Neace, Parrish demand apology over ethics complaint

The State Ethics Commission responded that due to a failure to cite any violations of the Ethics in Government Act, the violation alleged by Holcomb was rejected.

Neace and Parrish both responded on Monday night during the council meeting to the initial “accusations” and “falsehoods and half-truths” that were alleged in the letter sent to the SEC. Parrish and Neace then requested a public apology from Mr. Holcomb, who was not present at the meeting. Parrish also stated during a reading of an open letter to the public that “With Mr. Holcomb’s public apology, this matter can be put to rest and no further legal action will be considered.”

In his complaint to the state, Holcomb alleged misuse of the power of office by both Neace and Parrish in support of council member Sandi Rudeseal, who won the election to fill the spot left open by Jeff Murray. Neace and Parrish coauthored a letter that was mailed out to 214 people, one-third of registered voters, in support of Rudeseal.

According to Rudeseal, Parrish and Neace gave her no prior knowledge of the letters or of the content letters before they were sent out.

According to the SEC website, the ethics act is to “protect the integrity of the democratic process and to ensure fair elections with the public disclosure of campaign financing and significant private interests of public officers and candidates for public office.”

Responding to both comments from Neace and Parrish, council member Beverley Holcomb, Ray Holcomb’s wife, stated that “During Mr. Parrish’s and Jerry Neace’s time they were seeking votes, I solicited people to vote for them. I thought they were the best for the city and I voted for both of them and encouraged other people to do so.”