DEAR EDITOR:

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli’s (R-Salem) decision to hire Mike Peppel as the congressman’s new communications director.

Peppel set up a charity, “Ohio Clean Water Fund” to raise funds for East Palestine residents affected by the train derailment pocketing more than $131,000 raised from over 3,000 caring donors. Peppel presented his “Ohio Clean Water Fund” as a nonprofit acting on behalf of the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley to raise funds. Second Harvest Food Bank did not give permission to Peppel to solicit on their behalf and did not receive the funds he collected from the phony charity.

Thanks to Mike Iberis, executive director at the Second Harvest Food Bank, and his integrity and diligent work, the Ohio attorney general shut down the “Ohio Clean Water Fund.” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost called it a scam and that it was “unconscionable that Mike Peppel would so brazenly exploit a disaster situation.”

Mike Peppel is banned permanently from incorporating, operating or soliciting for any charity in Ohio and was fined and ordered to pay restitution to the food bank.

Rulli said of his hiring of Peppel on Jan. 13, 2025, as his new communications director that, “he was a proven leader joining our team.”

The Second Harvest Food Bank’s dedicated volunteers, donors, staff and director Mike Iberis have worked tirelessly and passionately to provide food to those hungry in our Valley for over 40 years.

Rulli’s decision and poor judgment to hire Peppel is appalling.

One would only hope Rep. Rulli, as an elected official, would have had the same integrity and dedication to serve the Valley (and his constituents) as those at Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley.

SHIRLEY FREED-MATULA

Canfield