Athens County Commissioner has issues

Only in Athens.

Athens County Commissioner, Mark Sullivan, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor of disorderly conduct. For that he got 30 days in jail, suspended as long as he doesn't re-offend for two years. I'm not sure if that means he has to completely stay out of trouble or if it just refers to hitting his wife. He also gets to pay a $250 fine and 25 hours of community service. Additionally, he gets to attend the Domestic Violence Intervention Program and alcohol/drug evaluations.

I'm wondering, is he going to have time to do this and continue serving as county commissioner? There's no indication he's going to resign.

And no one is asking him to. There are no letters to the editor and no mention of any of it on one of the local radio call-in shows where callers frequently target other elected officials.

If this would have involved our first-in-many-decades Republican commissioner, I bet people would be jumping stiff-legged demanding him to vacate the office. But he didn't do anything unbecoming an elected official because that's not like him. His values and morals are solid.

On Wednesday, Mr. Sullivan was a guest on another local radio show to talk about county issues. At about the 31 minute, 10 second mark, the host gathers up enough nerve to broach the subject. He called it a "personal mishap". Mr. Sullivan claims he would have been acquitted had he taken it to trial. But he didn't because he didn't want to put his children or his wife through it. I guess it's okay to have your children know that you hit your wife but it's not okay for them to see you defend yourself.

"Stuff happens" according to the host. He then goes on to commend him for taking steps to keep other stuff from happening I guess.

Mr. Sullivan said he would have gone to trial had they not reduced the charges and claims he only drinks 2-4 beers a month at most.

Then the host excuses the behavior by acknowledging that Mr. Sullivan had experienced some hardship.

Three minutes, 40 seconds later, Mr. Sullivan is off the hook.

And this isn't the first time Mr. Sullivan has had a run-in with the law. Back in September 2010, he was arrested in Nelsonville and in October, pleaded guilty to two counts of disorderly conduct. WSAZ covered that story as did The Columbus Dispatch.

And, the same now as then, the behavior was excused because "Mark's had a lot to deal with in his life, with the loss of his wife and his father and being a single father," Eliason said.

So, as long as he only commits crimes that are misdemeanors. Or if he does commit a more serious crime, make sure the charges are reduced to misdemeanors, he's good. As long as we are willing to excuse the behavior, it will likely continue.

He's been a county commissioner since 1998 and will in all likelihood, run again in 2012 when his current term is up. The chances he will be re-elected in this darkest blue county is pretty good. I, however, would prefer to have a county commissioner who has higher standards and lacks a criminal record that includes personal fouls.