Commissioner Scottie Powell is sharply criticizing proposed Ohio legislation that would prohibit elected officials from signing nondisclosure agreements, calling the effort “lazy legislation pandering to the hometown crowd.”
The bill, introduced by state lawmakers, would prevent commissioners, township trustees, and mayors from signing NDAs tied to their official duties.
Powell said the proposal oversimplifies a complex issue.
“When you look at legislation you have to look at who’s submitting it,” Powell said. “I think it’s lazy legislation pandering to the hometown crowd.”
Concern: Elected Officials Could Be Left in the Dark
Powell argued the bill creates a dangerous loophole.
While elected officials would be banned from signing NDAs, economic development directors and port authorities could still sign them.
“If that went through, we could have very well had a Robert Horton working for the commissioners signing NDAs and then as his boss we ask, ‘What are you working on?’ and he could look us in the face and say, ‘I can’t tell you,’” Powell said.
“The people who are being elected to represent will have zero insight.”
Powell pointed to Adams County as an example where, he claims, commissioners are currently out of the loop because their economic development director signed an NDA.
“There’s a breakdown in the process where the people who are going to be asked to take action aren’t going to have all the information,” Powell said.
Why NDAs Exist
Powell also defended the purpose of nondisclosure agreements in large-scale projects.
“A billion-dollar project moves the price of land. It moves stock markets,” he said. “There’s a reason they don’t announce it until they know it’s going to happen.”
While critics say NDAs undermine transparency, Powell maintains they are often necessary during sensitive negotiations.
The proposed legislation has not yet passed.
For now, the debate over transparency — and the balance between public trust and economic strategy — continues in both Columbus and Scioto County.