Ohio Senate Dems’ staff chief pushed out
Michael Premo, the Ohio Senate Democrats’ chief of staff, was forced out of his job Monday after complaints were raised against him by other staff members.
“Recently, concerns of inappropriate conduct toward staff came to my attention, and I found the information to be credible,” said Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko, D-Richmond Heights. “Therefore, at my request, Mike Premo today submitted his resignation.”
Premo, 46, had served a chief of staff since February 2015. His resignation comes one month after former Sen. Cliff Hite, R-Findlay, resigned his seat following allegations from a staff member that he hugged her, gave her flowers and repeatedly tried to persuade her to have sex with him in his Columbus condo.
Senate Democrats have declined to provide any detail about the nature of Premo’s behavior.
“Out of respect for those who raised the concerns and wish to maintain their privacy, I am not commenting further,” Yuko said.
One Statehouse source said he spoke to Premo late last week, but there was no indication that he was going to be out of a job on Monday.
George Boas, the current deputy chief of staff and one of the longestserving staffers in the legislature, will take over as acting Senate Democratic chief of staff.
Premo had previously worked in other legislatures, including Michigan, and was involved in campaigns to legalize same-sex marriage in states including Ohio and New Jersey.
Senate President Larry Obhof, R-Medina, who last month urged Hite to resign, said Yuko informed him of the resignation “due to concerns expressed by subordinate employees about his conduct.”
“While no complaint has been filed, we are working with Sen. Yuko and his staff to ensure that all appropriate steps are taken in this matter.”