Circleville, Ohio – Mayor Michelle Blanton and Law Director Kendra Kinney, in their relatively short tenure of three months, have been confronted with significant challenges. The police chief and an interim replacement have both faced suspension pending investigations into potential wrongdoing. Compounding matters, the mayor recently hired and dismissed the city safety director within a week.

Reports indicate that the city’s top leadership sought aid to navigate the turmoil. They met privately with a regional liaison from State Auditor Keith Faber’s office, expressing exhaustion with internal inquiries and requesting further assistance. However, as of now, Faber’s office has yet to decide whether to intervene, citing the need for inquiry and due diligence.

The discussions with the auditor’s office centered on various concerns, including improper expenditures, vendor payment failures, lack of council approval for expenses, and budgetary irregularities. Additionally, the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission is reportedly investigating the Circleville police controversy.

Recent revelations unveiled that investigations into the police matters are being handled by Columbus law firms Frost Brown Todd and Fishel Downey Albrecht & Riepenhoff. Despite these developments, concerns about transparency persist among Circleville’s City Council members, notably expressed by Councilman Zach Brooks. He lamented the scarcity of information provided by city leaders, with most details being sourced from external media outlets.

In response to the criticism, Law Director Kinney emphasized the necessity of confidentiality during ongoing investigations. She reiterated the city’s stance on refraining from comment until the completion of the inquiries or when the hired law firms are prepared to release statements.

As the investigations unfold, Circleville finds itself grappling with a growing list of questions, underscoring the importance of transparency and effective communication in local governance.

For media inquiries, contact Darrel Rowland at [email protected] or via his X account: @darreldrowland.

Source