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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2008 > December > 18 > Entry
Two more out in “Joe the Plumber” case
Two of Helen Jones-Kelley’s top aides in the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services are leaving their jobs along with Jones-Kelley.
Jones-Kelley of Clayton, the key figure in the “Joe the Plumber” snooping investigation, announced her resignation on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Doug Thompson, deputy director of child support, had his job “revoked,” effective Monday, Dec. 22, said Scarlett Bouder, department spokesman. Fred Williams, department assistant director, resigned effective Jan. 31, Bouder said. Thompson came to Columbus with Jones-Kelley, who previously was director of the Montgomery County Department of Job and Family Services.
Both were cited in Inspector General Tom Charles’ report that found that Jones-Kelley had improperly authorized searches of state databases for personal information on Samuel Joseph “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher of suburban Toledo during the presidential campaign.
Bouder said that Thompson served at the director’s pleasure and could be dismissed without citing a specific reason. Acting Director Jan Allen made the decision, said Bouder.
The actions were taken to “refocus the agency on the work at hand,” said Bouder.
Jones-Kelley was suspended for a month without pay in the incident and Thompson was suspended for four weeks without pay. Williams was suspended for two weeks without pay.
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Comments
By truthbeTold
December 22, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
I told you so stated - Palin’s soon-to-be-born baby (due Dec. 20!!) — was charged with six felony counts of misconduct involving a controlled substance Wow baby not born yet and was charged for controlled substance… must be a “super-baby”By I told you so
December 19, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
Palin’s soon-to-be-born baby (due Dec. 20!!) — was charged with six felony counts of misconduct involving a controlled substance, Alaska’s Anchorage Daily News reported Friday, Dec. 19. (Hypocritical?)By Patty
December 19, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
An American citizens should always be able to ask candidates and government officials questions without fear or being smeared. The government works for we the people. They are suppose to respect every citizen.By Ethel S.
December 18, 2008 7:08 PM | Link to this
It was a sad day for Ohio to have to be compared to Illinois in a contest of which one is the more corrupt. Calling out and terminating the jobs of workers who do not do the work they are supposed to do and yet collect a check as well as use our hard earned tax dollars to promote a personal agenda is a step in the right direction to rehabilitate Ohio’s reputation for ethical and responsible government. The next step is to make clear what is private and public data, who can access it, and under what conditions. There should be a lively debate with a lot of input. A great day for Ohio now!By T
December 18, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this
What about Paul FranholzBy You are all idiots
December 18, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Every last posting was an idiotic comment based on misinformation. Who cares if his information was looked up? He allowed himself to be placed in the public eye and therefor anything goes. Ask the Hollywood Celebrities. He wanted his fifteen minutes of fame well he has to pay for them. That includes his child support payments too.By Independent
December 18, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
What kills me is that everybody act as if they are perfect. What I see going on in corporate america (cut throat) is worse then what I seen and grew up in the hood of West Dayton. Can you tell me as a young minority and the at time the only in the it positions i have and had no conservative look me up using company time and property wondering how the heck he ended up my colleague???????? (Hypocritical?)By AVGJOE
December 18, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this
Score a few victories for those of us who enjoy free speech! Given our homeland security situation (FISA wiretaps, etc) it is more critical now than at any time in history for us to have trust in government. If power is abused, as was the case here, then the consequences must be severe and public. Openness in government is going to be an awakening for us all during the coming years. Remember, the alleged Anthrax killer was on the payroll of the Federal Government. How many other power abusers do we have among us and how far will they go to implement this causes? Keep the whistles blowing! Is Obama ready to tell us the truth about his socialist agenda? It will be a healthy debate. Capitalism is dead now isn’t it?By Independent
December 18, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
I’m from West Dayton, Ohio it has to be one of the worse, mind warped and Segregated cities in the world. Upon moving to Columbus, Ohio I felt like I was in heaven. My attitude about life and people changeed 360 for the better. I was obtain a position as a Programmer Analyst eventually to a Software Developer. Where I worked and trained with majority all conservatives. Upon listening to there views I understood some views and since then I changed from a Democrat to a Independent. However, what eats me alive is how Hypocritical conservatives are. Don’t get wrong I feel you when $350 in taxes a week was being taking out of my check and people like Joe the plumber is sitting at home living the life. OH I apologize that only applies to Minorites in West Dayton and Public Schools where we have a problem with that. I appreciate Conservatives but come on. Especially when I grew up in West Dayton where i was running scared not to have a baby at a young age because it was the worse thing to happen in life and then to loook years later it’s excepted when sarah palin’s daughter became pregnant. (Hypocritical?) Or when you had a mom and pops gas station and you were forced out and you saw a lot of corporate gas stations coming along when Bush first got into office come to find out the gas prices went through the roof and gas companies made record profits. Or when Bush first got into office and talked bad about the economy and from there it went down hill. Or when I told my conservative IT colleagues and best friends about everything that happen to date what was gonna happen back in 2000 they called me a Conspiracy Theorist. With all this said even now they call it socialism well what about bailing out wall street and what about when you do have a government that’s hands off look at the where it got us. I don’t know about yall but I have a obligation to pay rent and give back on the good life GOD Bless me with because (you people all know about West Dayton and how something has our minds warp)in that Segregated town. One last thing I can’t blame bush for hooking his oil boys cause if I had the chance bush has/had I would hook all my boys up in West Dayton and in the inter city schools. Oh My consevative friends bush is hooking is boys up on the way out by autioning off land to the oil companies. Well my consevative friends is he gonna hook up with another $300 stimulus package that will take care about one week of my taxes. My friends you are not rich like BP, Halliburton in bush’s eyes you are just like me from West Dayton. WAKE UP Please!!! you are killing me at work with all of Hypocritical statements and thoughts and I can’t say anything about it because it’s political incorrect since i’m the minority and I would get fired. Quit dumbing people down (intercity kids)and help them like a conservative helped me in columbus. Now I’m like (joe the plummer taking your hard earn money) I’m your colleague making that hard earned like you. After all this I’m sure the conservatives can pick my statements and life experiences apart cause you all are GREAT at that. Instead of being naive. Wake up and see whats going on in this Matrix(lol)By Independent
December 18, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
I’m from West Dayton, Ohio it has to be one of the worse, mind warped and Segregated cities in the world. Upon moving to Columbus, Ohio I felt like I was in heaven. My attitude about life and people changeed 360 for the better. I was obtain a position as a Programmer Analyst eventually to a Software Developer. Where I worked and trained with majority all conservatives. Upon listening to there views I understood some views and since then I changed from a Democrat to a Independent. However, what eats me alive is how Hypocritical conservatives are. Don’t get wrong I feel you when $350 in taxes a week was being taking out of my check and people like Joe the plumber is sitting at home living the life. OH I apologize that only applies to Minorites in West Dayton and Public Schools where we have a problem with that. I appreciate Conservatives but come on. Especially when I grew up in West Dayton where i was running scared not to have a baby at a young age because it was the worse thing to happen in life and then to loook years later it’s excepted when sarah palin’s daughter became pregnant. (Hypocritical?) Or when you had a mom and pops gas station and you were forced out and you saw a lot of corporate gas stations coming along when Bush first got into office come to find out the gas prices went through the roof and gas companies made record profits. Or when Bush first got into office and talked bad about the economy and from there it went down hill. Or when I told my conservative IT colleagues and best friends about everything that happen to date what was gonna happen back in 2000 they called me a Conspiracy Theorist. With all this said even now they call it socialism well what about bailing out wall street and what about when you do have a government that’s hands off look at the where it got us. I don’t know about yall but I have a obligation to pay rent and give back on the good life GOD Bless me with because (you people all know about West Dayton and how something has our minds warp)in that Segregated town. One last thing I can’t blame bush for hooking his oil boys cause if I had the chance bush has/had I would hook all my boys up in West Dayton and in the inter city schools. Oh My consevative friends bush is hooking is boys up on the way out by autioning off land to the oil companies. Well my consevative friends is he gonna hook up with another $300 stimulus package that will take care about one week of my taxes. My friends you are not rich like BP, Halliburton in bush’s eyes you are just like me from West Dayton. WAKE UP Please!!! you are killing me at work with all of Hypocritical statements and thoughts and I can’t say anything about it because it’s political incorrect since i’m the minority and I would get fired. Quit dumbing people down (intercity kids)and help them like a conservative helped me in columbus. Now I’m like (joe the plummer taking your hard earn money) I’m your colleague making that hard earned like you. After all this I’m sure the conservatives can pick my statements and life experiences apart cause you all are GREAT at that. Instead of being naive. Wake up and see whats going on in this Matrix(lol)By squirrellygirl
December 18, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
Very funny, JTP. If you are slapping anyone around, I hope you get caught and spend a lot of time in jail. I was kidding, btw, but not about the part where he is going to be a very rich man—that part I’m not kidding about at all. Again, I don’t care if a person is a republican or a democrat, if you break the rules, I pray you get caught and spend time in jail. Using tax payer money to fund your own agenda is a no-no. Revealing private information in government files SHOULD BE A FELONY. I believe we all sign something when given access to personnel records, etc. These people KNEW what they were doing was wrong and still did it.By Min
December 18, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
Huh, Michelle. I find it ironic that you are talking about putting someone on a pedestal. Isn’t that what got Jones-Kelley in hot water in the first place? She put her obsessive need to elect her own Messiah before her job (at the taxpayer expense). So I would say, if Jones-Kelly is representative of our typical American governmental servants, then I’d too say we’re in REAL trouble.By Michelle
December 18, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
Well, if you want to put someone on a pedestal and pretend they’re some kind of American hero, perhaps you should do your homework first. If Joe the Plumber is your typical American, we’re in REAL trouble. The rest of us pay taxes and child support. This guy’s just at deadbeat that stumbled into the limelight.By Chris
December 18, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
That “thump,thump” sound you heard was the wheels of the bho bus.. How did that feel?By Steve
December 18, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
I am glad she quit, we don’t need civil servants like her and and her pals. Unfortunately, the Dems don’t have a monopoly on bad ethics, although they have a lock on hypocrisy. Its too bad we have turned government over to a permanent political class. As bad as her department is, the banking folks are just as bad or worse. They are mostly folks who don’t have a clue about the industry they are supposed to supervise. The good ones suffer in silence which is just as bad as if they were the instigators.By JTP
December 18, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this
squirrleygirl - nope, I’m not married - you interested? Hope you like to fight - I like smackin’ chicks around. Oh by the way, you’ll be paying all the bills, too - I don’t pay them neither!By squirrellygirl
December 18, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
Is Joe married? The reason I ask is he is going to be a very rich individual if he sues. I’m single and a Republican, too! I hope more of these people are discovered and their illegal actions revealed for all to see. I don’t care if you are a Republican or Democrat, you have no right to go through government records for political gain. No right! I call for a reelection. I don’t trust the results in light of this illegal activity!By Arizona Buckeye
December 18, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
Well said, Jim 5By Jim 5
December 18, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
To Skeptic: Re:”I still don’t quite understand how it is a problem for a state official to see if someone is paying taxes or not.” Okay Skeptic, how about posting your tax returns on this board? Include all your itemized deductions if you don’t mind. Make way for the tsunami of personal injury attorneys rushing to separate you from the last of your assets. Help them out and include your address. Thanks,By Arizona Buckeye
December 18, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
These practices are common far and wide in Ohio government offices and always have been. The democrats made these people go away to make it look like this was an isolated case. If you believe this was an isolated case, then you have never been embroiled in any type of court battle in Ohio or you are very gullible.By Karon
December 18, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
Well maybe they will obtain positions in ODOT and convince BO to build mass rail transit for Ohioians!By not a skeptic
December 18, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
it was Child Support records that were searched, even though his ex-wife’s order is from another state. She also used her Blackberry, which is paid for by state funds to send campaign emails Thompson tried to cover up the mess, that’s why he’s out.. Just goes to show, Dayton is indicative of the country…. We’re the new ChicagoBy mab
December 18, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
Why don’t they hire “Joe the Plumber” for the job. I am sure he would do a great job.By not a skeptic
December 18, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
I worked under Jones Kelly and Thompson in Dayton, and it Child Support records that were searched, looking to see if he was a deadbeat dad… His Support orders are not even in this state… And Jones was using a wireless account paid for by state funds to send campaign emailsBy not a skeptic
December 18, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
I worked under Jones Kelly and Thompson in Dayton, and it Child Support records that were searched, looking to see if he was a deadbeat dad… His Support orders are not even in this state… And Jones was using a wireless account paid for by state funds to send campaign emailsBy Skeptic
December 18, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
I still don’t quite understand how it is a problem for a state official to see if someone is paying taxes or not. He wasn’t, by the way. Famous or not, pay your taxes! PS. To the naysayers, let’s not forget there are plenty of Republican crooks out there too. Do a Google search for Senator Stevens of Alaska.By DonnelsvilleGuy
December 18, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
If you like “change”, this and much more like it will be the norm as we fill the Obama staff with his friends and former Clinton insiders - none of which are strangers to conflicts of interest. As for these folks going to work for the Obama administration, they won’t be looking for dumb crooks, but only smart ones. Now this is “change” we can all believe in!By JB
December 18, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
Can political hacks be canned - Yes - we can ! Adios Obomabots - was it worth it ?By Min
December 18, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this
All three of them are on their way to BOs administration I’m sure! Whether it’s corruption in IL or OH, the stench of vile Democratic tactics resonates far and wide!By BDT
December 18, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
Did either retain a job with the government, or were they fired?By glus
December 18, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
don’t let the door hit them on the way out.By Snodgrass
December 18, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
I’m surprised that Joe hasn’t hired an attorney and sued them for their actions. Would serve them right.By Barry
December 18, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this
now they can trim the budget a little bit and eliminate those positionsBy ButlerFan
December 18, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
Violate a policy or procedure by misusing your position, well, disciplinary action should be taken. If it means someone resigns in lieu of disciplinary action than so be it. Someone in that level of position should have known better than to misuse their position.By Lisa
December 18, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this
Helen Jones-Kelly and anyone else who snooped into Joe the Plumber deserve no less than the loss of their jobs. Those folks should have realized that others depend on them to focus on the tasks at hand, not to play devils advocate in a presidential campaign.By ButlerFan
December 18, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this
Violate a policy or procedure by misusing your position, well, disciplinary action should be taken. If it means someone resigns in lieu of disciplinary action than so be it. Someone in that level of position should have known better than to misuse their position.