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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > January > 16 > Entry
More on Mike Fox and the FBI
The FBI investigation against Butler County political fixture Michael Fox appears to be continuing.
Butler County Board of Elections officials confirmed this week that the bureau in November collected campaign finance forms from Fox’s campaign war chest dating back roughly eight years.
Though an investigation of Fox has dragged on more than two years, the FBI has never announced the nature, or even the existence of the probe.
Seeing as Fox has been in the news a lot this week, this seems like a good time for a refresher course:
The story of Michael Fox
Children Services Director Michael Fox’s political career has been epic and controversial.
Fox grew up in Hamilton. His father was a Hamilton police officer and his mother served on the Republican Party Executive Committee. He attended Taft High School and graduated from Miami University in 1971 with a degree in education.
He entered politics in 1974, when he was elected to the Ohio House. By 1980, he had earned a distinction as one of Ohio’s most effective legislators.
Fox was re-elected 11 times. During his tenure, he brought more than $100 million to Miami University and secured nearly $160 million in state and federal funding for Ohio 129, according to Fox’s campaign materials.
The 11.5 mile Ohio 129 transformed Butler County. It brought development into West Chester and connected Hamilton to Interstate 75. It was named the Michael A. Fox Highway in his honor.
But scandal clung to Fox, following him into victory. In 1997, he ended one of the longest careers in the House — nearly 23 years — after accepting an airline ticket and lodging from a lobbyist.
News reports from the time say he wiped away tears as he apologized to his colleagues during a House floor session.
“I sincerely apologize for putting us here today,” Fox told his Statehouse colleagues. “I apologize to every one of you.”
Ohio 129 was later renamed Veterans Highway, save for a sliver of road at the edge of Hamilton that still bears Fox’s name.
Fox came home to Butler County, and was appointed by the Butler County GOP to fill the unexpired term of County Commissioner Janet Clemmons when she died in office.
He was re-elected in 1998, 2000 and 2004. He was a deft politician and a driven and polarizing commissioner.
Fox names among his accomplishments programs to increase collection of child support, assist residents with prescription drugs and keeping county taxes low.
Fox sat on the commission in 2004 when Dynus Corp. approached the county about a fiber optics project. He was the driving force behind the initiative, urging his fellow commissioners to back the Dynus project.
Fox’s name appears on a letter of intent for an agreement with Dynus that he said he never signed.
In 2007, Fox stepped down from the commission to take over the ailing Children Services agency. The agency’s board was disbanded and the director was fired after the death of 3-year-old Marcus Fiesel, which Fiesel’s foster parents later pleaded guilty to.
Fox was criticized for the move, leaving the commission for a commission-appointed job making $118,000 a year.
But he earned praise from commissioners for aggressive reforms at the agency, including increased screening of foster parents, improved collaboration with law enforcement and reduced caseworker loads.
The public preferred Fox in his new role as well. A survey in November found that 71 percent of the public trusted him and 14 percent didn’t. A survey in 2003 asked the same question about “Commissioner Michael Fox” and found only 43 percent of Butler County residents trusted him, and 30 percent did not.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Dynus
Comments
By SnowQueen
January 16, 2009 1:39 PM | Link to this
I said this 10-15 years ago. This is exactly why we don’t name highways after people!!!!
By Jack
January 16, 2009 3:54 PM | Link to this
But, He’s a nice guy. Right?
By Jill
January 16, 2009 8:24 PM | Link to this
I’m surprised the urinal news reported this. Since, they helped him get elected at Children Services.
By YeahRight
January 18, 2009 9:02 AM | Link to this
I believe the highway was illegally named after him and had to be changed again. This article also makes it sound like the highway was great for the county - many people opposed it and still do. Why wasn’t by-pass 4 widened first? Who needs a corridor to Hamilton?
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