Louisville Metro Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin, D-2, is asking the city Ethics Commission to dismiss a complaint filed against her by a state watchdog group.The embattled city lawmaker is also making the argument that The Courier-Journal is behind the complaint.Last month, Common Cause of Kentucky Chairman Richard Beliles cites a series of articles that reported on Shanklin's discretionary spending. It alleges Shanklin violated the Metro Government code of ethics by using her office to benefit herself and her relatives.But in a response to the charges filed by her attorney, Aubrey Williams, Shanklin says the newspaper is using Bellies as a "conduit" to prosecute the case.Several Courier-Journal editorials called on citizens to file complaints against the councilwoman.Williams also argues that Beliles' complaint is frivolous because it contains no information other than the media reports, which he says are not legal documents.Beliles has said that Shanklin's attorney is asking for an unreasonable standard that cannot be met by citizens according to the ethics law.The ethics commission is scheduled to meet on August 22.
