A top legislative staffer running for a City Council seat from Staten Island violated the city’s conflict-of-interest law by soliciting campaign contributions while still on the government payroll, a rival candidate claims.
Steven Matteo, chief of staff to Councilman Jim Oddo, hopes to succeed his boss in public office.
GOP primary rival Lisa Giovinazzo is to file a complaint with the Conflicts of Interest Board today, alleging Matteo has run afoul of the ethics law prohibiting public officials with “substantial policy discretion” from raising donations.
The complaint says Oddo and Matteo manipulated the council’s “policy maker” list to remove Matteo from it in the years 2008, 2012 and 2013 — when he was fund-raising.
Oddo insisted the accusations are specious.