PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — Community members are calling for a Pickaway County board of trustee member to resign after he used a racial slur.
Scioto Township officials sent 10TV a recording of the Nov. 17 meeting, where trustee Barton Fannin used a racial slur describing the Juneteenth holiday.
In the recording you can hear a trustee say, “I did not realize that that was a freaking federal holiday.” Another trustee asked if he knew what that meant. That’s when Fannin used the slur.
Another trustee is heard saying,” Woah! Don’t say that…” The trustees were discussing plans to include the Juneteenth holiday in the firefighter's new contract.
"It's way inappropriate. You're a public official, you can't just say what you want,” said Chris Mayle. He and his wife Amber live in the township.
“It was really disturbing to see one of our elected officials, that he feels comfortable saying such hateful things,” Amber said.
In the recording you can hear another trustee explain the importance of the day.
Trustee John Maynard, who was present at the meeting when the comment was made, did said he called for Fannian's resignation on Nov. 24.
The Mayle’s feel his comments do not represent the community and that he should not be in power any longer.
"It's not welcomed here in Pickaway County, “said Amber Mayle.
“It's not tolerated you know what I mean? It's just…we've come too far to have to deal with stuff like that,” said Chris Mayle.
Fannin was elected to the board in 2022. The next public meeting is Thursday.