From the Desk of Councilwoman Clarissa Slater
Retaliation, Hostility, and Discrimination by Council President Force Clerk Resignation
Bucyrus, OH – July 18, 2025
This week, Council Clerk Miranda Wise submitted her two-week resignation notice amid an increasingly hostile and retaliatory environment created by Council President Kurt Fankhauser. Ms. Wise—a diligent and respected public servant—had fully complied with every requirement imposed upon her, completing updates to the permanent legislative record and the public Documents on Demand portal. Yet, President Fankhauser continued to deny her legally entitled leave, shifted expectations repeatedly, and ultimately stated he would deny it “no matter what.”
This culminated in a volatile incident where Mr. Fankhauser yelled at Ms. Wise, slammed a chair, and stormed out of City Hall—leaving the Clerk visibly upset. Following this, he issued a public email refusing to assume the administrative duties of the Clerk, despite his own ability to serve as Clerk Pro Tem under municipal practice. His abdication of duty—even though the law allows him to perform them until a new Clerk is appointed—conflicts with guidance from the Law Director and places the City’s legislative process at risk.
Equally disturbing is Mr. Fankhauser’s targeted criticism of the women on Council. In the same email, he accused Councilwomen Slater, Sharrock, and Dishon of “dragging out meetings,” “nit-picking,” and grammar-correcting. He then recommended that one of us be named Clerk Pro Tem—even though I, Councilwoman Slater, was previously labeled “not competent” for Economic Development Committee leadership, and Councilwoman Dishon had already resigned from the Pro Tem position.
This is not mere inconsistency. It is tactical retaliation and gender-based discrimination aimed at sidelining women who have advocated for transparency and procedural integrity.
Although Ohio Rev. Code § 705.10 directs that the legislative body shall select a Clerk, locally it is accepted that when a vacancy arises, the Council President, as administrative authority, may temporarily serve as Clerk Pro Tem until a permanent appointment is made by Council, which could be the President himself. Mr. Fankhauser’s refusal to fulfill that legal interim duty exacerbates institutional dysfunction and erodes public trust.
The residents of Bucyrus deserve a Council that follows the rule of law, treats public employees with respect, and upholds fairness—not one that allows leadership to weaponize authority and undermine its own processes.
I call on my colleagues to act immediately to:
1. Direct President Fankhauser to assume the Clerk Pro Tem duties or appoint someone legally qualified.
2. Issue a formal admonition or censure to address his retaliatory and discriminatory behavior.
3. Implement clear safeguards—including a whistleblower-style policy—to prevent similar abuse in the future.
Our city cannot afford leadership that weaponizes process to intimidate and isolate dedicated public servants. I wish Miranda all the best. She is far better than we deserve given the current landscape, and she deserves a safe and functional workplace. I know whatever her future holds will be bright. I will truly miss her calm, even-tempered presence and persistence in such a volatile workplace. She will be truly missed.
Respectfully,
Clarissa Scheffler-Slater
Bucyrus City Council At-Large
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