Clark GOP: Faction files suit vs. group’s leaders
Ohio Elections Commission faces filings from both sides after months-long leadership dispute.
Members of the Republican Party of Clark County face a lawsuit from Executive Committee Chair Laura Rosenberger, who they voted to oust, and her suit alleges fraud.
The complaint, filed with the Ohio Elections Commission, asks the OEC to set a full hearing for the members Rosenberger said were not the true Republican Party and accused them of “filing of blatantly false and inaccurate designations of treasurer and reports.” The complaint names the Republican Party of Clark County, Ohio, while Rosenberger refers to the party of which she is a leader as the Clark County
Republican Party Central and Executive Committee.
Rosenberger wrote in her complaint that by registering “Republican Party of Clark County, Ohio” as a trade name with the Secretary of State, “unlawfully” taking control of the party’s website and holding a meeting to remove leaders in November among other things, the party with new leadership is “impersonating a county party.”
Nearly three dozen members of the GOP voted overwhelmingly to oust the leaders of their central and executive committees Nov. 2 and install a new team.
The votes were the culmination of a months-long dispute involving chairs Rosenberger and William Lindsey (Central Committee)
and their supporters vs. others who said they lacked confidence in the abilities of leadership and alleged they failed to follow rules.
Rosenberger has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, saying she has worked to root out corruption and ensure the party is financially responsible.
The vote against Lindsey was 32-1 with an abstention, while the vote against Rosenberger
to the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office. Oxycodone is an opioid commonly prescribed to relieve moderate to severe pain; however, the drug has a high risk for addiction and dependence, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
The prosecutor’s office had filed a motion in opposition to intervention for Thomas because she has a case pending in Clark County and faces action against her LPN license for similar drug theft and forgery allegations in March 2022 from her time working at a Miami County care facility.
Among ILC conditions ordered by Judge Dennis Adkins, Thomas is not permitted to work in any position where she may have access to narcotic medications, dangerous drugs of medical supplies during the time she is under rehabilitative treatment.
Thomas has worked at multiple nursing facilities spanning three counties where she has later been accused of forgery and theft. In addition to the incident at Oak Creek Terrace, Thomas was accused of similar actions at the following:
Troy Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Troy in March 2022;
Dayspring in Clark County in April, May and early June 2023; and,
The Sanctuary at Wilmington Place in Dayton in June 2023.
In Clark County, Thomas has a trial scheduled for May 22 on five felony theft charges, records show.
A theft of drugs taking place at Troy Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center was reported to the Troy Police Department, but court records show no charges were filed against Thomas in Miami County.
The Ohio Board of Nursing on Jan. 25 sent Thomas a notice that the board is considering taking actions against her LPN license. That notice references the allegations against her in Miami and Montgomery counties, but not Clark County.
While the first incident cited in nursing board records is alleged to have occurred a year before the others and was reported to police, but no official action was taken by the nursing board until January 2024.
Board action against Thomas is now pending, but her LPN status is still listed as active, according to the state. Her LPN license is currently set to expire at the end of October.
Thomas has no prior discipline from the Ohio Board of Nursing. It is unknown when and how the complaints against Thomas were made to the board. All information gathered by the Ohio Board of Nursing, including the original complaint, is confidential and cannot be shared outside of the board, a representative of the board said.
Allegations against a licensee are not public, so they would likely not show up on a background check, with the exception of the criminal charges against Thomas. However, an employer could ask a potential employee if they are aware of a pending investigation during the application and interview process.