Dovilla Seeks to Take Away Pensions of Officials Convicted of Extortion, Perjury

State Rep. Mike Dovilla, R-Berea, is calling for the enactment of a bill that would add felony extortion and perjury to the list of crime that would mean loss of pension for public officials.

"Our county’s citizens are rightfully disgusted with this flagrant abuse of public trust. They correctly expect those who have been elected to positions of honor and trust to carry themselves in a manner befitting those high offices, not take advantage of their positions to line their own pockets or unfairly get ahead," Dovilla, who represents Strongsville, said in a statement.

He said taxpayers "should not be saddled with paying for the retirement benefits of such criminals."

He was joined at Monday's press conference by State Reps. Marlene Anielski, R-Walton Hills, and Nan Baker, R-Westlake.

House Bill 323, which calls for forfeiture of retirement benefits or termination of disability benefits when a person serving in a position of public trust is convicted, is before the House Criminal Justice Committee.