In aftermath of conviction, Gwinn resigns as party chair

Local media are reporting that a day after she was convicted of two misdemeanor counts for falsifying campaign finance reports, Susan Gwinn has announced she's stepping down as chair of the Athens County Democratic Party.

Gwinn reportedly told the Athens Messenger that she turned over the chairmanship of the party Monday night to vice-chair Debbie Perry. Despite repeated efforts by The Athens NEWS, Gwinn could not be reached for comment either her law office, her home, or via her cell phone Tuesday. The paper has likewise been unable to make contact with Perry.

The Ohio University Post reported Tuesday that active party member Bill Bias, who serves as president of Athens City Council, had confirmed hearing from Gwinn that she was stepping down. When contacted by The NEWS Tuesday night, however, Bias refused to confirm or deny the report. He said he would talk to the paper on Wednesday.

Some top Democrats contacted by The NEWS Tuesday indicated that they had heard reports that Gwinn was or might be abdicating. Party member Bill Biddlestone said he had been informed Gwinn was quitting, but could not verify this or share the source. Athens City Auditor Kathy Hecht said Gwinn had told her prior to the verdict in her court case that she was considering stepping down as party chair regardless of the outcome of the trial.

In late December, Gwinn underwent a bench trial in Athens County Common Pleas Court, in which she faced seven low-level felony counts and two misdemeanors. The charges resulted from an investigation by special prosecutor Dave Yost, who was appointed by a local judge after county Prosecutor C. David Warren believed he found evidence of possible spending irregularities involving Democratic Party money.

During the trial, appointed Judge William H. Wolff, Jr., dismissed two felony counts of bribery, which had been filed in connection with a plan to pay student volunteers a $5-per-voter "bounty" for early voters they brought to the polls Oct. 30.

In a verdict filed Monday, Wolff acquitted Gwinn of all the remaining felony counts "“ two counts each of theft in office and unauthorized use of property, and one count of money laundering. He found her guilty, however, of falsifying two campaign-finance reports, by the way in which she reported "“ or in one case, failed to report - $27,000 in donations that Gwinn had described as personal loans to her by her brother and another man.

Prior to the news of Gwinn's stepping down, city Law Director Patrick Lang, who had already called on Gwinn to resign, told The NEWS Tuesday that in light of the convictions, he felt it was definitely time for Gwinn to quit, for the good of the party.

Prosecutor Warren, who had just learned of the reported resignation when contacted by The NEWS, said he believed it was the best thing for the party as well.

Chris Redfern, chair of the state Democratic Party, had called publicly for the county party to oust Gwinn after she was convicted, and announced Monday that she will be removed from the state party's executive committee.