Bastrop ethics commission issues public reprimand to Mayor Lyle Nelson

Directed by council, Mayor Pro Tem John Kirkland filed an ethics complaint against Nelson on Jan. 18 for his alleged interference in the Visit Bastrop investigation. The committee heard Kirkland’s testimony and reviewed the submitted evidence at the April 10 meeting.

Prior to the mayor’s interview with investigator Sarah Glaser of Lloyd Gosselink Attorneys at Law, he had completed his seventh yearly ethics training. The defense conceded the interference was intentional but argued it was not wrongful as part of his right to privacy.