Niles native retiring from state ethics commission

David E. Freel, a Niles native who’s led the Ohio Ethics Commission for the past 17 years, is retiring at the end of the year.

During that time, the commission has assisted in the investigations of several Mahoning Valley political ethics cases.

That includes the ongoing Oakhill Renaissance Place criminal corruption case involving Mahoning County Commissioner John McNally IV, county Auditor Michael Sciortino, former county Treasurer John Reardon and four others.

“The Valley has good ethical roots, but has had poor public role models in leadership,” said Freel, a 1970 Niles McKinley High School graduate.

Despite the area’s history of political corruption, Freel said he has “high regard for the work ethic of the Valley.”

For the complete story, read Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com