GUILDERLAND — A Republican challenger is saying his Democratic rival, David Bosworth, has a serious conflict of interest.
Bosworth says there is no conflict, and Republican Mark Grimm has gone "too far" in his accusations.

Bosworth chairs the town’s Democratic Party and co-chairs the county’s committee as well. He and his wife work for the Center for the Advancement of Family and Youth, which is funded by the county.

Grimm cites an IRS form that, he says in a letter to The Enterprise editor, "reveals Mr. Bosworth and his wife, Eileen, in the year 2005 alone collected nearly $190,000 in pay and benefits from this nonprofit that is funded nearly entirely by Albany County taxpayers."

The county legislature is more than two-thirds Democratic.
Bosworth fired back, saying "Some of these accusations are approaching recklessness"I’ve never seen anything like this" in a Guilderland campaign.

Grimm is seeking one of two open seats on the town board in the Nov. 6 election. He, along with Republican Warren Redlich, are looking to oust incumbent Democrats Councilman Bosworth and Councilman Michael Ricard.

Bosworth co-chairs the Albany County Democratic Party along with Frank Commisso, who is the legislature’s majority leader.
Bosworth questioned Grimm’s motive and asked, "I wonder what my county position has to do with my town run""

Grimm responded by saying it constitutes a significant conflict of interest because the majority of legislators who vote on appropriation bills to fund county not-for-profit organizations are politically managed by Commisso and Bosworth.

Bosworth directs a not-for-profit organization that, through Project Strive, offers various services and counseling for troubled youth and their families. (See related story.)

The organization is funded largely from the Albany County Legislature, which awarded Project Strive $1.4 million in 2004. According to legislature documents of that year, the only other organization to get more money in the same resolution was Parsons, which includes Families United Network; it got $2.1 million.
Grimm states that Bosworth is supervising his wife and that the amount of money they are paid is "a glaring example of old-style politics." According to the 2005 IRS 990 Form, which The Enterprise obtained through the county comptroller’s office, Eileen Bosworth was paid $67,347 in 2005 and $22,252 in benefits. She is Project Strive’s program director.

David Bosworth, who is the executive director, was paid $74,251 in 2005, the most recent year on file, and $23,426 in benefits.
Bosworth said Grimm was going "too far" in his campaign to unseat him and that he is being personally attacked.
"This is a very uncomfortable thing to respond to"no one else believes there is a conflict," Bosworth said. "I believe he is doing this for political reasons."
As for his wife, Bosworth replied, "We’ve worked together for 35 years"We’ve won a number of awards for our work."

Bosworth said that his wife is highly qualified to do her work, holding two masters’ degrees, and that she is a private practice social worker.
"Anytime you’re a challenger, you’re negative and are making personal attacks," Grimm responded through The Enterprise. "We’re talking about taxpayer money, it’s not a personal attack."

The board of directors for Project Strive includes two Albany County Legislators, representatives Phillip Steck and Nancy Wiley, and nearly all of the board members are enrolled Democrats.

The board’s treasurer is Patricia Slavick, a second-term Guilderland councilwoman who lost Tuesday’s primary against incumbent Michael Conners for county comptroller.
The board, according to Bosworth, is independent and "self perpetuating," and creates its own nominating committee to appoint board members as the organization grows.

Bosworth denies any political improprieties, saying he has been working for The Center since 1972, but has only been active in politics for the past decade. He was elected to Guilderland Town Board in 1999 and officially named county co-chair a little over six months ago.

Furthermore, Bosworth said, outside auditors monitor his business’s finances, which he fully discloses, and he has sought the opinion of several lawyers familiar with New York State ethics laws on his political positions.
Bosworth said he was told by "several sources" that he is not in conflict.
The Albany County Executive’s Office oversees and signs off on appropriations made by the county legislature, Bosworth said, adding "There’s implications here that Mr. Grimm should be careful of"There are many people involved in this process."

Grimm maintains that he is simply pointing out what he sees as a conflict of interest on several different levels, but that his assertions are not personal.
"Anyone who claims that this is personal is wrong," Grimm said.
Bosworth said his challenger should be reminded that Commisso is the county legislature’s majority leader and that "it’s no secret" the two of them "had their differences" leading to a court battle before they became co-chairs.

Commisso originally won the party election last fall, after the former party chair, Betty Barnette, held a controversial standing vote. The two later formed a combined slate and became co-chairs.
"He wouldn’t do any favors for me," Bosworth concluded of Commisso. "Prior to Mr. Grimm’s remarks, I have honestly never heard anyone bring this up."