Renzi says Watertown report part of "whisper campaign of negative attacks"

The Watertown Daily Times reports this morning that Republican state Senate candidate David Renzi may have improperly received retirement credits under the state pension system.

According to the article, Renzi hasn’t yet received financial benefits, because he hasn’t retired.

Still, the Times’ conclusion is blunt:

Attorney David A. Renzi accrued state retirement credits for the past four years that he was not entitled to while serving as counsel for the town of Pamelia.

The matter is under review by the state Comptroller’s office.

The newspaper acknowledged that it had received the information from the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, which hopes to defeat Renzi in November’s election.

In a statement, Renzi said the article reflects a “whisper campaign of negative, personal attacks.”

I have always held myself to highest ethical standards. My opponent wants to avoid having to answer legitimate questions that have been raised about his own unethical and illegal behavior, and misuse of taxpayer money while in office, and so has raised these issues as part of his increasingly negative campaign.

Incumbent Democrat Darrel Aubertine has drawn fire for hiring his sister to work as a constituent liaison in his Senate office.

His sister later left the post.

The Times report follows on a patch of tough news for Renzi — chiefly, a Siena poll that showed him 20 points behind in the highly touted race.