Commissioner Bryan Davis has now missed two straight Scioto County Commissioners’ meetings since being indicted on corruption charges. His empty seat has not gone unnoticed — and now even his own party says it’s time for him to go.
The Party Breaks Its Silence
The Scioto County Republican Central Committee released a statement calling on Davis to resign, saying his legal troubles have become a burden to county government:
“We have confidence in the judicial process and will not express any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of Commissioner Davis. However, we do recognize that the current situation makes it difficult for Mr. Davis to perform his duties as Commissioner, and it is a distraction and added burden for the remaining Commissioners. Therefore, because of this negative impact on the ongoing business of Scioto County, we ask Commissioner Davis to step down from his County Commissioner position.”
The move adds serious pressure, as both Commissioner Scottie Powell and Commissioner Merit Smith had already publicly urged Davis to resign.
“Personal Day” and Radio Silence
At last week’s meeting, Smith said he received a text from Davis saying he was “taking a personal day.” But both he and Powell admitted they haven’t seen Davis in the office since the indictments were announced.
Powell noted that elected officials don’t have vacation days or personal days:
“Since his indictment, this office has not heard from Commissioner Davis. In terms of whether we’re going to see a resignation or a voluntary leave of absence with pay, we’re just waiting for the three-judge panel to figure that out. We’re very much in the dark.”
Davis’s Options
Because county commissioners can’t fire one of their own, the next steps come down to Davis and the courts.
- Resignation: Davis could step aside voluntarily — something his fellow commissioners and now his own party are urging.
- Voluntary Paid Leave: He could request leave with pay, allowing county business to move forward without him in the chair.
- Judicial Panel Ruling: If Davis refuses, Ohio law (ORC 316) requires a panel of retired judges to decide whether he should be forced onto paid leave. If convicted later, Davis would have to pay that money back.
If Davis is placed on paid leave, the Republican Central Committee would appoint his temporary replacement — meaning the county could end up paying two commissioners at once.
The Indictments
Davis and his wife Lori were indicted earlier this month as part of the widening corruption scandal tied to former Economic Development Director Robert Horton.
Bryan Davis is charged with:
- Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- Two Counts of Theft in Office
- Aggravated Theft
- Money Laundering
Lori Davis is charged with:
- Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity
- Money Laundering
- Receiving Stolen Property
- Tampering with Evidence
The indictments confirmed what many had suspected: the Davises were the unnamed “John and Jane Doe” co-conspirators in the Horton case.
Horton himself faces charges of theft in office, aggravated theft, money laundering, bribery, and tampering with records. Prosecutors say Horton and his wife Lioubov used sham companies to siphon public money from the Southern Ohio Port Authority and Minford Emergency Ambulance Service.
Bottom Line: With Davis absent for two weeks straight, the county Republican Party now joining calls for his resignation, and another meeting scheduled for Friday, the pressure is mounting. The question hanging over the courthouse remains the same as the one citizens asked out loud: Where’s Bryan Davis?