BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP -- The men who sparked the investigations into township finances which led to Wednesday's guilty pleas by three officials say they are relieved the ordeal is over.
"I'm glad it's over; but, . . . I do feel sad in a way that this had to happen," said township Trustee Mike Tighe, who, with former trustee William Vitale began questioning township salaries, contracts and financial records after the 1995 retirement of township administrator Jim Harmon.
Their information led to an investigation by the Hamilton County sheriff and state auditor.
On Tuesday, Mr. Harmon, his daughter and former township clerk Debra Huff and her husband, Jeff, the former maintenance superintendent, each entered guilty pleas to felony counts of theft in office and tampering with records.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters estimated the loss to taxpayers at more than $210,000.
Mr. Tighe and Mr. Vitale became concerned after learning Mr. Harmon's salary rose from $32,500 in 1990 to $107,000 in 1995. It was the highest sum paid to any Hamilton County township administrator and Columbia is the county's smallest township with about 4,400 residents. The two men requested a special state audit and Mr. Tighe asked for a sheriff's investigation.
"In a way, today, I do feel satisfied and gratified because I did do the right thing," Mr. Tighe said. "There were times when I had my doubts because the length of this investigation . . . took a toll on my family and a toll on me -- anxiety and stress.
"Every time, at a public meeting, somebody -- the Huffs or Harmon -- would be giving me a bad time -- telling people I'm a liar, and some of the residents acted negatively to what I did.
"Jim (Harmon) has deep roots in this community . . . Over the 20 years he developed a strong following," Mr. Tighe said. "But, I took an oath of office and was not going to look the other way."
Mr. Vitale, a real estate agent who was not re-elected last November, said: "It's sad what these people did to the taxpayers and to the township.
"On the surface, it looked like they were doing a very good job; but when we started looking back in documents we noticed things were changed or altered. . . .. I think, to a degree, the system is to blame since they could hold so many key township positions. It was easy to cover things up," Mr. Vitale said. "You can't be happy about this -- knowing people were not honest and not telling the truth."
Mr. Tighe said problems grew over years because some trustees were "loyal to him (Harmon) and thought they could not get elected without his support."
Still, Mr. Tighe said, "I do not want to see a 65-year-old man go to jail so long as he makes full restitution of the money he took from the township -- and, not in an installment plan, but in a lump sum."
Mr. Deters said the investigation found evidence of several violations.
There were charges of phantom employees, falsified payroll and retirement documents, a car leased at township expense for personal use and thousands of dollars spent for improvements to private property, including their own and that of family members. Mr. Harmon denied wrongdoing for two years.
His plea this week means he could face up to 3 1/2 years in prison. Mr. and Mrs. Huff each face up to 3 years. Prosecutors are demanding the defendants pay back the $210,000. Sentencing is Dec. 15 before Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Melba Marsh.
Harmon's good works recalled
