(File Photo) Dee Wells Arnold welcomes the crowd to an injection well public meeting at Washington State College of Ohio in December. Speakers included representatives from Washington County for Safe Drinking Water sharing their concerns regarding injection wells. The evening also featured an overview of Buckeye Environmental Network’s legal challenge against ODNR.

No action has been taken yet regarding the reported complaint filed by Washington County for Safe Drinking Water against state Sen. Brian Chavez.

On Jan. 20, WCSDW reported it filed a 20-page complaint against Chavez, R-Marietta, for the violation of two ethics laws: the use of authority or influence of office to seek personal pecuniary benefit and the failure to disclose interests in five limited liability companies on two financial disclosure statements.

The basis of the complaint was made from Ohio Revised Code Section 102.03, which can be viewed at https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-102.03

The organization said its complaint was signed by multiple members of WCSDW and sent to the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee in Columbus for further review.

Legislative Inspector General Tony Bledsoe said Jan. 20, Ohio Revised Code 102.06 and 102.07 directly prohibited him from confirming or denying if JLEC had received the complaint.

According to JLEC General Counsel Jennifer Lockwood, “when a third party files an allegation and the complaint has been reviewed and approved, we are required to serve the complaint within 14 days.”

The complaint was reportedly filed on Jan. 20 but there has been no reported confirmation that it was adopted by the JLEC.

“The lack of action from JLEC shows the hollow and meritless nature of the claims exposing the efforts to smear me and my family as nothing more than a publicity stunt designed to drive division and fear in our community,” said Chavez.

The 20-page document contained 51 exhibits, which ranged from DeepRock Disposal Solutions, LLC Tax Liens for 2025 to Sen. Chavez 2024 financial disclosure statements.

The letter of complaint had support from more than 10 local groups such as Buckeye Environmental Network, Between the Waters, Athens County’s Future Action Network, Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action and more.

Organizers with Washington County for Safe Drinking Water said, “Our efforts are rooted in civic responsibility. Local residents including retirees, small business owners, and working families are engaging in the democratic process by raising legitimate concerns about ethics and governance … this is not radicalism; it is participation.”

The organization said it is too early to determine if the complaint is inconsequential and they trust JLEC will carefully review what was discussed in the complaint.