MARIETTA — No action has been taken yet regarding the reported complaint filed by Washington County for Safe Drinking Water against state Sen. Brian Chavez.

On Jan. 20, the organization reported it had filed a 20-page complaint against Chavez, a Republican from Marietta, for the violation of two ethics laws: Use of authority or influence of office to seek personal pecuniary benefit and the failure to disclose interests in five limited liability companies on two financial disclosure statements.

The basis of the complaint was made from Ohio Revised Code Section 102.03

The organization said its complaint was signed by multiple members and sent to the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee in Columbus for review.

Legislative Inspector General Tony Bledsoe said state law prohibited him from from confirming or denying if the committee had received the complaint.

According to the committee’s General Counsel Jennifer Lockwood, “when a third party files an allegation and the complaint has been reviewed and approved, we are required to serve the complaint within 14 days.”

The complaint was reportedly filed on Jan. 20, but there has been no reported confirmation that it was adopted by the JLEC.

“The lack of action from JLEC shows the hollow and meritless nature of the claims exposing the efforts to smear me and my family as nothing more than a publicity stunt designed to drive division and fear in our community,” said Chavez.

The 20-page document contained 51 exhibits, which ranged from DeepRock Disposal Solutions LLC Tax Liens for 2025 to the 2024 financial disclosure statements of Chavez.

The letter of complaint had support from more than 10 local groups including Buckeye Environmental Network, Between the Waters, Athens County’s Future Action Network and Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action.

Organizers with Washington County for Safe Drinking Water said, “Our efforts are rooted in civic responsibility. Local residents including retirees, small business owners, and working families are engaging in the democratic process by raising legitimate concerns about ethics and governance … this is not radicalism; it is participation.”

The organization said it is too early to determine if the complaint is inconsequential and they trust JLEC will carefully review what was discussed in the complaint.