Probably all Republican officeholders in and representing Ross County were in attendance, in an event that was more of a seasonal political gathering – like what both parties host – than a party or ball, regardless of the event’s name.

Connie Scott, chair of the Republican Women of Ross County, said that they had not wanted to schedule the event opposite a council session…but it was the only date that Ramaswamy was available.

Online comments have berated Monday’s absent council members for choosing to attend what was characterized as a party, instead of their governmental duties.

Tannis Cydrus was the lone speaker in Wednesday’s public address portion. (Watch that segment of council’s official video below.) Cydrus has coordinated monthly “Coffee with Council” gatherings to encourage interaction between the public and their city representatives.

Cydrus said she had gotten to know most the council members through Coffee with Council, but she was very disappointed that the council meeting had to be rescheduled. She said that when you swear an oath, you need to prioritize official duties versus an event like that.

Council member Jeff Creed read a statement (which he provided to me – see below) where he explained that about a month before, six Republican council members planned to attend the important political event and would be absent from Monday’s council…but could meet on Wednesday.

Creed said they discussed this with council president Kevin Shoemaker, who declined to officially postpone the meeting until he opened Monday’s session and determined a lack of quorum.

Creed said Shoemaker treated this expected inability to act differently from how he handled a similar situation with the once-in-a-generation April 8th, 2024 solar eclipse. But Shoemaker said he handled both the same way, and had given notice beforehand of the change in scheduling.

Creed officially asked for a committee assignment to review council rules to determine a better way to deal with such situations.

Cydrus finished by apologizing for possibly being polarizing, but Creed said she wasn’t – though he said others have been, and are trying to divide council and the community.

Gunner Barnes then said it was not a Republican versus Democrat issue, but was about integrity – he said the absent members went to a party, so don’t make it into a political issue.

President Shoemaker said any more debate needed to be from the public podium, not council seats…though a few council members chatted about it after adjournment.

Stay tuned for my companion story on what council WAS able to accomplish in their session…story one of two: Chillicothe Council Hears Brief Update on Homeless Issue

Find the article on the Scioto Post.

Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.

The public address segment from Chillicothe Council’s official video: