(File Photo) Dee Wells Arnold welcomed the crowd to the Injection Well Public Meeting at Washington State College of Ohio in December.

Washington County for Safe Drinking Water announced the filing of an ethics complaint against state Sen. Brian Chavez on Tuesday.

A press release from the organization said the complaint letter was sent to the JLEC (Joint Legislative Ethics Committee).

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

The letter of complaint, provided by WCSDW and signed by its members, stated Chavez, R-Marietta, violated Ohio’s ethics laws on two occasions: use of the authority or influence of office to seek personal pecuniary benefit and failure to disclose interests in five limited liability companies on two financial disclosure statements.

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

The complaint stated, “Sen. Chavez serves as the Chair of the Ohio Senate Energy Committee and holds the power to advance legislation that definitely and directly affects his and/or a close family member’s personal pecuniary interest.”

Hillary Royster, spokeswoman for WCSDW, said “The Senator’s conduct, detailed in the complaint, raises serious questions regarding his adherence to the oath of office and potential violations of Ohio Revised Code 102.03.”

The 20-page document details 51 exhibits that range from financial statements from 2023-24 to DeepRock Disposal Solutions LLC Tax Liens for 2025.

“We are hopeful JLEC will review the complaint and act accordingly to help restore the public’s trust in our elected officials’ actions,” said Royster.

The letter of complaint was accompanied by a letter of support from over 10 local groups such as Buckeye Environmental Network, Save Ohio Parks and FaCT: Faith Communities Together for a Sustainable Future.

Ohio Senate Majority Caucus Director of Communications John Fortney said, “These radicalized local groups could care less about ethics, much less safe drinking water, this is another baseless, desperate, and hollow attack funded by billionaire California special interests with the single goal of killing the oil and gas industry in Ohio.”

Contact attempts were made directly to Chavez regarding his knowledge of the complaints and weren’t returned on Tuesday.

“They’re the same people who believe violent criminals and illegal migrants have more rights than you, the same people who attack federal law enforcement, and the same people who loathe the very laws this country was founded on,” said Fortney. “They are anarchists at heart, and are ready to surrender your country, state, and your reliable energy that heats your home.”

The information about the complaint can be found at https://sites.google.com/view/washington-county-safe-water/home