Leighton, Ala. Mayor Faces Possible Fine for Ethics Violation

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Mayor Lawayne Harrison, of Leighton, Ala., who was accused of using his office for personal gain, has admitted to two minor ethics violations and faces a possible fine of up to $2,000.

Ethics Commission Executive Director Jim Sumner said the mayor, who is in the third year of his first term, settled the case through an administrative resolution after he admitted to committing a minor violation.

“The allegation was that he had sold insurance to a city water department employee during the employee’s duty hours,” Sumner told the Times Daily Thursday.

Harrison’s attorney, Billy Underwood, said his client didn’t realize he was prohibited from selling insurance to a fellow employee.

Sumner said the second allegation involved Harrison signing a $300 check made out to Town Clerk Destin Berryman, who cashed the check and gave the money to Harrison’s wife, Ann Harrison. The money was compensation for paperwork performed by Ann Harrison at the Leighton Senior Citizen Center.