Democrats in the Ohio Senate are looking for a new chief of staff after Michael Premo resigned yesterday, following staff members complaints about inappropriate conduct.
Senate minority leader Kenny Yuko says he asked for Premo's resignation on Monday.
"Recently, concerns of inappropriate conduct toward staff came to my attention and I found the information to be credible," Yuko said a statement. "Therefore, at my request, Mike Premo today submitted his resignation as minority chief of staff."
Yuko said he would not comment further out of respect for those who raised concerns about Premo’s behavior.
Premo's departure comes four weeks after Republican Senator Cliff Hite suddenly resigned over allegations of sexual harassment. Hite said he was "not proud of recent inappropriate conversations" he had with a woman employed by the Ohio Legislative Service Commission.
Some other news outlets have reported Hite, who is married, repeatedly pressed the woman for sex.
Premo’s resignation also follows the Ohio House releasing records detailing discipline against several state lawmakers accused of harassment in recent years.
Those cases include:
- Dem. Representative Stephanie Howse, who was removed from a committee leadership position in June 2016 because of a harassment complaint against her.
- A discrimination complaint filed in March of this year by an aide to Dem. Representative Bernadine Kennedy Kent, who was ordered to undergo training.
- A complaint filed in 2015 against Republican Rep. Mike Henne of the Dayton area after a comment he made. He temporarily lost his committee leadership position, and has apologized and underwent sensitivity training.
- A May 2016 complaint against Mark Homyak, a staff member for former Republican Rep. Nan Baker. Homyak was fired for inappropriate behavior.
