The executive director of the Ohio Ethics Commission is speaking out about his group ordering three elected Columbus officials, including Mayor Andrew Ginther, to pay the full expenses of a trip to the 2014 Big 10 Championship football game. Former City Council member Michelle Mills, who also attended the game, is still being investigated by the Commission and federal authorities.
Commission Executive Director Paul Nick said the former and current City Council members had their trips paid for by Centerplate, a company that had just secured a food-vendor contract with the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
“In this situation, what we found was the the officials who attended had failed to pay the cost of the event and because of that they were in potential violation of conflict of interest laws," Nick said.
Letters to three of the officials, Andrew Ginther, Shannon Hardin and Eileen Paley, say they have not violated any ethics laws because they cooperated and agreed to pay the expenses. Nick said the Commission is closing the matter. A similar letter was also sent to a former Upper Arlington City Council member who attended the game.
“I am happy to hear that after a thorough review, the Commission confirmed that I did not violate Ohio law when cheering on the Buckeyes in their 2014 Big 10 Conference Championship game,” Councilmember Shannon Hardin said in an email. “I appreciate the Commission's review and clarification on my original filing; I look forward to paying the difference and the complete resolution of this matter.”
Nick said each official eventually paid $250 per person back to Centerplate, the amount Centerplate lobbyist John Raphael reported the trip cost. But, the Ethics Commission found the actual per person cost was almost 700 dollars, and is asking the four officials to pay the difference.
