Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce was one of two elected officials last week to abstain from a vote on whether to send county and city money to billionaire sports owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam to create a National Women's Soccer League team in Columbus.
Boyce's choice not to vote on the measure follows a track record in office where he abstains far more than his two other colleagues helping run the largest county government in the state. WOSU reviewed meeting minutes dating back to the start of 2025 and found Boyce has abstained more than 50 times, while Commissioners John O'Grady and Erica Crawley only abstained once each.
Boyce, a former Ohio Treasurer and state legislator, was reelected to a four-year term in 2024 and was first elected to the county board in 2016.
WOSU went to Tuesday's Board of Commissioners meeting to ask Boyce to explain why he abstained at the NWSL vote last week. He left the room and told the reporter to "make an appointment."
Abstaining is a normal, albeit rarely used, option for elected officials in a legislative body like city councils. Franklin County Board of Commissioners' meetings contain a dozen or more agenda items most weeks, which Boyce typically votes on.
The Ohio Ethics Commission explains on its website that public officials must, under law, abstain when they have a conflict of interest.
The commission explains that having a conflict of interest isn't illegal itself, but rather it is the public servant's responsibility to recognize that conflict and abstain from making or influencing any decisions.
Columbus City Councilwoman Lourdes Barroso de Padilla also abstained when that government body voted to send $25 million and lease McCoy Park on the city's south side for a new training facility.
Barroso de Padilla explained her vote immediately after the meeting in a statement on Instagram that "out of an abundance of caution" she abstained because she works at City Year, a national non-profit that is funded by the Nationwide Foundation. The foundation is one of the groups that pushed for the new team.
Boyce, to date, has not explained his abstention.
Boyce explained a bit about why he won't talk more about his decision in a statement given to WOSU Tuesday afternoon.
"I carefully review matters of conflict with legal counsel and the Ohio Ethics Commission. My process ensures that I abide by the law and ethics decisions. Discussing a conflict of interest could potentially influence other members of the commission and would negate the intention of an abstention vote, which is to not influence how the matter is resolved. This includes explaining to the media about why I abstained from voting or the reason for the conflict of interest. My goal is not to participate in any way to protect the public interest and follow the law. It is not limited to a single vote but also includes any participation and discussion afterwards," Boyce said.
Boyce is an investment banker by trade and created Columbus' first Black-owned bank, Adelphi Bank. He's still the bank's vice chairman.
It's unclear if his role at the bank has played any role in his abstentions.
In the past year, Boyce has abstained from votes on county purchases, the Woda Cooper affordable housing project at the old YMCA, supporting the 2026 Ohio Black Expo Riverfront Culture Fest and more.
