Stephanie DeVito, a current Cayuga County Legislator and former executive director of the Auburn Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) is denying accusations of misconduct while employed at the BID, calling it a political witch hunt.
She told Finger Lakes News that the allegations levied against her are false and were only done to hurt her campaign for Legislative District 10, which she won in November.
DeVito was the subject of three complaints last year accusing her of creating a toxic work environment, working as few as five hours a week, using her position as BID director to advance her political campaign, and spending BID funds at her discretion which led to an investigation into the accusations being launched in October, just before the election.
“These accusations, in my mind, that were presented are juvenile accusations,” said DeVito.”
DeVito resigned from her role as BID director earlier this year amid an ongoing investigation by the Citizen into the claims made against her. She contends the decision to leave her employer of eight years was in no way connected to the investigation but was instead done to seek other job opportunities more aligned with her career aspirations.
“Over the last couple of years I have been looking to move in a different direction that is going to foster growth and be a little more in line with what I’m wanting to do in the future and the goals I have for the future.”
While only time will tell if this will hurt her future prospects in the realm of politics, DeVito is optimistic that this won’t negatively impact any plans she may have to keep her seat on the legislature.
“I think people see the face value and see what we’re actually looking at… people know who I am and they know my integrity; they know my work ethic; they know my character and that alone stands on its own.”
Ultimately, DeVito referred to this incident as “a little bump in the road” and stated that she’s moved on.
“I’ve moved on to looking at the future and what my future looks like politically [and] where it’s going to align with my job itself.”
While campaigning for her seat, DeVito previously told Finger Lakes News Radio that the connections she made and skills she learned would make her the ideal candidade for the job.
She would go to defeat Michael Pettigrass in the November election.
Have all the Finger Lakes news from Finger Lakes News Radio delivered to your email every morning for FREE! Sign up by clicking here.
