YOUNGSTOWN — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and nine partner agencies on Monday announced in Columbus the Mount Vernon Project: School of Public Service, a series of online trainings designed to give candidates for public office and newly elected officials at all levels of Ohio government an orientation to public service.

Current public officials are also encouraged to watch the videos, which could serve as a refresher, according to a news release.

As Ohio Attorney General, and in his previous roles as state auditor and county prosecuting attorney, Yost secured convictions for criminal and ethical violations by elected officials. The Mount Vernon Project aims to help both newcomers and veterans avoid potential pitfalls.

“Newly elected officials want to get down to the business of serving their constituents and fulfilling their campaign promises but can be derailed by mind-numbing nuances of bureaucracy and intricacies of public office,” Yost said in a press release. “This training provides candidates and new officials with the tools, resources and lessons to quickly succeed in their new roles.”

The six videos focus on the following:

•   Constituent Rela-tions: Holding public meetings, interacting with the news media and using social media.

•   Ethics: Ohio’s ethics laws and what to know about financial conflicts of interest.

•   Public Records: Why public records and open meetings matter, the time frame for responding to records requests and requirements for public meetings.

•   Structure of Government: The different forms of local government, the structure of the state legislature and the roles of state executive officials.

•   Civility: The value of civility in public discourse and what drives increased incivility.

•   Government Finance: The different types of audits, what happens after an audit and the guardrails that help local governments avoid financial trouble.

Along with the leaders who are featured in the series, the Mount Vernon Project has been endorsed by the Ohio Mayors Alliance, Ohio Municipal League, County Treasurers Association of Ohio, Ohio Recorders’ Association, Ohio Township Association, Ohio Clerk of Courts Association, Ohio Ethics Commission, the Portman Center for Policy Solutions at the University of Cincinnati, and the Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron.

Former U.S. Sen. Rob Portman said of the project, “Public servants have a big job, which can sometimes be overwhelming, especially for newly elected officials. The Mount Vernon Project provides lessons and insight that will equip public officials to better serve the people of Ohio.”

Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber and former editor of the Tribune Chronicle, said of the program: “This is a fabulous idea and coincides with the Regional Chamber relaunching its Local Government Leadership Academy in 2024.

“Government service, especially elected office, is very complex and difficult. To make it even more challenging, government officials serve a general public that views it as easy and glamorous. Hopefully we can partner with the Attorney General’s Office to make both of our programs more effective. The Mahoning Valley is going to be better served once we are using these programs to help our government officials.”

Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti said, “The day in and day out intricacies of state, local and federal government are complex … and require strict adherence to guidelines that must be followed.”

He said he thinks the training program “will allow those who are seeking public office and those currently elected the opportunity prepare and broaden their knowledge.”

Ralph Meacham, Mahoning County auditor, said of the program: “Attorney General Yost has identified six key elements for successful public service. Functioning in government is different than the private sector. Rightly so, there are specific rules on holding and conducting meetings. Documents created, sent and received are subject to definitive retention schedules. I have made it a point of placing virtually all financial and tax data emanating from my office on my county website.”

Meacham noted that until a person gets into elected office, he or she typically does not realize they even have to file annual ethics reports.

The video training is accessible through the Mount Vernon Project School of Public Service portal on the Ohio Attorney General’s web site: https://mountvernonproject.inquisiqlms.com/Default.aspx

The videos are also available via the Attorney General’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgX

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Officials who complete the curriculum in its entirety at the AG web site receive a certificate of completion.