Apr. 21—Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds received the endorsement from the county Republican Party by a narrow margin despite the fact he is under an indictment for bribery and using his office for personal gain.
The GOP central committee met Tuesday night and cast secret ballots, Reynolds needed 60% of the votes and received 60.4% by a vote of 55 to 36.
"I'm pleased to receive the Butler County Republican Party endorsement. The endorsement is a vote of confidence by my peers throughout the county," Reynolds told the Journal-News. "I have served Butler County for the past 14 years with dignity and professionalism. I've cut costs, advanced conservative policies and fought for taxpayers at every opportunity. It would an honor to serve another term."
GOP Chairman Todd Hall told the Journal-News Reynolds asked for the endorsement in the May 3 primary election before he was indicted in early February. The screening committee gave him a "highly recommended" designation Jan. 20 and he was indicted Feb. 9.
"Per the bylaws in my opinion, yes, we need to vote, he applied for the process of endorsement," Hall said.
Hall still maintains Reynolds should step down, but the party has spoken.
"Our endorsement allows our committee to make an independent decision. That's what it is for," he told the Journal-News. "Turnout was a bit light last night and it was by one vote, but Roger earned the endorsement of the party. That's the bottom line"
Reynolds was indicted on three felony and two misdemeanor counts of bribery and using his public office for personal gain. If he is found guilty he faces up to 7 years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines. His trial is set for Aug. 15.
County Treasurer Nancy Nix pulled petitions to run for Reynolds' seat at the end of January, before the indictments were handed down because she said she needed to be the "back-up plan" if Reynolds was forced from office. She had a change of heart and never filed the petitions.
She said she still feels the same way about the situation after the vote.
"Overall I feel every person deserves their day in court," Nix said. "That seems to be a truism not just for our party but our country. So that's mainly what I hear from people, let the trial take place and the facts will come out. He could get the endorsement because he was highly recommended by the screening committee."
Sheriff Richard Jones' office began investigating Reynolds last summer after receiving some complaints about his development dealings. The state Bureau of Criminal Investigations also joined the probe and now Attorney General Dave Yost's office is handling the prosecution.