GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Gaston County commissioners said Tuesday they wanted to move on from an ethics investigation involving fellow commissioner Cathy Cloninger, despite an outside attorney’s finding that she violated the board’s code of ethics. The investigation found no laws were broken. It followed two anonymous complaints alleging Cloninger made comments suggesting a romantic relationship between two county employees and said senior employees should be fired. Cloninger addressed the findings publicly for the first time at the meeting, saying, “The investigation speaks for itself, is what I have to say.” Several commissioners expressed support for her and said she had shown remorse in private conversations. Commissioner Bob Havis said he was “fully happy with us closing the book on this.” Board Chair Chad Brown also offered support, saying people sometimes make comments that others take out of context. The meeting was non-voting, and the board took no formal action on the report. Supporters of Cloninger, who is running for reelection, attended wearing stickers in her favor. One supporter, Melia Lyerly, called her a strong community citizen who had worked to improve the county. The investigation was conducted by an outside attorney amid concerns about a potential conflict of interest. Its finding of an ethics-code violation, while not a finding of illegal conduct, leaves the board’s response to questions about commissioners’ conduct and accountability largely to its members.