The Kay Rogers Aftermath

The Cincinnati Enquirer figured they'd better get a story out on this debacle and it actually is a pretty good one. A few new voices and a couple of calls for resignation.

Up first: we get to hear from the puppetmaster pulling a few strings...

“Talk about a dream becoming a nightmare” said Mike Fox, who was a commissioner when the deal was secured. “It’s just one of those gut-wrenching feelings. How in the world something that appeared to be such a good thing for the county got to this point, I’ll never understand.”

The deal was NOT secured...that's the WHOLE POINT. Let me explain it to you Mike, your buddy Kay signed papers and went to the bank that falsely led the bank to believe that the deal was secure when it wasn't. Got it?

And now for the resignation calls:

While saying they felt bad for Rogers, each of the county commissioners say Rogers should resign.

“I think it gives a black eye to the county and a black eye to the Republican Party,” Furmon said.
...
Commissioner Don Dixon, who re-joined the board last year after the Dynus scandal had seemingly fizzled, said as unfortunate as the situation may be, the county needs to move forward.

“I look at it as an opportunity to move forward in a positive manner, revamp that office and get somebody in there that can get the job done,” he said.

Commissioner Greg Jolivette said he regretted that Rogers wasn’t more forthcoming when details about the fishy deal came forward. Still, he cautioned that others may be implicated.

“There are still other people who need to be held accountable for pressuring Kay to sign these papers,” Jolivette said. “Kay Rogers didn’t think of signing these papers all by herself.”

Right on, Commissioner Jolivette...I've got a suspect in mind and he was mentioned in this post. ...and I'm NOT talking about the guy who reported the fiasco to the FBI...

Anyway...the next question is what happens if Kay Rogers refuses to step down?

It remains unclear if or when Rogers would have to resign her post.

Officials with the Ohio Secretary of State’s office said Rogers’ political fate will depend on opinions issued by the county prosecutor or county board of elections. Calls made to both offices were not returned.

Not to outdone, Cox Newspapers intrepid reporter teamed up with Cox Newspapers reporterette Lauren Pack for a story that is worth a read as well. From this one, we hear from Butler County Prosecuter Robin Piper:

"We do not know if it is her intent to resign," Piper said.

He said his office has not yet learned Rogers' sentencing date, which could determine any local action. If the sentencing is next week, there would be no need for action. But if the sentencing is not for 90 days, "then we are looking into how to proceed with removal from office if the person refuses to do so," he said.

"We are researching it right now," Piper said. "I do not have all the answers."

And the last question I have at the moment is who might the GOP appoint to replace Kay Rogers once she's gone?

One potential replacement circulating among party insiders is Liberty Twp. Fiscal Officer Roger Reynolds, who in 2006 won the GOP's endorsement before losing to Rogers.

Reynolds refused to comment.

Reynolds would be the logical choice... A number Butler County GOP sources have expressed this preference since he was the endorsed candidate last time around...

UPDATE: Another Cox Newspapers story has more Mike Fox:

Then county Commissioner Michael Fox, a driving force behind the fiber optics project, said that the commission had no idea that Rogers was negotiating with the company independent of the county. "There were apparently two conversations going on," he said.

(HT: Maggie in email) Uh-huh...

And what has Kay Rogers been saying all this time?

Until Rogers' plea was released, she maintained her innocence.

"I did nothing wrong," she said in a statement last year. "I am concerned that some of the forms in question appear to contain fraudulance (sic) and do not contain my actual signature. This is also apparently true of one of our commissioners and one of the employees of my office.

"As far as the forms that do contain my signature, I was only verifying my knowledge of the documents and the funds available to the county, since my office was overseeing the Fiber Optics Project. I was always clear to representatives from Dynus that the commissioners, and only the commissioners, may act as contracting agents for Butler County. If my signature was used improperly by outside agents, it is extremely unfortunate ... The commissioners know that in 10 years I have operated a highly professional office with full integrity."

Emphasis added...

I think we've found one side of the conspiracy...

UPDATE 2: Another hat in the ring...

Roger Reynolds is not the only potential republican candidate out here. I ran against Kay Rogers in a county wide election in 2002. There are many independents and moderate republicans in Butler County that want someone who is not connected to the current power structure in place. Actually, I supported Roger in his primary against Kay and I also supported Jack Zettler in 2006, regardless of party affiliation. The point is we need honest representation and I would certainly provide that!

Bob Weber