Scioto County Commissioners addressed the controversial Coronavirus comments made at Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting. During the meeting, Commissioner Mike Crabtree didn’t mince words about his unhappiness with the decision to shut down businesses and postpone Tuesday’s election to June.
Commissioners Cathy Coleman and Bryan Davis also weighed in with criticism, though not quite as forcefully as Crabtree. After facing an online backlash about the comments, Crabtree and his fellow commissioners addressed the Coronavirus controversy at Thursday’s meeting.
Crabtree, who is known for speaking his mind at meetings, apologized. “There were some comments made, none of which were intended to offend anybody. Some of you were offended and for that, I apologize.” He went on to say that the commissioners are well aware of the threat posed by the Coronavirus pandemic and said they are committed to doing everything necessary to keep Scioto County citizens safe. Commissioner Crabtree said his emotions may have gotten the better of him but that came from concern over citizens. “My biggest concern is for the children that have been sent home when the schools were closed. Because this all happened so quickly, I fear that some children will be overlooked.” He also expressed concern for local businesses. “I voiced my opinion on Tuesday. We are living in unprecedented times and will continue to work hard for you. God bless you.”
Commissioner Cathy Coleman said she was also distressed by the online reaction to her comments and fear they may have been misinterpreted as not caring about controlling the spread of Coronavirus. “The negative comments really upset me. There is no way that anyone of us would put the decision to have an election over the welfare of those with weakened conditions. It is just unbelievable to me that a comment could make people come to the conclusion that we do not care.” She clarified that her comments addressed the confusion over the closing of the polls at the last minute, not the need to close the polls to protect workers from Coronavirus. Commissioner Coleman said her own mother had been a poll worker.
Commissioner Bryan Davis agreed. “Collectively we would never do anything that put the safety of the citizens under anything. It’s always paramount. What everyone needs to understand is that we took an oath to the Ohio Constitution. We have never questioned the decision to hold off the election. The question was the timing.”
Davis said the controversy over the commissioners’ comments was now water under the bridge and that the Ohio Legislature would now determine an election date. He said that citizens needed to understand that the commissioners were very concerned about the effect on the local economy which was just starting to get back on its feet. “People who just got jobs have been thrown back into the ranks of the unemployed. Yesterday’s orders will only increase those numbers dramatically. We’ve set in meetings with those it’s had a direct impact on.”
But Davis said that Scioto County had been through worse. “We’re gonna get through it. We will be okay.”
“Pray, pray, pray,” added Commissioner Coleman.