State Launches Second Ethics Probe Of City Hall

Columbus Mayor Andy Ginther is among several city officials under investigation for ethics violations. Ginther and two current or former City Council members are being asked to turn over records to the Ohio Ethics Commission related to their work with nonprofit groups and possible conflicts of interest. Ginther, the former council president, former council member Michelle Mills, and council member Priscilla Tyson passed legislation benefiting their former or current employers. Those organizations include the Children's Hunger Alliance, Alvis House and St. Stephen's Community House. Two of those organizations received nearly 600 thousand dollars in city money last year. A municipal spokesperson says the city obtained opinions from the commission in 2010 about elected officials working for nonprofits,  and council members followed the recommendations by abstaining from voting on related matters. Ginther's personal friend John Raphael pleaded guilty last year in the Redflex bribery scandal. The commission last year launched a probe of a Raphael-funded trip Ginther and other city officials made to see the Ohio State football team play in the national championship game.