Help Cliff Olney Stand Against Corruption

Help Cliff Olney Fight for Justice and Transparency in Watertown, N.Y.

My name is Cliff Olney, and I am a Watertown City Council Member who has spent my career standing up for the people of our community. Unfortunately, I am now fighting against politically motivated attacks designed to discredit me and undermine the progressive changes we've been working toward in our city.

Recently, former Mayor Jeff Smith and his allies on the Ethics Board filed an unjust ethics complaint against me, citing baseless charges in retaliation for my advocacy for transparency and my efforts to reform the city's legal representation. I opposed the reappointment of the law firm Harris Beach, which had aligned itself with special interests, and in response, this ethics complaint was manufactured to damage my reputation.

What’s worse, I have recently learned that a crucial binder of evidence was withheld from me during the ethics process—evidence that Mayor Sarah Compo-Pierce and others knew about but chose not to disclose. This has denied me the right to a fair defense, and I am now being forced to raise funds to cover my own legal representation while the city refuses to provide me with the attorney I am entitled to under the city charter.

I’m calling on my friends, supporters, and fellow residents of Watertown to help me fight back. This is not just about me—it’s about holding our city's leadership accountable and ensuring that our government operates with fairness and transparency. With your support, we can stand up to these political attacks and make sure that the truth prevails.

Funds raised will go directly toward legal fees, including attorney representation and court costs.

Help Me Stand Against Corruption and Clear My Name.

Thank you for your support in this critical fight. Together, we can ensure that justice is served and that corruption has no place in Watertown. - Cliff Olney

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