Saturday, February 19, 2000
Fairfield councilman asked to quit
Vote-fraud claims spur suggestions
BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
FAIRFIELD — Several city council members called for the resignation of Councilman Jon V. Saylor Friday, a day after the Butler County Board of Elections concluded that he committed voter fraud in the November election.
“I believe that some of my colleagues have suggested it to him privately,” said Councilman Sterling Uhler, a former Fairfield mayor. “I would endorse him resigning.”
The elections board on Thursday issued a report saying there is strong evidence that Mr. Saylor violated more than a half-dozen Ohio election laws, including tampering with ballots, inducing illegal voting, interfering with the conduct of an election and possessing false records.
The report was sent to Butler County Prosecutor John F. Holcomb for investigation. Mr. Holcomb could not be reached Friday.
Mr. Saylor, 27, won Fairfield's 1st Ward seat, 820-678, over Mike Snyder.
“In my heart of hearts, I think he should resign and let us get on with the business of running the city,” said Councilman Jeff Holtegel. “I don't think there's any doubt that good old-fashioned vote-box-stuffing has occurred. It attacks the very core of democracy.”
Councilman Steve Miller agreed.
“It's really hung a dark cloud on Fairfield City Council,” he said. “If it's true, he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. That kind of behavior is deplorable. I haven't heard of anything like that except for ... in Chicago.”
Officials in Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell's office said the breadth of the allegations in Fairfield is unlike any case in memory.
“I can tell you that it is an uncommon and a fairly rare occurrence,” said James Lee, a spokesman for Mr. Blackwell.
He said it's up to county boards of elections to investigate voting irregularities, and the secretary of state's office stands by as a resource.
Fairfield officials have said there is little they can do to remove Mr. Saylor from council, at least for now, because the alleged actions happened before he was elected.
Mr. Saylor did not return a call on Friday.
Regardless of the outcome of the allegations, they are distracting in Fairfield.
“It takes away from a lot of the other things that we'd like to be doing or should be doing,” Mr. Miller said. “It's a difficult time.”
The controversy is not expected to affect the way the city functions, but it could cause some people to shy away from participating in city government, be it on serving on council or city boards and commissions, Mr. Uhler said.
“There are an awful lot of good people out there who could be incredibly valuable to this city,” Mr. Uhler said. “This scares them away. I have never seen anything like this in my career.”
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