OEC: 'You may have a conflict of interest'

Just less than a year to the day (May, 9, 2012) that I attended my final meeting as a member of the Southern State Community College Board of Trustees, I received the rather unpleasant allegation in today's USPS mail that certain interests disclosed on my 2011 financial disclosure statement – filed in 2012 – "represent a potential conflict of interest."

I beg to differ.

According to Jennifer A. Hardin, chief advisory attorney for the Ohio Ethics Commission, "A finding of a 'potential conflict of interest' does not mean that you have any actual conflict of interest."

(Thank God for that!)

Hardin continued: "You would have a conflict of interest only if a matter before the Board of Trustees definitely and directly affects any of these companies (Cameco Communications, LLC/The Highland County Press), organizations, or individuals."

As a member of the Southern State Community College Board of Trustees, the record will show that I attended the vast majority of board meetings from 2006-12. However, I did not attend all meetings.

During those meetings in which I was in attendance, I cannot recall any "matter before the Board of Trustees that definitely and directly affect(ed)" my business.

In addition, in any of my relatively few absences from board meetings, I feel equally confident that no matter came before the Board of Trustees that definitely and directly affected my business.

If so, I'd like to know how.

For the record, I served with the following college trustees over a six-year period: Ernie McFarland and Larry Anderson from Adams County; Paul Hall, Bill Herdman and the late Dr. Ben Houser from Brown County; Dan Mongold, Dr. Vicki Wilson, Leilani Popp and Don Gephart from Clinton County; Jim Ward, Patty Griffiths, Don Moore, Judith Craig and Doug Boedeker from Fayette County; and Kay Ayres, Ralph Shell and Michelle Cimis from Highland County.

In addition, I served the college with three different presidents: Dr. Lawrence Dukes, Dr. Sherry Stout and Dr. Kevin Boys.

Like the aforementioned trustees, these are all good public servants.

Nothing even remotely related to potentially unethical conduct would escape any of them. However, if any of them believe otherwise, I would welcome their input for all to read. Please, enlighten us.

I have requested from the OEC – but have yet to receive – a clarification on this alleged "potential conflict of interest."

For the record, the only potential conflict of interest which I can envision was a matter I brought to the Ohio Ethics Commission during my very first mandatory ethics training session, held, as I recall, at the Ohio BWC auditorium in Columbus in 2007 or 2008.

My question was, as (then) publisher of another newspaper in Highland County that published advertising for the college, was this a possible conflict?

The OEC legal adviser asked these questions:

• "Did the college advertise with the newspaper prior to your service on the board of trustees?"

I replied in the affirmative.

• "Did the college dramatically increase its advertising with the newspaper after your appointment to the board of trustees?"

I replied that, no, the advertising did not change all that much. (Of course, you do not have to take my word for it. The college's expenses are a matter of public record. Ask the college.)

Three years later, after purchasing The Highland County Press, I asked these same questions during yet another ethics training session.

A different state attorney offered the same opinions.

• Did the college advertise with The Highland County Press prior to your acquisition?"

Yes, it did, I replied.

• "Did the college dramatically increase its advertising with The Highland County Press after you purchased it?"

No, it didn't.

In fact, the college's advertising records (again, public information) will show that The Highland County Press provides among the highest circulation at the lowest cost among all newsprint and online media in the college's five-county district.

But don't take my word for it. If you have any doubts, whatsoever, contact the college. Please.

And, while you are at it, please request from the college all of my submitted expenses from November 2006 through May 9, 2012.

I could save you the trouble, of course. Because you won't find anything.

Trustees are (the last time I checked) permitted to turn in certain board-related expenses for reimbursement. Things like mileage, overnight accommodations, meals, etc.

For the record, during my six years of service on the SSCC Board of Trustees, I did not submit a single expense report to the college, nor did I ever take part in any of its "free" meals.

Moreover, former presidential assistant Stevetta Grooms once sent SSCC polo shirts to the board of trustees. I'm not sure why.

But I am sure that I called Stevetta for the cost of my shirt. That was in 2009 or 2010. The shirt cost $25. My personal checkbook shows I wrote a $25 check to SSCC on Nov. 18. (I did not record the year. But again, ask the college, if you question my accuracy.)

By the way, I gave the polo shirt to Mary Brown Turner on the same day it arrived.

On each of my mandatory financial disclosure forms, I informed the state of Ohio that the college did advertise with the newspapers where I worked. I received no commissions, I made no sales calls, nor did I have any influence over the college's advertising practices.

Furthermore, The Highland County Press has given the college many thousands of dollars in print and online space for its numerous events. In fact, we have given free space both in print and online many times over the relatively minimal cost of advertising.

With this logic (from the state), would past and present bankers on the SSCC Board of Trustees be similarly accused if an employee of the college banked with them? I sure hope not.

Shortly after my final board meeting in 2012, I wrote: "As a 2006 appointee by former Gov. Bob Taft, I will say that serving on the SSCC Board of Trustees has been an enlightening and rewarding experience. But with all due respect, it has further served to convince me that God did not intend for me to spend too much time in public office. Six years will be sufficient!

"Suffice it to say, I have come to appreciate the Serenity Prayer even more. (God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.)"

You can request all related public record documentation from the Ohio Ethics Commission and Southern State Community College. Please do.

While you're at it, why not search our print archives for all the free stories we've published for the college. If that's too much trouble, search our online archives for SSCC. We have done our level best to publish as many free college-related events as time and space permit. I assure you, without fear of an OEC investigation, that we've done right by the college.

But you be the judge.

Here are a few recent advertising statistics as provided by the college in February 2013. Again, you be the judge.

These college expenses (which are public record) are related to its open house advertising campaign earlier this year.

Adams County

Peoples Defender (weekly & weekend) – 1/2 page/full color: $694.
Peebles Messenger – Full page/full color: $200.
The Informer – Full page/full color: $249.
The Signal – 1/2 page/full color: $605.90.

Brown County

News Democrat – 1/2 page/full color $660.

Clinton County

Wilmington News Journal – 1/2 page/full color: $813. (Isn't that special?)

Fayette County

Record Herald – 1/2 page/full color: $771.

Highland County

Times Gazette & County Shopper – Full page/full color in each: $1,200.

The Highland County Press – Full page/full color: $450.

The Highland County Press www.highlandcountypress.com – Web banner ad (1 month): $100.

Other ads

Ohio Community Media (booked through Web banner ads for 1 month on Times Gazette) five counties: $1,136.

Based on our audited and others' USPS documented circulation, both in print and online, of the respective publications, reasonable minds ought to acknowledge that The Highland County Press has not placed unreasonable demands on any of its advertisers, including the college.

I'll end this unintended and extemporaneous column by saying that I am proud of my six years of unpaid service to the college.

I am proud that two of my children are graduates of the college and that a third soon will be.

Much like the late Professor Bill Horne did, I love Southern State Community College for the opportunities it provides to rural, southern Ohio families.

If anyone from the Ohio Ethics Commission thinks I have personally capitalized on my former service to the college, with all due respect, I'd welcome him or her to prove it. Just as long as I have an equal opportunity to disprove it.

And if there were a "potential conflict of interest" in 2010, it was most likely there in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012. I expressed these same concerns and asked the same questions prior to being appointed by former Gov. Bob Taft in the fall of 2006.

Maybe he was too busy playing golf.

Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

Rory Ryan is publisher of The Highland County Press.