-1.JPG)
American Idol 2012 finale
Rollover crash injures 2
News hounds (5/24/12)
Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > August > 19 > Entry
Liberal groups call for state investigation of county practices
Press release from local liberal PACs:
The Ohio Attorney General was asked this week to appoint a Special Investigator to investigate impropriety and potential illegal activities in Butler County government.
In a letter signed by Jocelyn Bucaro (President of Change Butler PAC), William Gracie (Vice President of Butler County Progressive PAC), and Donna Mollaun (Founder of the Hamilton-Fairfield Democratic Alliance), Attorney General Richard Cordray was asked to direct a Special Investigator’s attention to two current issues: the awarding of contracts without competitive bids, and political influence on the appointment of relatives to the public payroll.
The letter to Cordray points out that Resolutions Community Solutions (of Hamilton) received more than $1.2 million for jail renovation work. Although state law requires that all public contracts with a value of more than $25,000 must be awarded via competitive bid, Butler County officials awarded that contract without bidding.
The letter also contains examples of officials using their influence to appoint relatives to county positions. In 2008, both the County Administrator and his wife resigned their jobs in the midst of a raise and retirement scandal. Now it appears that Commissioner Jolivette’s children were on the county payroll.
Officials of Change Butler PAC, Butler County Progressive PAC, and the Hamilton-Fairfield Democratic Alliance believe that Attorney General Cordray’s appointment of a Special Investigator is the only way to restore integrity and respect for the law in Butler County.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment |
Comments
By Concerned Reader
August 19, 2009 12:34 PM | Link to this
I think your headline use of “LIBERAL” is an attempt to make the news, not report the news……very disappointing!
By paul
August 19, 2009 12:44 PM | Link to this
I agree with Concerned Reader. I have yet to read a description of Mike Fox as (the representative who got caught in an FBI bribery sting and then resigned in an in party GOP deal to avoid prosecution and then was appointed to the County Commission which later awarded him a job with a 50% pay increase for which he had no qualifications). You should be consistent in describing people.
By paul
August 19, 2009 12:45 PM | Link to this
I agree with Concerned Reader. I have yet to read a description of Mike Fox as (the representative who got caught in an FBI bribery sting and then resigned in an in party GOP deal to avoid prosecution and then was appointed to the County Commission which later awarded him a job with a 50% pay increase for which he had no qualifications). You should be consistent in describing people.
By Wilbur
August 19, 2009 1:00 PM | Link to this
Joshs’use of the term “liberal” is accurate once one reviews the names of the groups. What else would one call them? They’re not just plain, old groups my friends. They are all fundamentally liberal groups - but make no mistake - they are doing the right thing by calling for an investigation into these perennial shenanigans.
By Frank
August 19, 2009 1:02 PM | Link to this
The county prosecutor and the county auditor should have made this request, it’s their job. Political groups should not have had to do this for them.
By legal eagle
August 19, 2009 4:11 PM | Link to this
It’s my understanding only another official government agency or official can ask the AG for a special investigation. If Cordray accepts this PAC’s request, he will set a legal president that anyone can make a request.
By my school
August 19, 2009 5:04 PM | Link to this
This would be great if Cordray took issue with the no-bid deals because every school district in Butler County does the same thing, to the tune of millions each year. So we can thank these three groups for going after the schools as well.
By Jim Dorsey
August 19, 2009 7:43 PM | Link to this
Hey Legal Eagle, under Ohio Revised Code Sec. 177.02 “[a]ny person may file with the organized crime investigations commission [in the Office of Attorney General] a complaint that alleges that organized criminal activity has occurred in a county. A person who files a complaint … also may file with the commission information relative to the complaint. Organized criminal activity means any combination or conspiracy to engage in … criminal activity that relates to the corruption of a public official.”
By boynamedsued
August 19, 2009 7:55 PM | Link to this
Ohio AG investigates Butler County? i.e. the Fox in the Henhouse. LOL I was sued by a self-dealing OHIO AG employed lawyer down in the probate ct. Just as JS Bach wrote Orchestral Suites, the AG lawyers orchestrate Suits