A petition to remove Austintown trustee Steve Kent from his position gained more than 600 signatures during a drive-thru event at the Austintown 9/11 Memorial on January 2nd.

According to an email exchange between Austintown trustees a few days before that event and first obtained by the MLO Bros. Podcast in a public records request, Kent asked if the group was given permission to set up at the memorial and if not, to advise them they can't set up on township property and they would need to move.

Trustee Robert Santos responded saying, "...it's a public park, not sure we can stop her. Mike (Dockry) can we legally stop her?"

Santos sent another email stating, "Not trying to start anything. Just want to make sure we legally can do that. Not sure we are able to."

Kent then replied, saying in part, "It's the township and there is no soliciting." He followed that email up with another one stating, "That was from Darren!"

Santos then replied saying,"OK, first solicitation is having a product to sell. She is not selling anything. However, it is a political activity which we can prohibit. I just want to be 100% sure we legally can stop her. We do not need any more drama coming from your situation. Looking at this with an unbiased view. I do not believe we should tell her no at this stage. It is already in the papers. Steve, you will have more coverage on you telling her no then if you just let this ride. But that's my point of view. You do what you feel is right, Steve."

Kent then replies, "Um, they are setting up on the township property and it's an event so it's our responsibility to know what is going on. It's like Matt using the property at Woodside they have to ask permission."

Kent sends another email saying, "So I guess we can stop it right."

Kent then sends another email saying it takes two to move forward and asks trustee Monica Deavers her thoughts.

Deavers responds saying, "I am very torn on this. Robert, I agree cancelling would only stir up more controversy. However, if we allow this, we open up a can of worms that allows anyone to use this for any reason at any time without permission."

Santos then sends one last email that says, "So saying we don't allow political related things on township property and if political events, gatherings or whatever title you want to make it is actually prohibited, my question is where is this written? If this is not written, we MUST allow this. This really is no different than a protest and we all know protests are protected by the constitution and can not be stopped as long as it is a safe event and not causing harm to people. I did not put my life on the line for 11 years defending this nation and our constitution rights just to deny someone because it looks bad for one of our trustees. I understand this is a tough situation. But we must look at this clearly and closely. 1. Where is it written we do not allow politics on tax payer funded property.

The drive-thru event was eventually held at the recycling center at 1055 South Raccoon Road.

Kent initially worked as a school resource officer for Poland Schools but was fired by trustees citing "immoral conduct and malfeasance."

The following month, Kent was charged with three counts of sexual battery against a student and one count of tampering with evidence. He pled not guilty to these charges.
 

We reached out to Kent for comment and he declined.