Bill Frankart

Frankart survives Seneca County Commissioner primary by under 100 votes

Incumbent Bill Frankart edged Jim Distel by 53 votes in Seneca County's commissioner primary and will face independent David Ziegler in November.

Commissioner Bill Frankart acknowledged past false claims in deposition, report says

A new report says Seneca County Commissioner Bill Frankart acknowledged under oath that some public statements were false and went uncorrected ahead of the May 5 primary election.

Frankart pressed health director on Seneca Poultry probe, then couldn't name who oversees it

A health district timeline shows Commissioner Bill Frankart called Health Commissioner Julie Richards about her Seneca Poultry inquiry. Months later, he incorrectly told voters the facility was locally monitored — a claim the Seneca Conservation District publicly corrected.

Paradiso publicly addresses Frankart scandal for first time

TIFFIN, Ohio — Seneca County Commissioner Anthony Paradiso publicly addressed for the first time the ongoing controversy surrounding fellow Commissioner Bill Frankart and Sheri Trusty, an independent contractor for the county, at the League of Women Voters of the Tiffin Area’s annual Candidates' Night on Wednesday. The scandal, which erupted earlier this month, involves an article authored by Trusty that was published on the county's website. The article criticized Advertiser-Tribune reporter Kayla Trevino for her coverage of Frankart’s personal custody dispute, sparking concerns about the improper use of public resources for private matters. During the event at Tiffin Middle School, Paradiso, who serves as president of the Board of Commissioners, responded to audience questions about the issue, affirming that the commissioners are committed to maintaining a strict boundary between official duties and personal interests. “The position of the commissioners is that we not use the office for personal use,” Paradiso said. “We’re elected officials, the office is for the use of the commissioners. The specific case that’s pending now, we are letting that play out. It’s being investigated, it’s to be determined.” Paradiso did not provide further details on the ongoing investigation but reiterated that the board does not condone the misuse of public resources. “As a general rule, I know myself, we never turn anything in for lunches. The commissioners pay for everything ourselves, buy our own shirts... So that’s not how we operate,” he added. Concerns Over Communications Approval Process Paradiso also fielded a question about the county’s communications process and how materials are vetted before being published online. The audience was particularly concerned about how the article was approved for release on the county’s official website. “We had Jimmy Flint, who was our communications person. He was a county employee directly, he was full-time, and we operated differently,” Paradiso explained, noting that Flint left his role over a year ago. “Since then, we’ve been working with an independent contractor.” Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator Sheri Trusty harshly criticized Advertiser-Tribune reporter Kayla Trevino for her investigative report on Commissioner Bill Frankart’s family legal matters. (Photo courtesy Facebook) He acknowledged that the current review process for official communications is inconsistent. “Sometimes we review what goes out, sometimes we don’t,” Paradiso admitted. He added that the board is now working to improve these procedures. “We want to tighten that policy up, so we’re in the process of looking at a social media policy, website policy, and how communications would be funneled out of the office.” Public Outcry The controversy centers on Frankart’s personal custody battle, which involves his granddaughter. Frankart is seeking custody following the conviction of his son, Zachary Michael Frankart, on sexual assault charges. Trusty’s article accused Trevino of biased reporting on the case, a move that has drawn public criticism for potentially misusing county resources. The board's transparency and handling of communications are now under scrutiny as residents call for greater accountability. As of Thursday evening, the county has yet to produce any records requested by TiffinOhio.net under Ohio law, citing the need for an "IT consultant" to collect the records, who has "not yet responded," according to County Administrator Barb Patterson. To watch the full 2024 Candidates' Night hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Tiffin Area, click here to go to their Facebook page.

Investigation into Bill Frankart’s alleged misuse of county resources moves forward as prosecutor steps aside

TIFFIN, Ohio — Seneca County Prosecutor Derek DeVine has announced that he will not oversee the investigation into the alleged misuse of county resources related to a controversial article attacking an Advertiser-Tribune reporter. This decision follows the publication of an article by Sheri Trusty, an independent contractor for the county, which criticized reporter Kayla Trevino for her coverage of Commissioner Bill Frankart's family legal disputes. In a news release, DeVine stated, “We have asked the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to evaluate the facts and circumstances of the situation and to investigate if warranted.” He also noted that the Ohio Ethics Commission has been informed about the possible misuse of county resources, and the Bureau has been asked to coordinate the appointment of a special prosecutor from the Ohio Attorney General's office if necessary, according to the Advertiser-Tribune. Seneca County Prosecutor Derek DeVine (Official Photo) The article in question was posted on the county’s website on October 14 and accused Trevino of conducting a "witch hunt" against Frankart, labeling her reporting as a fabrication. The piece praised Frankart as "one of the most respected and dedicated elected officials" in Seneca County and was removed from the county website the following day after a complaint from an attorney representing Frankart's former daughter-in-law. While Trusty’s article quoted Frankart, it remains unclear whether he requested its publication or had any direct influence over it. TiffinOhio.net has submitted public records requests to county administrator Barb Patterson regarding the situation. Patterson initially estimated that the records would be available on Monday, October 21, but has since stated that they need an "IT consultant" to obtain the records, and that the consultant has not yet responded. The Advertiser-Tribune has also submitted a public records request for any emails exchanged between Frankart and Trusty regarding the article. Patterson indicated that locating such emails could be challenging, although the records are publicly accessible. Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator Sheri Trusty harshly criticized Advertiser-Tribune reporter Kayla Trevino for her investigative report on Commissioner Bill Frankart’s family legal matters. (Photo courtesy Facebook) The Advertiser-Tribune's reporting on October 12 detailed a custody dispute involving Frankart's family, highlighting allegations that he hired an individual to stalk his former daughter-in-law amid ongoing custody proceedings for his 4-year-old granddaughter. This custody battle concluded on September 3, when a judge awarded full and permanent custody to the granddaughter's mother. Frankart's son, Zachary, who was convicted on sexual assault charges in 2022, had originally sought custody. The former daughter-in-law reported to police that the individual Frankart allegedly hired identified himself as a private investigator and exhibited a badge purchased from a law enforcement equipment company. Following multiple encounters, she sought a civil protection order against him. A hearing on this matter, originally scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed to November 12. Frankart has not commented on the Advertiser-Tribune's original article and has not responded to subsequent inquiries from the A-T or TiffinOhio.net.