeff Schapiro in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. (Schapiro did not say whether Stolle testified.) The panel is required to rule on the allegations in June.
