ROSS COUNTY, Ohio — Jim Hatfield, a lifelong resident of Ross County and an elected trustee of Jefferson Township, has stirred controversy in the November race for Ross County Sheriff. Hatfield, in his 80s, has become known for his attempts to challenge Independent candidate Isaac Oberer’s petition for the office.
Earlier this year, Hatfield made two unsuccessful attempts to contest Oberer’s candidacy. Oberer, a Marine, Eagle Scout, former narcotics detective, and deputy sheriff with Ross County, was fired from his position as a deputy Sheriff after announcing his intention to run against incumbent Sheriff George Lavender.
After Oberer filed to run with the Ross County Board of Elections, Traci Hatfield-Henness, the board’s director and Jim Hatfield’s daughter, sent him a letter notifying him of a challenge to his candidacy. This has raised questions of potential ethical violations given her familial connection to Hatfield.
In July, the Board of Elections heard Hatfield’s challenge and ruled in favor of Oberer, allowing him to remain on the ballot. Unsatisfied, Hatfield then hired a Columbus law firm to file a lawsuit in the Court of Common Pleas, asking a judge to review and potentially overturn the Board’s decision.
A hearing on this latest action is scheduled for Thursday. Although Oberer is not a party to the suit, County Prosecutor Jeff Marks will defend the case as the Board of Elections is the named defendant. Marks wrote in a defense filing that the county denies any wrongdoing and leaves the matter to the judge’s discretion and asks the case be dismissed. He also noted that Oberer, though involved in the case, was not named as a defendant, which could complicate the proceedings.
The hearing will decide whether the Board of Elections can proceed with printing the November ballots, including Oberer’s name. Currently, a preliminary injunction has halted the printing process. Oberer’s campaign has stated they were unaware of the legal proceedings until this news article and emphasized that the case is between Hatfield and the Board of Elections.
The Guardian, which has closely followed the issue, uncovered that Hatfield has lied under oath during the July hearing. Hatfield said in the July hearing he had not met with the Sheriff to coordinate efforts to throw Oberer off the ballot. Security camera footage obtained by The Guardian in a public records request shows Hatfield meeting with Sheriff Lavender at the Sheriff’s Office on two occasions to discuss Oberer’s candidacy. The video was unable to be uploaded to this story due to its size, but can be obtained by the general public through a public record request of their own.
Sworn testimony by Major Mike Preston also confirmed these meetings. Additionally, confidential sources and more video evidence reveal that Hatfield’s lawyer, Keith Washburn, who was present during the hearing, failed to stand up and correct his client’s false testimony; Washburn was present for at least one of the meetings and knew his client was lying under oath. Under Ohio’s legal ethics rules, Washburn could face disciplinary action with his law license for not addressing his client’s dishonesty.
As the judge considers the case on Thursday, Hatfield’s credibility and ethical breaches could play a significant factor in the decision regarding Oberer’s place on the ballot.
