GOSHEN – In light of allegations by some Democrats on the Orange County Legislature that county Human Resources Commissioner Langdon Chapman’s brother-in-law has been given a contract information technology job, State Senator James Skoufis is calling for his immediate resignation.
Skoufis, who heads the Senate Investigations Committee, said he has information from a county whistleblower that Chapman secured the contract job for his relative. And he claims Chapman is the man behind the curtain running the county government.
“This is the puppeteer of Orange County government, who behind the scenes, runs the day-to-day,” the senator charged. “He was the county attorney, he is now the HR commissioner but putting titles aside, Langdon Chapman runs the day-to-day government in Orange County. This is not some random bureaucrat, so for his family to be enriched through a no-bid contract scheme, is at minimum highly unethical and potentially criminal.”
County Attorney Rick Golden claims the contract for the part-time work was properly procured and Chapman had nothing to do with it. “The procurement of the contract was in full compliance with all applicable State and County laws and is entirely proper. The related Department Head had absolutely no involvement in the review of the quotes received or in the selection of Star CIO as the successful quote,” Golden said in a statement.
The county has yet to provide the documents related to the contract to the Legislators, who requested the documents by letter on Monday. Golden said that the request is broad, and once the documents are complied they will be turned over.
