Candidate says he was denied city council job because he’s gay

A candidate for city council in Warren County village said he was not appointed to a vacant seat because he is gay.

Waynesville resident David Nation was the only candidate who met the July 10 application deadline for the seat. Still, the city extended the application process before selecting a person who applied after the deadline to fill the seat.

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The council appointed Lyle Anthony in a 4-2 vote on July 31.

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“It was definitely blatant discrimination because I’m gay, and there’s just no beating around the bush about it,” said Nation.

Nation is 42 years old and has lived in Waynesville for 14 years. He works as a director for a business in Miamisburg, a nearby town.

Records show that Councilman Chris Colvin said he did not support Nation, in part because his application documents included core achievements focused on “diversity and inclusion.” Colvin also cited the fact that Nation is a founding member of the Rainbow Alliance ERG, which advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion in “local government, businesses, and educational institutions.”

Law director Jeff Forbes said that the village’s charter does not bind the council to pick a candidate by the July 10 deadline, according to records from an August 5 meeting.

Nation agreed with this. “As the charter is written, it was done appropriately because there is no deadline set,” he said.

Mayor Isaacs said the decision was one of the hardest he has had on the council, pointing out that Nation has done much community work, including fundraising for the Museum at the Friends Home, which preserves the village’s history. Nation said he is a longtime museum member and spearheaded the renovation.

“Mr. Nation was the only candidate who met the bar set … by the village in submitting his resume,” village resident Robert Bowen said in a letter he read to the council.

“This village has opened this selection to a civil rights violation, an EEOC complaint, and possible lawsuit,” Bowen said, referencing a U.S. Supreme Court ruling and Colvin’s July 31 comments.

Nation said, “I won’t disclose that information” when asked what plans he has regarding the council’s decision.

He said, “I’m trying to look at all resources at this moment in time, and I just want to make sure that I’m doing everything in my power to ensure that this doesn’t happen to other candidates.”

“However, I will say that I am going to continue pursuing everything I can in order to make change happen.”

The Dayton Daily News said that when it contacted both Waynesville Mayor Earl Issacs, who voted for Anthony, and Councilwoman Connie Miller, who voted against Anthony’s appointment, both declined to comment on the issue.

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