The 'We don't like Chris Finney' rule?

For not even being at the meeting, Chris Finney sure got a lot attention today.

Commissioner Todd Portune, the board’s new president under the new Democratic-majority, is moving quickly to place his stamp on board policy and procedures.

Today, Portune spoke of several changes he wanted.

But the one that drew the most response from Commissioner Pat DeWine – the lone Republican on the three-member board after David Pepper defeated Republican incumbent Phil Heimlich last fall – was a change for those on boards appointed by commissioners.

The boards review and make recommendation to commissioners on issues ranging from health care to transportation to efficiency in government.

Those wishing to serve on a commissioner-appointed task force or commission will have to reveal more personal information -- affiliations, etc. -- in their applications.

More controversial, though, is they also will have their political activity, as least concerning the board of commission, curtailed.

“The biggest change is perhaps the prohibition of any county appointee engaging in partisan political activity on behalf of any commissioner or candidate for the county commission, including contributing any money to a commissioner or candidate's campaign fund,” Portune noted.

That clause likely was intended for Finney, the former head of the Tax Levy Review Committee.
The TLRC is a commissioner-appointed volunteer group that investigates requests to place issues on the ballot seeking property tax revenue. Tax dollars help support services for children, the elderly, health care for the poor and others.

Finney also is a close friend, political supporter and business partner of Heimlich. Finney launched into a personal and profane tirade against Pepper during last year’s campaign.

DeWine said Portune’s changes would prevent individuals from making campaign contributions and participating in partisan issues but wouldn’t prevent groups or organizations from doing so.

Both Portune and Pepper were supported in their campaigns by labor unions.

“Maybe we should just call it the, ‘We don’t like Chris Finney’ rule,” DeWine told Portune during the discussion today.

Finney resigned from the TLRC days before Pepper took office.