The push for Commissioner Bryan Davis to resign is heading to Portsmouth City Council, with First Ward Councilman Sean Dunne taking the lead.
Dunne confirmed that he has placed a resolution on Monday’s City Manager’s Conference agenda calling for Davis to step down in the wake of corruption indictments against both Davis and his wife Lori.
Dunne’s Statement
“For Monday’s meeting, I’ve requested that city council pass a resolution asking for Bryan Davis to resign,” Dunne said.
“I first asked Bryan to resign in February for the good of Portsmouth and for our county. Since then, the Scioto County Democratic Party, the Scioto County Republican Party, and the other two county commissioners have called on him to resign. At our previous council meeting, a community member asked council to pass a resolution to ask Davis to resign. Hopefully Portsmouth city council moves the resolution forward to help repair the damage done to the reputation of local politics and to signal to public and private sector investors that this scandal is not representative of our city or our county.”
Where Things Stand with Davis
- Davis is under indictment for engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, theft in office, aggravated theft, and money laundering.
- His wife Lori faces charges including money laundering, tampering with evidence, and receiving stolen property.Prosecutors say the couple were the unnamed “John and Jane Doe” co-conspirators in the corruption scheme led by former Economic Development Director Robert Horton.
- Davis has pleaded not guilty and was recently fingerprinted and released on a $50,000 recognizance bond.
- He is currently on voluntary paid leave after agreeing to a provisional suspension. If convicted, he would be required to repay the salary collected while suspended.
What Council Can Do
Portsmouth City Council doesn’t have the power to remove Davis, but passing a resolution would add political weight to the growing pressure.
At Monday’s meeting, council can:
- Move the resolution forward to a full vote
- Modify the language
- Take no action
- Reject the request outright
With Davis already absent from recent commissioners’ meetings, Dunne says the resolution would serve as a message not only to voters, but also to businesses watching from the sidelines:
Portsmouth wants investors to know this scandal is not “who we are.”