What started as a paperwork error and a levy sign delivery has snowballed into a battle of PACs, public records, and political posturing.
It All Started with a Sign...
Earlier this month, Bucyrus Safety-Service Director Tommy Starner registered as the treasurer of the pro-levy campaign committee, the Bucyrus Street Renewal Levy 2025 Committee, using his city email and City Hall mailing address.
This, along with a separate instance where city worker Landon Hill emailed about the levy during his lunch break, triggered a complaint to the Ohio Auditor of State.
The Auditor responded with a letter dated April 11, warning the city that if any public resources or compensated time had been used to promote the levy, it would violate Ohio Revised Code 9.03. The letter advises city leaders to "cease and desist" any such activity if found, and promises to review the issue during Bucyrus’s next audit.
But what might have been a simple compliance correction quickly exploded into a political flashpoint.
Fankhauser’s Complaint and the PAC Question
Council President Kurt Fankhauser, a vocal critic of the current council and administration, submitted public records requests and uncovered the email in question.
Then, Fankhauser took it a step further — creating and publicly posting a photo of himself designing “Vote NO Bucyrus” signs, credited to his group, Just Say No Bucyrus P.A.C.
In his Facebook post, Fankhauser claimed:
“There are 1,700 out-of-town workers who have the most to lose. If you’re tired of $4.25 pay raises when the city is facing a budget deficit — vote NO.”
He also asked for donations to support sign printing — a move that has drawn criticism from those accusing him of leveraging his public office to lead a campaign effort.
Critic of PACs, Leader of a PAC
While Fankhauser has raised alarms over city officials interacting with or supporting a levy PAC, critics say his own actions are laced with contradiction.
Despite his outrage over a city worker emailing about the levy or the Safety-Service Director using his city email on registration forms, Fankhauser has personally:
- Created, promoted, and distributed anti-levy materials through his own PAC.
- Driven around town delivering signs, actively participating in campaign efforts while continuing to serve as Council President.
- Used his role as an elected official to publicly promote PAC messaging, solicit donations, and rally opposition to the levy.
Adding to the controversy, multiple individuals whose names or faces have appeared in Kurt’s posts — including Lisa Alsept and Gary Miller — have publicly denounced him. Both submitted Letters to the Editor in FreeWire stating that Kurt used their names or images without consent and misrepresented their positions.
Yet Fankhauser has continued to share posts featuring them — often without context — in ways that suggest shared political ideology.
As one resident put it:
“He calls it corruption when someone else does it, but strategy when he does it.”
This pattern has led many to question whether Kurt’s motives stem from principle or personal politics.
Verbal Warnings and Dismissals
As for the alleged misuse of resources:
- Tommy Starner told FreeWire:“This is Kurt trying to stir shit up... They did nothing inappropriate. I got the signs and put them in my car. It’s just a bored individual.”
- Landon Hill, the city worker whose email was flagged, received a verbal warning. Officials confirm this was his first offense, and that the message was sent during his lunch break, not while on the clock. Starner added, "And it's stupid we even had to do that."
Clarissa Slater Responds: “Dirty Politics” and a Warning Shot
In both an internal email and a Facebook post, Councilwoman Clarissa Slater tore into the situation. She accused Fankhauser (without directly naming him in the email) of political sabotage and weaponizing the state’s oversight process to cast suspicion on the administration and sabotage the levy.
From her internal email to council and city officials:
“It is the small-minded individuals who lack mental fortitude that then turn to dirty politics when their integrity fails them… So that one individual, hostile to both the levy and my presence on this Council, can poison the well in hopes of claiming credit when the house burns?”
And from her Facebook page:
“A vote AGAINST Issue 3 is an ENDORSEMENT for Council President Kurt Fankhauser as seen here photographing his computer screen while he designed the signs for his Just Say No Bucyrus PAC.”
She concluded her post with a call for unity and focus:
“Let’s stop the FAKE NEWS of political rage baiting and focus on what matters: Bucyrus families and their futures. Let’s protect rural Ohio conservative families from relying on Washington or Columbus bailouts because one bad egg’s misguided actions. ✅ VOTE YES ✅ on Issue 3 and protect Bucyrus’s future!”
But perhaps her sharpest words came in a direct quote to FreeWire late Friday night:
“Kurt can’t bully citizens and elected officials alike, destroy everything that could improve Bucyrus for the better, go scorched earth, and stand on top of the ashes saying ‘I told you so’ holding the matches and gasoline that burned the city in the first place, then try to blame everyone else for its destruction.”
— Councilwoman Clarissa Slater
Slater’s remarks have drawn criticism from some, including individuals who are usually her allies, for equating a "no" vote with an endorsement of Fankhauser. Some see it as an oversimplification and caution that it may set a problematic precedent by reducing a nuanced issue to a binary loyalty test.
Council Reactions: “Bullshit,” Burned Bridges, and Blunt Truths
The firestorm has sparked strong words from multiple members of council — not just Slater.
Councilman Zyan Hickman didn’t mince words, calling the effort to derail the levy and destabilize council “dangerously malicious”:
“I think to go against the city's best interests to sabotage everything and all things humanly possible without a genuine cause is dangerously malicious.
In layman's terms — it's bullshit.”
Law Director Brandon Gobrecht took a more measured but equally frustrated tone:
“This is very frustrating and childish behavior. It bothers me immensely that grown adults are acting this way.”
Councilman James Mee, known for his dry wit, took aim at the credibility of the accusations — and the accuser:
“The only people that believe Tommy or Landon would do anything devious will believe Kurt lived at 616 Prospect in 2024.”
Together, the responses paint a picture of a council under siege — not from external forces, but from within.
What’s at Stake
Issue 3 is not a new tax — it’s a renewal of the existing street levy that funds critical infrastructure needs across the city. Proponents argue that without it, Bucyrus could face major funding gaps for road repair and maintenance, potentially shifting pressure back onto the general fund.
Opponents, led by Fankhauser and his “Just Say No” campaign, argue that the city is spending recklessly, especially in light of recent pay raises and looming budget deficits.
But with just weeks to go until the May 6 primary, it’s clear this battle has become about more than streets. It’s a fight over power, perception, and what kind of leadership Bucyrus wants going forward.
