Rochester Democrat & Chronicle: Reynolds Criticized on Ex-Aide’s Pay

By Joseph Spector

A Washington group is raising questions about Rep. Thomas Reynolds having a former chief of staff on his payroll after she left two years ago to head the National Republican Congressional Committee, a political group chaired by Reynolds.

The Campaign for a Cleaner Congress, a labor-backed group composed of former Democratic operatives, wrote a letter Thursday to Reynolds asking why Sally Vastola still works for his office even though she has a full-time job as executive director of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

The group, which says it is nonpartisan, said that Vastola is paid $1,000 per month by Reynolds’ office though it is unclear what duties she has. The group alleges that Vastola may still be on Reynolds’ staff to secure health and retirement benefits from the federal government. They say the arrangement could be cheating taxpayers.

“We’re just raising questions,” said group spokeswoman Sandra Salstrom. “We want to know from Congressman Reynolds.”

Reynolds responded in a statement that Vastola still “plays an integral role in coordinating my official duties.”

“It would be unfair and unethical for me to ask the NRCC to pay for the work Ms. Vastola does on behalf of my official office,” he said.

Republicans charged that the labor-backed group was a liberal, left-wing organization. They also pointed out that an aide to Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-Fairport, is paid by both her campaign and her congressional office. A Slaughter spokesman said the aide, Karl Frisch, is reimbursed by her campaign for work he does on her campaign Web site on his own time.

“This has no relation to any questions which may be facing Mr. Reynolds,” said Slaughter spokesman Eric Burns.

The watchdog group said it checked financial records for other members of the western New York House delegation but found no others with such an arrangement. Reynolds, R-Clarence, Erie County, represents the 26th Congressional District, which runs from Buffalo to the western half of Monroe County, including much of Greece.

Vastola, 58, worked as Reynolds’ chief of staff when he first took office in 1999, the group said. In 2003, she moved to the NRCC when Reynolds was named chairman. NRCC raises funds for House candidates.

The watchdog group claims that Vastola rejoined Reynolds’ congressional staff in December 2004 as a part-time employee. The group is asking Reynolds to release records showing what work Vastola does for his office or reimburse taxpayers for her salary.

The letter is signed by Chris Watt of Albion, Orleans County, and Garry Cranker, a Democrat running for Ogden supervisor. Republicans pointed out that Cranker is endorsed by a group founded by Jack Davis, who ran last year as a Democrat against Reynolds.

October 21, 2005 | Filed Under News Mentions, Slaughter 

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