Feeney Responds to Moreno: 'Attributing Quotes to Me That I Did Not Make'

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CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney has answered U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno’s October 31 letter, saying the senator attributed statements to him that he never made and got his record of working with Moreno’s office wrong.

Feeney sent his response to Hopewell Heritage Headlines on Monday, after this newsroom published Moreno’s letter and asked the mayor for his side. The full response is below.

“I’m not sure if you were there that day, but it appears Sen. Moreno is attributing quotes to me that I did not make — the one in ten job statement in particular,” Feeney wrote.

Moreno’s letter accused Feeney of claiming that only one in ten of the paper mill jobs had been restored. The senator credited his office and Sen. Jon Husted with delaying the mill’s closure, finding a buyer, restoring 210 jobs, and securing a $5.5 million commitment from the former owner for former employees.

“I’ve dedicated much of my life to public service, and I’m proud of the record I’ve built serving the people of Chillicothe,” Feeney wrote. “The people of this community know me, know my commitment to this city, and know the work we’ve accomplished together.”

“I was disappointed by Senator Moreno’s letter as it incorrectly attributed another person’s comments to me,” he wrote.

Feeney said what he did say was that, as lieutenant governor, Jon Husted was “a central figure in the First Energy bribery scandal” and that electric bills are now “through the roof.” He said he also said gas and diesel prices are out of control “because of the Iran war” and that Husted has voted to continue that war.

He said he also spoke about former Sen. Sherrod Brown’s commitment to Chillicothe and Brown’s efforts to save the Chillicothe VA.

“I stand by all of those statements,” Feeney wrote.

The mayor pushed back on Moreno’s claim that he has not reached out to the senator’s office.

“I’ve actually appreciated Senator Moreno’s efforts to bring jobs back to Chillicothe,” he wrote. “That’s why I was surprised to see him say that I have not reached out to his office. I’ve had regular phone conversations, text messages, emails and meetings with his staff over the past year and a half.”

Moreno’s letter also criticized the Feeney administration over building and zoning questions on a proposed development of more than 200 market-rate apartments and other industrial inquiries, which the senator said went unanswered.

“Similarly his criticisms of the city staff are just unfounded,” Feeney wrote.

“I’m not interested in trading personal accusations,” he wrote. “My focus is on delivering results for Chillicothe. Sherrod Brown has always fought for the hardworking people in this community and has the record to show it. I’ll continue working with anyone, regardless of party, who shares that kind of commitment.”

Hopewell Heritage Headlines published Moreno’s letter and the claims in it on October 31 and has updated that story with this response. That story’s figures were the senator’s claims; they have not been independently verified.

Send a tip or correction to info@heritageheadlines.com.

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