1410 WIZM

Yes, he violated part of the city's ethics code. No, he shouldn't be punished for it. That's the conclusion of La Crosse's ethics board in response to a complaint filed against mayor Matt Harter. The board says there's clear and convincing evidence that the Mayor tried to use his position to help benefit his family's business, Harter's Quick Clean-up. That evidence, the board says, comes from two meetings with the county's solid waste director, the last one with Harter's father. The ethics board says it was that last meeting that was their primary evidence that he crossed ethical lines. Although the board is not required to propose punishment, members say the public ridicule and scrutiny Harter has faced so far should be considered punishment enough. The board does, however, recommend that Harter maybe take some classes on ethics.