2008 Woodie Awards
Auditor questions use of Butler Co. resources
Chloe Esposito
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Community
Incumbent Butler County Commissioner Republican Charles Furmon faces more than the difficulty of beating his challenger Rawnica Dillingham Tuesday.
Butler County auditor Kay Rogers requested prosecutors to investigate county Commissioner Furmon's use of the county's Records Center for supposed unethical fundraising meetings.
According to Robin Piper, Butler County prosecutor, there have been many concerns regarding Furmon's actions, especially towards property and county employees.
According to Kay Roger's accusation, he has forced county employees to help him in past political campaigns.
"If this is the truth, it is definitely an ethical violation, but we will have to heavily investigate Roger's claims in order to reach a conclusion that has substance to it because politics can be cut throat … especially with elections coming up," Piper said.
Piper has confirmed Kay Roger's belief that mandatory fundraising meetings were held in the Records Center after business hours and that this was not only a safety and security issue for the many workers that were employed by Butler County, but an unjust way for Furmon to give out personal information about himself without the listening ears of supervisors.
Miami University professor of political science, Clyde Brown believes that Furmon's campaign appears to be thin for several reasons.
"How can we know that they didn't feel threatened in some sense to help their boss?" Brown said. "This is not a new concern and it is why various Hatch Act provisions have been passed to protect government workers from these types of pressure."
According to Brown, The Hatch Act is a U.S. federal law passed in order to prohibit federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity, which Brown said was ironic because republicans usually champion the Hatch Act to prevent the very activity that is being alleged in this case.
Piper said that Rogers is determined to shed light upon Furmon's possible violations, as well as to prove the importance of law and ethics.
Butler County auditor Kay Rogers requested prosecutors to investigate county Commissioner Furmon's use of the county's Records Center for supposed unethical fundraising meetings.
According to Robin Piper, Butler County prosecutor, there have been many concerns regarding Furmon's actions, especially towards property and county employees.
According to Kay Roger's accusation, he has forced county employees to help him in past political campaigns.
"If this is the truth, it is definitely an ethical violation, but we will have to heavily investigate Roger's claims in order to reach a conclusion that has substance to it because politics can be cut throat … especially with elections coming up," Piper said.
Piper has confirmed Kay Roger's belief that mandatory fundraising meetings were held in the Records Center after business hours and that this was not only a safety and security issue for the many workers that were employed by Butler County, but an unjust way for Furmon to give out personal information about himself without the listening ears of supervisors.
Miami University professor of political science, Clyde Brown believes that Furmon's campaign appears to be thin for several reasons.
"How can we know that they didn't feel threatened in some sense to help their boss?" Brown said. "This is not a new concern and it is why various Hatch Act provisions have been passed to protect government workers from these types of pressure."
According to Brown, The Hatch Act is a U.S. federal law passed in order to prohibit federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity, which Brown said was ironic because republicans usually champion the Hatch Act to prevent the very activity that is being alleged in this case.
Piper said that Rogers is determined to shed light upon Furmon's possible violations, as well as to prove the importance of law and ethics.
Be the first to comment on this story