| House Education Chairman Jerry Mezzatesta has been in hot water for his bombastic attacks against constituents and opponents who have disagreed with him and verbal attacks against officials who "changed" his policy.
Two ethics charges have now been filed against the delegate.
An Ohio County Republican Chris Wakim alleges that an
amendment to a Senate bill passed during the regular session enriched the pensions of Mezzatesta and several other legislators who are currently in the system or retired educators.
Wakim says the measure would allow the Hampshire County Democrat to enrich himself.
The bill would allow legislative salary in the calculation of retirement benefits, costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Several legislators believe he is just doing his job, with his personality getting in the way.
Mezzatesta has been charged with double dipping his legislative salary and being an employee of the Hampshire County school system, income which exceeds $100,000. The double dipping is not expressly illegal.
Mezzatestsa has reportedly violated an ethical agreement by securing a $70,000 dollar state grant for Hampshire County schools.
Hampshire officials promised the Ethics Commission that Mezzatesta would only seek federal and private grants when they hired him as an administrator in 1999.
The Department of Education grant received last month was used to help offset the cost of a $143,000 audit and investigation. That audit has turned up noncompliance problems with state and federal law, and the school system treasurer was fired last week.
Meetings are being held this week in Hampshire County addressing problems with Mezzatesta and the school system.
State Schools Superintendent David Stewart acknowledged that the county had a mess, but emphasized the grant was legitimate.
Department of Education officials aren't sure whether Mezzatesta has requested other state grants for Hampshire County schools.
The state Republican Party filed a complaint against Mezzatesta with the state Ethics Commission to address whether there is a conflict between Mezzatesta's legislative and county jobs.
There was a recent angry episode between Mezzatesta and state board member Kenneth Seal, where Mezzatesta interrupted the board meeting because of a policy dispute.
There was talk about ethics charges related to this incident, but capitol sources said the rift has been mended.
Speaker of the House of Delegate Bob Kiss supports Mezzatesta, saying he has passion for his job.
Mezzatesta says he has done nothing illegal and his problems are politically motivated.
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