Former Uhrichsville councilman asking court to oust new Ward 1 representative

UHRICHSVILLE (WJER) (Jan. 6, 2021) – Former Uhrichsville councilman Robert Baker is fighting for a shot at a seat he claims is being illegally held by another member. 

Baker is challenging Matt Fox’s appointment as council’s new Ward 1 representative in the Fifth District Court of Appeals. His complaint alleges that Fox accepted the position while still serving as an at-large member, causing him to hold both offices simultaneously in violation of state law.  It happened during council’s December 9th meeting, minutes after the previous Ward 1 councilman, Jim Zucal, resigned just over two years remaining in his term to take over Baker’s at-large seat starting January 1st. 

Mayor Mark Haney has called council’s decision to fill the vacancy without accepting applications ‘a mockery’ and ‘a slap in the face to the citizens of Uhrichsville.’

Baker ran for council president instead of seeking re-election to his former position and ended up losing to incumbent Buck Cottrell by three votes. He’s asking the court to oust Fox from the Ward 1 seat. 

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