CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — An investigation by The Guardian has revealed that several deputies in Ross County signed Sheriff George Lavender’s petition for reelection, some doing so while on duty, raising questions about the enforcement of political activity rules within the Sheriff’s office.
The controversy began in April when a deputy sheriff was suspended for three days after signing the nominating petition of Isaac Oberer, Sheriff Lavender’s opponent. Personnel files show that Sheriff Lavender justified the suspension by citing a prohibition on political activity by employees, stating the deputy could have been terminated despite nearly 20 years of service.
However, the situation has become increasingly complex. The same deputy had been asked by Sheriff Lavender to sign his reelection petition while on duty just 11 months earlier — and done so, albeit under duress from having their boss hover over them demanding it. A review by The Guardian of Lavender’s petition reveals that nearly a dozen deputies signed the Sheriff’s reelection petition, yet only the deputy who signed Oberer’s petition faced suspension. One such signature was the Chief Deputy’s wife, who is a Lieutenant within the Sheriff’s office. In fact, she signed the Sheriff’s petition twice — an act that is not allowed under state law.
“The enforcement of the rules appears to be selective and retaliatory,” said a source close to the investigation. “If signing petitions is prohibited, then it should apply equally to all employees, regardless of whose petition they are signing.”
Sheriff Lavender has not responded to requests for comment on the allegations. Meanwhile, Oberer, a former deputy within the Sheriff’s office who is running as an Independent, continues to face obstacles in his campaign. Oberer was fired by Lavender in March, and his petition to run for Sheriff is being challenged by a Lavender surrogate — for the second time.
“The Sheriff should just be a man and face the kid in November,” a local farmer told the Guardian. “Why does the Sheriff want Oberer removed so badly? Shouldn’t the voters have the right to decide?”
Ohio Administrative Rule 3349-8-70 permits employees to engage in certain political activities, including signing nominating petitions. The rule states, “The following are examples of permissible activities for … employees: …. Circulation of nonpartisan petitions or petitions stating views on legislation; Signing nominating petitions in support of individuals….”
Despite this, the deputy who signed both petitions was only penalized for supporting Oberer. The dozen other deputies who signed Lavender’s petition have not faced any disciplinary actions, raising concerns about fairness and potential abuse of power.
The community remains divided over the issue on social media, with some calling for an independent review of the Sheriff’s office practices. The race between Lavender and Oberer has been fraught with tension, including public demonstrations and accusations of administrative meddling by the Sheriff.
The Board of Elections will hold a public meeting on Monday at the county courthouse at 2:30 p.m. to review the latest grab by Lavender to have Oberer removed from the ballot.