Thurber pays share of costs in ethics case

12/7/2006

Lucas County Commissioner Maggie Thurber has paid her share of the investigation costs for violating state ethics laws when she took money from former Maumee coin dealer Tom Noe to attend a fund-raiser for President Bush in 2003.

Ms. Thurber and two other Republicans convicted of the same crime Donna Owens, a former Toledo mayor and former director of the Ohio Department of Commerce, and Toledo Councilman Betty Shultz now have each reimbursed the Ohio Ethics Commission for their $4,125 portions.

Sally Perz, a former GOP state representative, has filed an appeal with the Ohio 6th District Court of Appeals in Toledo over her $4,125 share of the $16,499 investigation costs. Ms. Perz and the three other women asked Judge Mark Reddin of Bowling Green to reverse his order that they reimburse the state ethics commission, but he rejected those appeals.

The women were convicted on one count each of failing to make required disclosure on their annual financial disclosure forms that Noe paid for the luncheon portion of the October, 2003, fund-raiser. State law requires certain public officials to disclose the source of all gifts greater than $75. The women each entered no contest pleas June 28 in Toledo Municipal Court. All were found guilty and fined $1,000 and court costs, which they each paid in full.