Former councilwoman Mary Lee Kennedy is back at work now that prosecutors have ended their investigation into her election activities last year.

Thursday, August 03, 2000

Former councilwoman Mary Lee Kennedy is back at work now that prosecutors have ended their investigation into her election activities last year.

"I’m really glad things are behind me, although I hated getting beat," Mrs. Kennedy said.

In October, the city council member faced allegations that she misused absentee ballots after a complaint to the the Lawrence County Board of Elections.

State law says candidates cannot assist voters in marking absentee ballots.

The board gathered information, then sent a report to Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr.’s office, which requested the court appoint a special prosecutor because Mrs. Kennedy works for Collier in tax collections.

Gallia County prosecutor Brent Saunders investigated, then cleared Mrs. Kennedy last month of any wrongdoing.

"No criminal action was found, so it passed as though it never happened," she said.

Even though Mrs. Kennedy lost the November city council election, she said she’s not resentful and hasn’t found out who complained.

"It’s a game of politics is all I can say," she said. "There was never anything wrong but it was too near the election for me to make a comeback There was no time to explain what happened."

Mrs. Kennedy said all she could have said anyway was that she didn’t do anything, then the "rumors just got out of sight."

For about nine months, Mrs. Kennedy stayed on paid administrative leave with the prosecutor’s office while the investigation was ongoing.

Now, she is back at work and doesn’t consider the election loss or investigation a setback.

"I’m just glad to be back," she said.

"I will not be running for council this time, I will say that," Mrs. Kennedy added, referring to November’s election in former council member Joe Black’s unexpired term.

"I have no intentions right at this time to get back into politics but there are other things ahead of me I’m sure," she said.

"I doubt I will stay out of politics."