Ohio ethics complaint calls for review of senator’s energy ties

By Farah Siddiqi

A statewide coalition is urging Ohio lawmakers to investigate allegations that a sitting state senator used his position to benefit private business interests tied to oil and gas waste disposal, raising concerns about ethics compliance and drinking-water safety.

Washington County for Safe Drinking Water and more than a dozen organizations have formally asked the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee to review an ethics complaint filed against Sen. Brian Chavez, R-Marietta.

Hillary Royster, a member of the coalition, said the complaint alleges conflicts of interest connected to legislation governing injection wells. It claims that his financial disclosures omitted several business entities linked to the industry.

"Our drinking water is at risk, no matter where you live in this state," she said. "This isn’t a political issue, it’s a public health issue."

Based on publicly available records, the complaint suggests Chavez used his role on the Senate Energy Committee to advance legislation that could financially benefit oil and gas waste injection operations, while failing to disclose interests in multiple limited-liability companies.

The senator’s office has pushed back strongly, characterizing the complaint as politically motivated and dismissing concerns raised by environmental advocates. John Fortney, communications director for the Ohio Senate, defended Chavez and criticized the groups backing the filing.

"These radicalized local groups could really care less about ethics, much less safe drinking water," he said. "This is another baseless, desperate, hollow attack funded by billionaire California special interests with the single goal of killing the oil and gas industry in Ohio."

The Joint Legislative Ethics Committee has not yet announced whether it will open a formal investigation. The coalition said it is seeking a transparent review process and argued the outcome could set an important precedent for public trust, energy policy oversight and environmental accountability across Ohio.