Butler County Treasurer Resigns

From the Cincinnati Enquirer:

Last summer, Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper asked the Ohio Ethics Commission to investigate after learning that Mosketti hired her 18-year-old granddaughter in 2004.

Elected officials are prohibited from hiring family members.

The issue came to light when Butler County Auditor Kay Rogers wrote Mosketti on May 31, 2006, to notify her that the hiring violated Ohio's ethics law.

As a result, Mosketti's granddaughter, Heather Maus, quit in June 2006.

And now, we hear from a Butler County Republican who defends nepotism:

Butler County Commissioners have no say over whom elected officials hire to work in their offices. Yet one commissioner, Mike Fox, defended Mosketti's actions.

"It's a dumb law," Fox said today. "It's just a shame that it created the problems it did. Ultimately, the pubic should be the judge of whether an elected official should be able to hire their granddaughter or not."

Nepotism laws exist for a reason Mike...

I'll agree with Kay Rogers:

Rogers, who helped start the probe involing Mosketti, said: "I wish her and (her husband) a happy and healthy retirement. Hopefully the Republican Party will follow the thoughts I've often had on government: that she be replaced with someone who will serve our county well and do what is best for the citizens."

Butler County Republicans have 45 days to replace Mosketti for the rest of her term, which expires September 9, 2009. The candidate will have to compete in the 2008 primary though... The intrepid Butler County GOP leadership is on the case:

Party leaders plan to select a candidate from those who apply for the job, said Scott Owens, the party's executive director.

“We will probably start talking about it today," Owens said. “Obviously, this is an office the party wants to maintain.”

Nothing quite like taking strong, definitive action...don't strain yourself there, Scott...

By the way, Scott, was that your wife who called WMD Central Command the other day? I'm pretty sure she got rather frustrated talking to a Republican who actually isn't buying what the script is selling...but that is a whole different post.