Ohio State Rep. Bernadine Kennedy Kent says she won't return to work, accuses staff of hostile acts
A Columbus Democrat says she will not return to the Statehouse or her legislative office until Ohio House leaders address what she calls the “disorderly, egregious and disrespectful actions of two rogue employees.”
Rep. Bernadine Kennedy Kent, who has had a troubled relationship with the House Democratic caucus and the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, filed a four-page complaint with the House this week alleging that caucus legal counsel and the minority deputy chief of staff prevented her from entering a caucus meeting. Kent said she was “forcibly pushed back” by Sarah Cherry and Andy DiPalma.
“I believe Cherry and DiPalma intentionally conspired to set me up to be arrested and charged with a crime,” Kent wrote in her complaint. “I also consider Cherry and DiPalma’s conduct to be racially discriminatory and a violation of my constitutional rights.”
This is the latest Statehouse dustup involving Kent, a two-term lawmaker representing the 25th House District, covering eastern and northeastern Columbus. In June 2018, House Democrats took the highly unusual step of voting her out of the caucus following an incident three months earlier when Kent sent a public records request to Columbus city officials on Ohio Legislative Black Caucus letterhead and included the signatures of 15 members of the caucus without their permission.
Read more: https://www.dispatch.com/news/20190530/ohio-state-rep-bernadine-kennedy-kent-says-she-wont-return-to-work-accuses-staff-of-hostile-acts
(Columbus Dispatch)