It is nonsense for the New London Board of Ethics to characterize as a potential ethics violation Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio’s characterization of a political attack aimed at him as “homophobic.” That’s an opinion and the mayor has a constitutional right to voice it. And in this case there is at least a logical basis to his characterization.

Reid Burdick, a former Republican city councilor known for his acerbic brand of political discourse, detests the mayor’s leadership of the city and yearns for his defeat in the coming election. It’s also personal. In 2013, the mayor removed Mr. Burdick as emergency management director, a position he had long held.

The exchange leading to an ethics complaint by Mr. Burdick occurred at an April 20 City Council meeting. Mr. Burdick hoisted out a red herring that he likes to frequently repeat — the mayor doesn’t pay property taxes.

“How do you accept a 12½ percent increase from a guy who doesn’t own a house or a car?” asked Mr. Burdick.

Mayor Finizio has the privileges of driving a city car. His home is listed in the name of his spouse. As with most couples, they share the burden paying taxes and other home costs, says Mayor Finizio.

The mayor, who is in a same-sex marriage, said he does not believe Mr. Burdick would be making the same charge concerning a mayor in a heterosexual relationship. Indeed, there is no record of Mr. Burdick having examined the property records of past men and women on the council or criticizing any of them for having their property in their spouse’s name.

It is in that context, said Mayor Finizio, that he made the comments at the April 20 meeting.

“I must say that his repeated claims in this forum and others, that I do not pay taxes to the City of New London, is homophobic,” the mayor said at the time.

Mr. Burdick complained the "homophobic" comment violated city ethics rules concerning treatment of the public.

In our dealings with Mr. Burdick, we see no evidence he is prejudiced against homosexuals. But he can be mean-spirited when it comes to politics. We can understand why the mayor saw his comments as crossing a line.

The Board of Ethics will next proceed to a hearing to consider whether Mayor Finizio’s comment violated the Code of Ethics language stating that members of the public “shall be treated courteously, impartially and fairly.” If the board reads that to mean an elected leader cannot respond to a critic with strong language, they read it wrong.

The timing of the decision is suspect, coming shortly before the Sept. 16 primary in which the mayor faces Democratic City Councilor Michael Passero. Three of the four ethics board members who voted 4-0 to continue to a hearing are Republicans, including Dennis Downing, a candidate for City Council and frequent Finizio critic.

Even Mr. Burdick, who in 2011 questioned the board’s ability to act impartially, concedes the process doesn’t look fair. Maybe he can withdraw his complaint and everyone can move on to matters that are more serious.