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Official Misconduct?
You Decide!
Complaints and Hearings before the Ohio Elections Commission
In the
interest of full disclosure of public documents and to make them
accessible to residents and voters of the City of North Canton,
the following records on file with the Ohio Elections Commission
involving candidates for elective office from the City of North
Canton are provided:
Osborne vs. Magel (Case No. 2002E-006)
Probable Cause Hearing – February 28, 2002
Snyder vs. Concerned
Citizens for Fair Treatment of Stray Animals (Case No.
2001E-076)
Probable Cause Hearing – May 30, 2002
Sarbach vs. Kathy Magel, David
Lindower, William Smith & Greg Wernet (case No. 2002E-027)
Probable Cause Hearing – October 10, 2002
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Prosecutor Investigations of Mayor Tom Rice
This is a letter from the Ohio Ethics
Commission to the Canton City Prosecutor citing the
commission’s Report of Investigation on North Canton Mayor Tom
Rice.
Although the commission was unable to
recommend the filing of criminal ethics charges against Mr.
Rice, the letter from the commission did cite the following:
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“Because of the extensiveness of Mr. Rice’s
actions in this matter, we recommend that your office take the
opportunity to advise him …of the law and its limitations.”
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“… that you inform Mr. Rice that a vote he
participated in during a February 14, 2000 Council meeting
occurred in violation of the conflict of interest restriction
contained in R.C. 102.03(D), because his actions involved an
ordinance that directly affected his private property.”
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“…the Commission would suggest a joint
admonishment be sent to Mr. Rice for his conduct, to ensure that
he and all members of council and the public are informed of the
standard of the Ethics Law with respect to public officials
generally not participating in matters that affect their private
property interests…”
This is a letter from the Ohio Ethics
Commission to the Canton City Prosecutor citing the
commission’s Report of Investigation on North Canton Mayor Tom
Rice.
Although the commission was unable to
recommend the filing of criminal ethics charges against Mr.
Rice, the letter from the commission did cite the following:
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“Because of the extensiveness of Mr. Rice’s
actions in this matter, we recommend that your office take the
opportunity to advise him …of the law and its limitations.”
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“… that you inform Mr. Rice that a vote he
participated in during a February 14, 2000 Council meeting
occurred in violation of the conflict of interest restriction
contained in R.C. 102.03(D), because his actions involved an
ordinance that directly affected his private property.”
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“…the Commission would suggest a joint
admonishment be sent to Mr. Rice for his conduct, to ensure that
he and all members of council and the public are informed of the
standard of the Ethics Law with respect to public officials
generally not participating in matters that affect their private
property interests…”
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May 11, 2004: Canton City
Prosecutor's Report on Second Investigation
of Mayor Tom Rice
This is the Canton City
Prosecutor’s report on his second investigation of North
Canton Mayor Tom Rice in the last ten months. This
investigation originated with a request from the North
Canton City Council based on allegations brought by former
City Councilmember Chuck Osborne and current City
Councilmember Marcia Kiesling, against North Canton Mayor
Tom Rice.
The prosecutor cited the following in
his report:
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“…four possible conflicts of interest
which…may be considered under Section 6.01 of the
Charter.”
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“Rice’s actions demonstrate a failure to
comprehend the appearance of impropriety.”
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“Council has the power to pass a
resolution reprimanding the Mayor for his intimidating
tactics and apparent lack of his ability to separate his
public and private business interests.”
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“…the evidence suggests that Rice and
his staff and their activities used the resources of the
Office to further their cause.”
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“This phrase ‘tell the employees that
they work at the pleasure of the Mayor’ appears to be a
common threat in the Rice Administration.”
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