Monica Téllez-Fowler remains the president and CEO of the Central Ohio Transit Authority despite a report from a local political blogger that she had been fired, COTA Board of Trustees Chair Sean Mentel told The Dispatch.
The Rooster, a political blog run by statehouse gadfly D.J. Byrnes, reported Oct. 20 that Téllez-Fowler had been fired Oct. 19, citing unnamed sources. Following The Rooster's report, a Dispatch reporter contacted Mentel about Téllez-Fowler's alleged firing, and he said in a written statement that the board "has not taken any action regarding Monica Téllez-Fowler's contract."
"The Board is evaluating Monica's contract in relation to the
timing of the contract expiration and needs of the organization and the citizens of central Ohio. Any action or decision by the Board will be taken and shared in a public meeting," Mentel said.
In a follow-up message, Mentel also confirmed that Téllez-Fowler is not on leave and remains employed as CEO.
Téllez-Fowler could not be reached for comment.
Columbus City Council member Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, chair of the council's Public Service & Transportation Committee, also told The Dispatch in a text message that she had spoken to Téllez-Fowler the morning of Oct. 20 and that she remained CEO.
Téllez-Fowler's current contract is in effect until Dec. 31, and it will be up to COTA's Board of Trustees to renew it. The board amended her contract in May to let her claim severance benefits from the authority if they do not renew her contract for at least a three-year term at her current salary of $394,000 annually – one of the highest paid transit leaders among cities similar to Columbus, The Dispatch previously reported.
Téllez-Fowler previously told The Dispatch that she wants to stay in Columbus after she was a finalist but not selected to lead Dallas Area Rapid Transit in Texas.
Transportation and neighborhoods reporter Nathan Hart can be reached at NHart@dispatch.com, @NathanRHart on X and nathanhart.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: COTA CEO Monica Téllez-Fowler still with agency despite report of firing
