DA Investigating Richwood Mayor Steve Hunter

Just weeks after a guilty verdict against the ex-mayor of Richwood, officials are now investigating the current mayor, Steve Hunter, on allegations of malfeasance in office.

The district attorney’s office confirms they’re investigating a complaint filed by all five members of the board of aldermen, about an alleged 2009 tax scheme that involves Mayor Hunter.

The board of aldermen claims that Mayor Hunter changed official tax documents submitted to the state that led to a .20 mill tax being placed on the ballot, instead of the .10 mill tax the board approved, which would have been a renewal.

Ed Harris and Steve Hunter are two men who are politically at odds with each other, although they share a lot of similarities.

Both say they want what’s best for Richwood. Both have served as Richwood’s mayor. But now, both have been under investigation for malfeasance in office.

“We push for stuff to happen, they raise the money, and it don’t happen,” said Richwood resident Donald Tarver, who says he’s disappointed by leaders who find themselves in trouble with the law. “Everyone that holds a position up under the 318 need to be under investigation.”

But Richwood’s ex-mayor, Ed Harris, is no stranger to corruption charges. Weeks ago, he was convicted by a jury for leaving the town over $20,000 in the red, by writing checks from the town fund to himself and other town workers.

“If he could get away with that, think about what the people he answers to can get away with,” said Tarver.

But in the wake of one mayor’s guilty verdict now marks the start of the current mayor’s investigation into Hunter’s alleged tax scheme, which would have doubled Richwood residents’ maximum tax liability.

Hunter did not want to publicly comment on the matter, but questions why the board would wait two years to bring up an investigation against him, and believes that Ed Harris, the ex-mayor, is trying to get political revenge against him.

Hunter says the town is currently under a .10 mill tax.

Ed Harris may face prison time and $5,000 in fines. He’s also subject to paying back over $80,000 in restitution for the town of Richwood.