CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — In a peculiar scene on Memorial Day, a person in a large chicken costume was spotted holding a sign bearing the face of Ross County Sheriff George Lavender. The sign read, “George Lavender is a chicken,” accompanied by the hashtag #LetHimRun.
The spectacle, dubbed “the Chillicothe Chicken,” is an apparent show of support of Isaac Oberer, a candidate for Ross County Sheriff. Oberer, a lifelong Ross County resident, Marine, former Police Sergeant, drug task force agent, and deputy Sheriff submitted his petition to the county board of elections earlier this year to challenge the long-time incumbent — Lavender — on November’s ballot.
The chicken stood approximately 7 foot fall and was accompanied by a loud speaker playing the catchy tune “The Chicken Dance” as the person inside danced with the sign. Spotted just a few feet away in a nearby parking lot was Lavender, who was watching the chicken dance with a group of women in a car.
Oberer’s candidacy has faced significant challenges, including his termination from the Ross County Sheriff’s Office in March. Then, Oberer stated, “Today I was fired by Sheriff Lavender from my position at the Ross County Sheriff’s Office. The cited reason – meaning put on paper – was that I was challenging him in the 2024 election for the position of Sheriff. While I do not agree with this decision, I hoped that a public leader would accept a healthy challenge while believing that a larger percent of the community would support him, and would encourage the next generation of law enforcement in some form. For a man that gained my respect I was very disappointed.”
Many in the community view the termination as a direct attack on the popular challenger as political retaliation by the Sheriff to stifle anyone challenging his candidacy.
Since announcing his candidacy, Oberer has had retaliatory actions allegedly associated with the current county sheriff. Last month, Oberer, running as an Independent candidate, narrowly avoided being removed from the ballot after a township trustee lodged a challenge with the Board of Elections, citing alleged qualification discrepancies under state law.
The challenge, spearheaded by Township Trustee James Hatfield and filed through local attorney and former Chillicothe Chief of Police Keith Washburn, alleged that Oberer failed to submit required documentation, including proof of holding the rank of Sergeant or higher for more than two consecutive years, as required under Ohio state law.
In a hearing before the local Board of Elections, the board was set to act as both judge and jury. However, prior to the hearing, Oberer reached out to the Secretary of State’s office, contesting the legality of the challenge. Secretary of State Frank LaRose intervened, deeming the board’s acceptance of the challenge premature, allowing Oberer to remain on the ballot.
Oberer has garnered significant support across social media, where residents have expressed their desire for change in Ross County. One resident shared on their social media account, “If you want to see change in Ross County, you need to support change,” and endorsed Oberer’s candidacy.
Residents have cited rising crime rates and issues at the Ross County Jail, including numerous inmate deaths and drug overdoses, as reasons for supporting a new direction in the sheriff’s office. According to the FBI Uniform Crime Index, the ratio of cases opened to cases resolved in Ross County has been highly disproportionate in recent years.
As the Chillicothe Chicken continues to dance, residents face a critical decision on the direction of policing in one of Ohio’s largest counties. The choice between continuing with the status quo or supporting the young, widely popular Oberer represents a significant crossroads for the community.
