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Public asks for records after testimony on HB 308; commissioners and counsel say no official board vote authorized testimony
Summary
Public commenters asked for certified records to show whether county officials and staff were authorized to testify on House Bill 308; commissioners and legal counsel said testimony was factual, no public-session vote authorized it, and the commission office will respond to a public-records request in writing.
During public comment at the Jan. 14 Clark County Commissioners meeting, residents asked the board to produce certified records showing whether commissioners or staff were authorized to testify before the state on House Bill 308.
Mary Ann Schmidt read a statement asserting that testimony by Commissioner Rittenhouse and legal counsel Beau Thompson had been presented as official commission testimony and asked for certified minutes, dates and documentation recording any board vote or authorization. "She asked the commission to provide the written proof in certified minutes when these meetings and votes occurred," the transcript records.
Commission President Sasha L. Rittenhouse responded that the county is not the authority to decide central committee membership and clarified the statutory appointment process is governed by the Secretary of State and the Governor’s certification. Beau Thompson, the county’s chief legal counsel who has testified publicly, told the meeting his testimony is a public record and that the commission office will respond in writing to the records request. Thompson reviewed relevant Ohio Revised Code sections and the Secretary of State election manual as guidance used to ensure county actions would not be invalidated by technicalities.
Commissioner Charles A. Patterson said he individually discussed the matter with counsel and that commissioners had not taken a public‑session vote authorizing testimony; he said staff and counsel were acting within permissible communications and that the legal vacancy occurred Jan. 1, 2026 until a qualified replacement is certified by the state.
The public-records request was acknowledged; the commission committed to a written response. No formal action was taken at the meeting to change the commission’s appointment process or to supplement the public record beyond the promised written response to the records request.
