COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Scioto Township trustee said he will not step down after he used a racial slur describing the Juneteenth federal holiday.
Community members and other trustees have called for Barton Fannin to resign after making those remarks during the board of trustees meeting on Nov. 17.
The Scioto Township Board of Trustees held its first public meeting on Thursday since the remarks. When asked by a community member if he would resign, Fannin said he would "absolutely not."
Fannin addressed the public moments after the meeting and started by apologizing for his behavior.
Trustees Ralph Wolfe and John Maynard both spoke out against his comments and behavior and called for his resignation again publicly.
"I’m begging, absolutely begging Bart Fannin to resign,” said Wolfe..
Maynard said during Thursday’s meeting,” That is not, and I’ll repeat, that is not who this community is.”
Fannin was asked numerous times why he would not step down, and he did not comment on why. He said he had learned a lot from people about the situation in the last week, but his words of apology didn't stick to the hearts of the community.
During public comment, one woman said,” We are mere weeks away from 2024, and the excuse that you did not know better is not valid.”
For Fannin to be removed from his position, residents would have to create a petition with signatures signed by 15% of registered voters in the last Ohio governor’s race.
The board said after that, the petition will be submitted to the Pickaway County Court of Common Pleas.