Ethics complaints were filed Thursday against Senators Kenneth Stolle (R-8th) and Thomas Norment (R-3) by Roanoke attorney G. David Nixon.
The complaints allege conflicts of interest involving eminent domain reform legislation before the Senate. Both Stolle and Nixon are employed by the law firm of Kaufman & Canoles, whose clients (public utilities and governments) use the existing eminent domain laws to take property.
Virginia is one of only 13 states in which no meaningful legislation regarding eminent domain has passed in wake of the Kelo decision. The complaints allege that is because Stolle and Norment have used their positions as members of the Eminent Domain subcommittee of the Senate Courts of Justice committee to block or water down legislation that would be harmful to their clients.
As part of his charges, Nixon points to the Kaufman and Canoles website, which contains the following:
For Kaufman & Canoles, Ken works closely with colleague Tommy Norment—the Senate Majority Leader—in presenting the firm to prospective corporate and governmental clients. He has, over his years in the Senate, developed a vast knowledge of state government and a network of business, government, and law enforcement leaders who respect him and his work.
In addition, he’s experienced in civil, criminal, and administrative litigation as well as in business law, particularly for the hospitality industry. This combination of political know-how, business acumen, and personal relationships, boosts Ken’s value to his clients. Says Ken, simply: “We have the ability to make things happen.”
The Senate Ethics Advisory Panel will hear the complaints.
UPDATE: I have obtained copies of the Stolle and Norment complaints.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
MB, are you gonna bark all day, or are ya gonna bite?
Sadly, i’m not bothered, but I am amused.
My joy is seeing how your comment was that “nitwits like you are so terribly confident in their initial brainless judgments, and stick by them without any thought or shame whatsoever.”
It’s thrilling to see you “so terribly confident” in your “initial brainless judgement.” I’m looking forward to watching you “stick by them without any thought or shame whatsoever.”