If the Prosecutor wrote an oppinion that a County Commissioner can’t do it, that it is against the law, what is there to review? How disturbing that something like this would happen here, it just goes to show you that these politicians need to be watched closely and that we need to keep an eye on what they do with our common cents.

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Bobby, how did Ray and Hambley get Geissman to create an entity that subsidizes private loans with my tax dollars? How would they force her to violate the law and privately benefit from her position? The Prosecutor’s office has made it very clear (to all of our county’s employees) that ignorance is no excuse for violating Ohio’s Ethics Law. This is a travesty, Pat Geissman should be thrown in jail (assuming that she took the money), you are exactly right. Of course, this is America, so she should first be indicted and allowed to defend herself in a court of law on what appears to be a very serious charge. This is the second time in a year Ms Geissman’s ethics and character have come under scrutiny, please remember the donations for contracts scandal with the CPF previously. As a tax payer in this county, I have the right to a responsible and transparent government; Commissioner Geissman has shown herself to be neither, and I hope she realizes that she needs to step down.

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After listening to Bill Thorne and Frank Gasper of the Medina County prosecutors Office give their presentation on Ethics February 20th, the old adage that what you don’t know can’t hurt you goes right out the window. This is an extremely thorny subject. (Sorry Bill, but I just couldn’t resist.) The talk, held in the Department of Planning Services’ conference room, was well attended. And judging by the number and quality of the questions, local government officials have a lot of interest in this subject, and rightfully so.

“Ethics” can be defined as “The basic principles of right action.” (Funk and Wagnall) The Ohio law regarding Ethics is aimed at preventing public officials and employees from acting in situations where there is

or there appears to be a conflict of interest. This applies to ALL government officials (with a few exceptions), ALL government employees and those who do business with them. Basically “Whenever the personal, financial or fiduciary interest [such as a trust] of a public official or employee, his family, or his business associates are involved in a situation before the official or employee, there is an ethics issue.” (These are Bill’s words. Not to give him credit might be, well, unethical.) The relevant sections of the state law are several and are not necessarily consistent with each other. In other words, you can be acting ethically according to one law but still be in violation of another. What makes things worse, a conviction of an ethical violation can result in civil or criminal penalties or both including being removed from office, voiding the actions taken, fines or JAIL. Major ethical issues are Conflicts of Interest, Public Contract Restraints (Having an unlawful interest in a public contract.), Post-Employment Restrictions, Confidentiality Violations, Influence Peddling, Supplemental Compensation (Getting paid extra for doing your public duties for which you’re already being paid.), and Receiving Honoraria. And there is even a separate regulation just for townships. The good news is that state ethical provisions cannot restrict your constitutional rights to, say, speak before a local board, as long as what you’re doing is available to every citizen. What to do? When you’re in doubt of a conflict of interest or any of the other ethical questions, contact the Ethics Commission or the County Prosecutor ’s Office. And be careful out there.

http://www.planning.co.medina.oh.us/newsletters/april2003newsletter.pdf

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