A coalition of Ohio organizations today formalized its support for the ethics complaint which has been filed against Senator Brian Chavez. The endorsement letter was sent to the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee (JLEC) and demands an urgent, transparent investigation.
The letter, spearheaded by Washington County for Safe Drinking Water and signed by leading statewide groups, including Buckeye Environmental Network, Save Ohio Parks and FaCT Ohio, argues that the Senator’s alleged conflicts of interest and voting record—specifically within the Senate Energy Committee—suggest a pattern where personal financial gain was prioritized over the public good.
The letter of support states in pertinent part “The complaint alleges Chavez’s conflicts of interest regarding undisclosed business entities and fast-tracking legislation that could benefit these interests. When public officials with financial ties to an industry shape laws that directly benefit that industry, it undermines public trust across the entire state.”
A spokesperson for Washington County for Safe Drinking Water, Hillary Royster, stated “This is a fundamental crisis of public trust that impacts every Ohioan's right to safe drinking water and ethical governance," "The Senator's conduct, detailed in the complaint, raises serious questions regarding his adherence to the oath of office and potential violations of Ohio Revised Code § 102.03. We are hopeful JLEC will review the complaint and act accordingly to help restore the public’s trust in our elected officials actions."
The coalition's collective membership across Ohio emphasizes that this is not a local grievance but a matter of Statewide Accountability. For democracy to function, the public must have absolute confidence that their representatives are free from undisclosed conflicts of interest, especially in areas as vital as energy policy and environmental regulation.
The undersigned individuals and organizations unequivocally endorse the complaint and call on JLEC to act swiftly, thoroughly, and transparently. A failure to investigate these serious allegations will only further erode the public’s faith in the General Assembly.
The letter of support, full complaint, and supporting exhibits can be found at WashingtonCountyForSafeDrinkingWater.org
