County Councilman Ed Middlebrooks this week stood by his decision not to vote on slots zoning for Arundel Mills mall despite a new opinion from the county Ethics Commission that cleared him to participate.

Middlebrooks, R-Severn, announced Thursday during a council session held to pick a new council member that his "impartiality and integrity has been called into question."

He then recused himself again from voting on two slots zoning measures or the replacement for former councilman Josh Cohen. He then left the Council Chambers in Annapolis.

Middlebrooks abrupt announcement was just one piece of the...