"Pontificating idiots" email In June 2005, Stephens sent an email to a discussion group, or "
listserv" that focuses on the community of Brewster. He thought the message was going to Beth Coursen, an aide in his Assembly district office. Instead he sent his reply to all subscribers, referring to them as pontificating idiots. The discussion group, called "Brewster10509", has a web site describing what the list is for. Members are free to post anything that has to do with government, education, community organizations and a host of other things related to Brewster and the surrounding Town of Southeast. Assemblyman Stephens apologized publicly to the members of the group as well as the entire district.
Putnam victory fund Stephens, who also serves as the legal counsel to the town of
Southeast, New York, drew heavy criticism after accepting $9,355 from trash magnate, convicted
felon and reputed mob boss
James Galante, who was in turn awarded a $1.5 million no-bid garbage contract by the town board on Stephens' recommendation. Assemblyman Stephens refused to make public a copy of the secret memo recommending that Galante's contract be renewed for a record $1.5 million without allowing public bids even as Galante had been recently arrested under the Federal
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), stating that "[t]hat's a legal opinion that is a matter of
attorney–client privilege. It's not subject to the New York Freedom of Information Law ... it would be up to the town, not [me], whether to release the memo." According to the
Danbury News-Times, "Willis H. Stephens, Jr. has received millions of tax dollars in aggregate payments as Southeast's municipal counsel for more than ten years. In 2005 alone, Southeast taxpayers paid Stephens, Jr. an estimated $190,000 for legal work, which included legal work involving a no-bid municipal contract worth an estimated $1.5 million tax dollars to an admitted felon at that time under investigation by Federal law enforcement authorities for alleged racketeering. Although Southeast taxpayers paid Stephens, Jr. for legal work, although pertinent Southeast garbage contract negotiations ceased nearly a year ago, although Southeast taxpayers are bound today under contract terms negotiated by Stephens, Jr. and the Southeast Town Board with a major campaign contributor presently under Federal indictment for alleged racketeering, Stephens, Jr. asserts that taxpayers have no right to see his legal work." Galante, who was previously convicted of tax evasion and arrested in June for allegedly conspiring with organized crime to prevent competition in the garbage business in Connecticut, was accused of donating to a
Political Action Committee which laundered money to several politicians who may have used their influence to award contracts to Galante's trash hauling business. == Personal life ==