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Hearing held in Michael Ihle case

No ruling made yet by ethics commission

CHARLESTON — A former legislator and mayor of Ravenswood had a hearing Wednesday before the West Virginia Ethics Commission, but a ruling was not made.

Michael Ihle had been accused of using his city-provided cell phone while serving as mayor in his 2014 campaign for the House of Delegates.

He was charged with use of office for personal gain.

Ilhe served two years in the House of Delegates and lost his bid for re-election in 2016. In running for the House, he could not seek another term as the mayor of Ravenswood at the same time. He served one term as mayor from 2012 to 2016.

According to the statement from the Ethics Commission, Ihle filed a candidate’s certificate of announcement with the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office, listing his city-owned cell phone as his contact number. It says he used the phone from January through November 2014.

As the city paid $54 a month per phone for cellular service, the total benefit over the 11-month period was approximately $594, state officials said.

Ihle had previously claimed he mistakenly put the wrong number on a candidacy form and has denied any wrongdoing.

In a statement released Wednesday, Ihle said the prosecutor had 2 1/2 years to build a case.

”In spite of this, nowhere in her mountain of paperwork was she able to present any evidence or any witnesses demonstrating that I conducted any political activity, not even one phone call, on a city-issued cell phone,” he wrote. ”No such evidence was presented because no such evidence exists. That’s because I didn’t do it.”

Ihle defended himself at the hearing, not seeking legal counsel.

Ihle said he was not allowed to bring something forward no one had known about during his time as mayor.

”I voluntarily declined health insurance and retirement benefits while I was mayor of Ravenswood,” he wrote, adding he did not having any coverage of his own.

”This saved our taxpayers more than $21,000,” he added. ”How can any fair person say I ‘used public office for private gain’ when I chose to take such a loss?”

Ihle said he did nothing wrong in regard to the ethics complaint.

”I am confident that a fair ruling will find me not guilty,” he said.

Ihle said his faith in God has continually carried him through.

”God has forgiven me for my many sins, and while this is not one of them, His judgment is the only one which truly matters,” he said. ”Therefore, I stood up today, as David against Goliath, not so much for myself, but as Samuel Adams said: ‘If we suffer tamely a lawless attack upon our liberty, we encourage it, and involve others in our doom.’ I appreciate those of you who stand with me.”

Officials with the Ethics Commission said a transcript of the proceeding will be done in 14 days. Then parties will begin the process of review with both sides submitting written findings and responses to issues brought up.

A proposed ruling can be made and both sides can decide to accept or reject it. Finally, the commission will vote on the proposed ruling.

The process could take a while with a final decision not expected until sometime in August, officials said.

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