Brian Kuhn took the oath of office as Lancaster's mayor less than six months ago. Eight days later, his wife Bridget Kuhn was charged with stealing more than $300,000 from clients she did bookkeeping work for.
On Friday, the Mayor himself was charged with failing to file state income tax for the last two years.
10TV reporter Glenn McEntyre spoke with Kuhn shortly after the charges were filed:
GM: Did you file your income taxes in 2014 and 2015?
Kuhn: I'm not going to comment on that right now.
GM: What do you say to your citizens?
Kuhn: I would say that everything is current and it doesn't affect the way that I serve as mayor.
Kuhn's indictment comes just four days after his wife pleaded guilty to charges including grand theft, money laundering and tampering with records.
Bridget Kuhn told investigators she stole the money to feed a gambling addiction.
Kuhn: "I've been there beside her steadfast through this whole process and she's done a great job seeking treatment for her addiction. She admitted to her wrongdoings and we're moving forward. We're staying strong through all this. We've got a lot of community support. I know there's the haters out there, but that's- you're not going to change what they think. but there's a lot of support, with prayers for us and our family.
GM: You say haters. It's not a hater when the mayor's wife is charged and pleads guilty to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's not hater when the mayor is charged with a felony crime. That doesn't make you a hater to have concerns about that, does it?
Kuhn: Maybe not. Maybe that's not the right word to use. I don't know, I gues I just won't comment anymore on that."
GM: Did you have any knowledge whatsoever of your wife's crimes, now that she's admitted to them?
Kuhn: No, I've said that from the beginning. I'm not going to comment any further on that as well.
GM: How is it possible that she runs 300-plus-thousands of dollars through your personal account, and you have no knowledge, being an accountant? Having a financial background?
Kuhn: Yeah, I'm not going to comment on any of those items, Glenn.
GM: You understand that's a valid question that people will have about you.
Kuhn: Yeah.
GM: Isn't that a fair question?
Kuhn: I'm not going to comment on that.
Kuhn says the charges against him relate strictly to his personal finances, not his public responsibilities, and he has no intention of stepping down as Mayor.
Kuhn: I've done a great job for these first six months, and because I didn't file a tax return isn't going to affect the way I run the city. I've got the respect of the department managers, the chiefs, community leaders, so I'll just continue...
GM: You're the former County Treasurer.
Kuhn: Correct.
GM: You're an accountant by trade.
Kuhn: Mm-hmm.
GM: How do you not file taxes?
Kuhn: I'm not going to comment on that right now.
GM: That can't be an oversight.
Kuhn: As I said, I'm not going to comment. There's a lot of things that I can't comment on right now.
If convicted the Mayor could face two years in prison. His wife Bridget faces up to 19.5 years in prison when she is sentenced next month.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kuhn's attorney David Thomas issued the following statement on the indictment:
Today, my client Brian Kuhn was indicted by the Fairfield County Grand Jury for failing to file his 2014 and 2015 state income tax returns. It would be premature to comment on the allegations at this early
stage in the proceedings. However, it is clear from the indictment that the charges are related to Brian’s personal tax returns and have absolutely no connection with his official duties as Mayor or any other public office that he has held. Brian is committed to serving the people of Lancaster and to carrying out his vision for the City. He does not plan to resign.