The city of Bowling Green Ethics Board voted unanimously Wednesday to hire attorney Stacey Blankenship to investigate possible ethics violations by Bowling Green City Commissioner Brian “Slim” Nash.
Last month, board members agreed they did not have all the facts surrounding Nash’s arrest May 23 on a charge of alcohol intoxication and the related issues, and decided to hire a special counsel to look into it.
Nash was arrested and charged after a Warren County sheriff’s deputy witnessed him leave the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center “in an intoxicated state,” according to an arrest citation. On May 28, Nash pleaded guilty and paid a $25 fine plus court costs.
The board has received 24 complaints regarding the incident, several of which demanded Nash be removed from office.
Nash has issued both a public apology on social media and in person at the previous board meeting.
His attorney, Alan Simpson, said Wednesday that Nash is doing OK, “and it’s just unfortunate that this minor incident is garnering this much media attention and taking up this many peoples’ time. And of course he’s had to weather all the hateful comments on social media, and it’s hit home with his family, and he’s committed to never have another issue like this.”
As special counsel, Blankenship has 60 days to create a report regarding whether Nash’s public intoxication violated the city ethics code which prohibits “(engaging) in illegal or unethical behavior, whether committed on or off duty, including, but not limited to … conduct that violates a federal, state or local law or ordinance, (excluding traffic violations) whether or not the violation relates directly to the duties of the public official.”