CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — In a Guardian exclusive, it has been uncovered that an elected official in Chillicothe has been illegally lining his pockets with tax dollars.
Chillicothe City Council President Bruce A. Arnold is the owner of CARRS (Complete Automotive Rustproofing Reconditioning Service) on Water Street in downtown: a car modification business. It’s a company he has owned since 1987, according to paperwork on file with the state.
Arnold — a Democrat — was elected in 2015 as Council President as part of a sweeping election with Mayor Luke Feeney that saw the city go from red-to-blue in a super majority.
Public records obtained by the Guardian from the City of Chillicothe show that Arnold’s business has received thousands of dollars for work on city-owned vehicles since he took office. The work has included nearly $5,500 for seat covers and lettering for new police cruisers for the city. Other work was $1,600 for running boards on a city pickup truck and another $1,800 for a water plant truck repair. In total, just in the last 36 months, Arnold has cashed checks from the city for nearly $15,000; cashing that the state says is illegal.
In Ohio, city work involving tax dollars less than $50,000 does not have to be placed out for public bid, with the lowest bidder taking the contract; that is, unless you’re an elected official. Even if an elected official placed the lowest bid on a proposed job they have to meet other qualifiers to receive the work. The monies Arnold has received from the city does not meet the legal requirements for him to be awarded the work.
Under Ohio law, an elected official is not allowed to use their office to steer work to their personally owned business. Even if Arnold did not directly-solicit the city, the Ohio Ethics Commission says he had a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers, and by accepting money from the city for work on city property, he may have committed crimes.
The executive director of the Ohio Ethics Commission, who investigates public officials accused of financial crimes, told the Guardian in a previous interview that such allegations, if true, constitute criminal violations of unlawful interest in public contracts and conflict of interest. While there are some exceptions in the unlawful interest law that could allow Arnold to launch into business with the city he represents if he jumped through hoops, the “conflict of interest” law would still prohibit such business from taking place.
Without speaking directly to the allegations lodged against Arnold, director Paul Nick previously said that such allegations, if true, could be illegal, even if Arnold was the cheapest in town
“The ethics statute that prohibits having an unlawful interest in a public contract applies to any elected or appointed officer or employee, or an agent of the state or any political subdivision, including a city,” Nick said.
Nick said the violations could be first degree misdemeanors or even felonies, depending on the severity.
The Guardian reached out to Mayor Luke Feeney and asked why the city allowed Arnold to profit from apparent no-bid city contracts. The Mayor did not comment directly back about the allegations and would only say he would “look into it.” Messages left with the police department, who Arnold seems to profit the most from also wielded the same response.
Arnold, himself, did not return a request for an interview from the Guardian.
Prosecutor Jeff Marks told the Guardian on Monday that the matter might be something for law enforcement to investigate.
“As with any potential criminal investigation, a report should be made with law enforcement so that they might be able to investigate the alleged allegations ….. someone with knowledge of the alleged violations [could] contact the Ross County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division to file a report,” Marks commented. “This individual with knowledge would hopefully be able to provide enough information to get an investigation moving forward. I mention the Ross County Sheriff’s Office due to the fact that I don’t know if you are including the Chillicothe Police Department into the group of ‘city vehicles’ allegedly being worked on by Mr. Arnold. If so, then it may be a conflict of interest to initiate the investigation through that agency.”
Tom Spetnagel Jr. is the chairman of the local Democratic Party and condemned the allegations, but clarified that he has yet to independently review the claims.
“I can’t comment on the validity because I do not have any access to city information,” Spetnagel said. “Having said that, I personally believe that every officeholder has a responsibility to prevent the appearance of misconduct. It’s how I have handled myself as an elected official and its what we all should strive for, regardless of party affiliation.”
Arnold lost his re-election bid in November and will leave office at the end of the month.