Bryan Williams resigns!

Lobbyist Bryan Williams has resigned under fire for ethical questions from the State Board of Education.

His action was reported at mid-afternoon by Gongwer News Service in Columbus. It followed media and on-online reports in Grumpy Abe and Plunderbund that he was aggressively trying to influence educational policies favorable to his client, the non-union Associated Builders and Contractors for Ohio, which operates a charter school.

Gongwer reported this statement from Williams:

"Adherence to Ohio ethics laws and advisory opinions of the commission charged with interpreting state ethics laws is of utmost importance to me.  Therefore,  I conclude it my duty  to resign from the State of Ohio Board of Education,  district 5, effective immediatley so that a new board member may be appointed and serve unencumbered  by other simultaneous vocations ."

Unencumbered?  I should say so.  His decision followed word from the Ohio Ethics Commission alleging that he violated the law by wearing conflicting  hats and if  convicted could spend six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

A week ago,  in Grumpy Abe and Plunderbund we called for his resignation, the first to do so.