OTTAWA — Despite demands by a group of voters in his 4th District, Franklin County Commissioner Steve Harris refused to resign his position. Harris met the group of constituents during a sometimes heated public hearing Friday night at the Harrison Township Community Center. Harris was named by the U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs to a special task force to suggest an overhaul of the troubled Veterans Administration hospital system. Since he began serving in mid April, Harris hasn’t attended any commission meetings. Some of the voters attending the meeting said because he hasn’t been able to attend the meetings, he should resign. However, Harris told the group that he’s still able to be a commissioner and discuss issues with fellow commissioners although he hasn’t attended meetings. However, other commissioners haven’t been willing to accommodate Harris by agreeing to let him participate in meetings via phone linkup or change meeting times, Steve Cox, one of the meeting organizers, said. Many voters say because he hasn’t been able to attend the meetings, they say he should resign, Cox said. Members of the group say they intend to seek a recall election against Harris.
Tuesday, June 28, 4 p.m.
