The Seneca County Board of Commissioners has quietly removed a controversial article from their official website, just a day after it sparked public outrage and raised questions about the misuse of government resources.
The post, written by the county’s Media Relations Coordinator Sheri Trusty, harshly criticized Advertiser-Tribune reporter Kayla Trevino for her investigative report on Commissioner Bill Frankart’s combative child custody battle.
As of Tuesday morning, the county’s website no longer features the article, titled “Fallacies in Advertiser-Tribune Story Exposed.” The deletion comes after growing criticism over the county’s decision to use its platform to personally attack a local journalist. Many questioned whether county resources had been misused to defend Frankart in what many saw as a personal, not public, matter.
The original piece, which accused Trevino of conducting a “witch hunt” against Frankart, claimed she had failed to verify facts and sensationalized the commissioner’s child custody dispute with his former daughter-in-law. The custody battle revolves around Frankart’s granddaughter, whom he sought custody of after his son, Zachary Michael Frankart, was convicted of sexual assault following a 2021 arrest for raping a college student he had given a ride from a bar.
Archiving the Article
While the county may have removed the inflammatory post, TiffinOhio.net has archived it in full as a PDF file available here, preserving the content for the public to review. This move comes amid continued demands for transparency about how the post came to be published in the first place.
The Fallout and Legal Concerns
The sudden removal of the post raises further questions about the legal and ethical implications surrounding its publication. County residents, along with legal professionals, had expressed concern that the article was an inappropriate use of taxpayer-funded resources to shield Frankart from negative press. John M. Kahler II, the attorney representing Frankart’s former daughter-in-law in the child custody case, reportedly contacted Seneca County Prosecutor Derek DeVine to investigate whether county resources had been misused.
DeVine has yet to issue a public statement on the matter or clarify whether he will appoint a special prosecutor to review the situation. The potential conflict of interest has become another point of contention, as DeVine’s office represents the commissioners in legal matters.
A Pattern of Controversy
Frankart’s involvement in this latest controversy comes on the heels of previous incidents that have put him under public scrutiny. Just weeks ago, TiffinOhio.net reported on his participation in and endorsement of a class organized by a controversial far-right Christian nationalist group. Additionally, Frankart has faced backlash for his attendance at the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, where approximately 140 police officers were assaulted by a pro-Trump mob.
With these previous incidents in mind, many in the community are questioning whether Frankart’s pattern of behavior and disregard for accountability is contributing to the use of county resources to manage his public image.
Professionalism and Accountability in Question
The county’s decision to delete the article without issuing a formal explanation is unlikely to quell the concerns raised by both residents and journalists. The incident highlights broader questions about the role of government resources in managing public relations and the boundaries that should exist between personal and public matters.
Jeremy Speer, publisher of the Advertiser-Tribune, has remained steadfast in his defense of Trevino’s original report, which was based on police reports and court records. “Kayla is a hardworking professional,” Speer said earlier this week. “We stand by her reporting and will continue to report on matters of public interest without fear or favor.”
Next Steps
It remains to be seen whether the Seneca County Board of Commissioners will address the concerns raised over this incident or offer any further explanation for the decision to remove the post. Prosecutor DeVine’s review, if it moves forward, could provide more insight into the legal implications of the county’s actions.
For now, the removal of the article from the county’s website may suggest an acknowledgment of wrongdoing, but the lack of transparency continues to fuel public skepticism.
TiffinOhio.net will continue to monitor developments in this story and report updates as they become available.
