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Nasty Clash Continues Between Fitzgerald, Wagner

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Rich Fitzgerald claims Allegheny County Controller Chelsa Wagner rarely shows up at her office. But we found her there Friday.

KDKA's Paul Martino: "How often are you here?"

Wagner: "My average work week is a 60 hour work week, and you can ask anyone on the staff, they're getting emails from me at 6 a.m. to sometimes 2 in the morning."

Wagner is defending her work ethic after accusations were flying Thursday between her and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

"I actually wish she would go to work," Fitzgerald said. "Talk about misuse of county funds, probably that pay raise she gave herself the day she took office for $25,000. Plus, the fact that she shows up for work about one day a week. That's probably a big misuse of county funds."

"I compare this to being on a basketball court with somebody saying 'your mama' jokes," said Wagner. "It's not true."

This has been the back and forth ever since an audit was released claiming Fitzgerald was using his county-provided jeep for political work.

There's no question the two of them don't get along. Fitzgerald made Wagner leave his Christmas party last year.

"He said, 'You are not welcomed here,' and I just put my hand on his arm, and I said, 'Merry Christmas, Rich,' and I left," Wagner said.

But Wagner insists this isn't a personal attack. She believes Fitzgerald may be using his car for political campaigns and she's asking for a $13,000 reimbursement.

Fitzgerald admits some of the events he goes to combine government business and politics.

As for this Christmas:

Martino: "Are you inviting him to your Christmas party this year?"

Wagner: "We do a Christmas party for all of our employees. We do it over at Mitchell's. We've invited him."

KDKA's Paul Martino asked Fitzgerald's office Friday if they had any proof, any records proving that Wagner doesn't go to work very often.

They could not provide any. But they say there's anecdotal evidence that when people go to her office, she's not around.

In the meantime, the state's Ethics Commission may have the final word on whether Fitzgerald is abusing his county car.

And we'll have to wait and see just how much holiday cheer there is this year on Grant Street.

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