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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > July > 17
Friday, July 17, 2009
Casino foes take case to Supreme Court
By William Hershey Staff Writer
COLUMBUS — The campaign to derail a Nov. 3 ballot issue that would permit four gambling casinos in Ohio already has moved to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Lawyers for Scioto Downs, a Columbus-area horse racetrack opposed to the casino plan, on Friday, July 17, asked the Supreme Court to order Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to investigate alleged violations of Ohio election law including the use of convicted felons to gather signatures.
The lawsuit also asks the high court to order Brunner, the state’s chief elections officer, to compel county boards of elections to investigate alleged election law violations and throw out petitions circulated by people who gave false permanent addresses.
Kevin Kidder, a Brunner spokesman, said “our legal staff will give it (the lawsuit) a full review and we will know more about the issue on Monday.”
On Thursday, however, Eleanor Speelman, Brunner’s legal counsel, wrote Luther Liggett, Scioto Downs’ attorney, saying “this office is not aware of any statute or constitutional provision empowering the Secretary to review or alter the findings of the boards (of elections) concerning the validity of part-petitions and signatures.”
Instead, the Ohio Constitution, through an amendment approved last year, gives the Supreme Court itself jurisdiction over such challenges, Speelman wrote. The lawsuit was filed as Brunner prepares to rule on Tuesday whether casino supporters have gathered the required 402,275 signatures to get on the ballot. If they fall short, they get an extra 10 days.
Brunner is reviewing tabulations sent back to her office from the 88 county boards of elections. In Montgomery County the elections board ruled more than half of the 82,624 signatures invalid and sent some petitions with questionable signatures to the county prosecutor for investigation for potential fraud. The petitions in Montgomery County included signatures from 23 deceased voters. Other county boards also reported finding deceased voters signatures on petitions.
The Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan, the group backing the casino proposal, submitted petitions with more than 850,000 signatures.
The group wants to put casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo. Penn National Gaming, Inc. of Wyomissing, Pa. and Dan Gilbert, principal owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, are the financial backers.
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Strickland says state budget signed: “blueprint for growth and prosperity”
Gov. Ted Strickland said on Friday, July 17, that he signed the $50.5 billion, two-year state budget, according to Dayton Daily News reporter Tony Gottschlich. The official signing apparently occurred about 3 p.m.
Strickland made the announcement while at Thurgood Marshall High School in Dayton for a “ceremonial” repeat signing of the two-year spending plan.
“I believe this budget will be the blueprint for Ohio’s economic growth and prosperity,” Strickland said in Dayton.
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Mike DeWine to unveil 2010 plans Wednesday in Xenia
Former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, the Cedarville Republican, will announce his political plans for 2010 at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 22 at the Greene County Courthouse in Xenia, DeWine told the Dayton Daily News on Friday, July 17.
That’s where DeWine, 62, started his political career as Greene County prosecutor.
DeWine is expected to run for Ohio attorney general but he would not confirm that. His wife Fran and other family members will be at the Xenia event, he said.
The Xenia announcement will be followed by announcements at 12:15 p.m. at the Statehouse in Columbus and then at 3 p.m. at Cuyahoga County Republican headquarters in Cleveland, DeWine said.
“I’m energized,” said DeWine, who lost his U.S. Senate seat in 2006 to Democrat Sherrod Brown.
If DeWine runs for AG, he’ll face primary opposition from Delaware County prosecutor David Yost.
Yost this week announced endorsements from 44 county prosecutors - 42 Republicans and two independents.
“The whole reason I’m in the race is justice - to bring the attorney general’s office back to the basics of law and order,” Yost said in a press release. “It’s a true honor to receive the support of so many of my colleagues in the fight for justice.”
In Montgomery County, GOP Chairman Greg Gantt already is on the DeWine bandwagon.
“I think he would be an excellent attorney general,” Gantt said.
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Improper political contributions lead to securities license suspension
State officials suspended the securities and investment adviser license of Montford S. Will, who admitted to the Ohio Elections Commission in May that he improperly routed $121,000 in campaign contributions through relatives over three years.
Will has requested an administrative hearing with the state Department of Commerce division of securities. It is scheduled for Aug. 19.
State laws and regulations require securities dealers to be “of good business repute.” The division of securities cited the Elections Commission case against Will as evidence that he is “not of good business repute.”
The commission gave will a record fine — $95,000 — for using his relatives as conduits to make 19 different contributions to political parties and candidates. The case was not referred for criminal charges.
