DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — Ohio Inspector General Tom Charles' investigation into whether Helen Jones-Kelley used her top-level state job for improper political fundraising could be finished this week, Charles said on Monday, Nov. 10.

Gov. Ted Strickland has placed Jones-Kelley, 57, of Clayton on paid administrative leave from her $141,980-a-year job as director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services due to what Strickland called the "possibility" that a state computer or state e-mail account was used to help in political fundraising for the Obama for president campaign.

Jones-Kelley, who contributed $2,500 to Obama, formerly headed the same department in Montgomery County.

Strickland's office last week released copies of e-mails sent from Jones-Kelley's state e-mail address to the Obama campaign on July 8 about a fundraiser at Stivers School for the Arts in Dayton on July 11.

The e-mails included the names of prospective donors, including Montgomery County Administrator Deborah Feldman. Feldman said she attended the Obama meet and greet at Stivers and paid the $2,500 required.

Kent Markus, Strickland's chief legal counsel, had reminded Jones-Kelley and other top state employees in a memo, updated Oct. 16, that both classified and unclassified state employees such as Jones-Kelley "must avoid engaging in election-related activity on state time, on state property or using state equipment (including ... computers ... e-mail systems ... or any other state property or equipment)."

Jones-Kelley, in messages to her own staff in August and October on permitted political activities, cited Markus' memo.

Strickland asked Charles to include questions about the e-mails in an investigation Charles already had started into whether Jones-Kelley's department improperly used state computers to gather personal information on Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, otherwise known as "Joe the Plumber," the suburban Toledo man who emerged as a key figure in the presidential race.

The inspector general's office will report its findings to Strickland. When appropriate, the office also may forward information to a prosecutor to determine whether criminal prosecution is merited.

On Monday, Strickland warned against jumping to conclusions. "Not everything may be as it appears to be on its face," he said. "I'm told there are technology issues involved here that can be clarified and are being looked at."

Lynn Hulsey and Laura A. Bischoff contributed to this report.