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StumbleuponGOP picks former prosecutor with local ties for AG race
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
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D. Michael CritesCOLUMBUS — "You haven't seen the last of Mike Crites."
That's what Crites, now 60, told a Dayton Daily News reporter in 1993 when he stepped down after more than six high-profile years as U.S. attorney for southern Ohio, including the successful prosecution of baseball player Pete Rose on tax evasion charges.
Ohio voters should expect to see lots of D. Michael Crites from now until the Nov. 4 election — both in person and in TV ads.
State Republicans on Wednesday, July 23, are expected to name Crites as their candidate for attorney general to run against Democratic state treasurer Richard Cordray, according to two key Republicans in the search process.
The winner will serve out the term of Democrat Marc Dann, who resigned as attorney general in May in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal. Gov. Ted Strickland has appointed Nancy Rogers to serve as attorney general until voters make their choice.
Crites' selection comes after better-known Republicans — including former Attorney General Petro, former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine and former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman — all passed on the race.
But Petro said Crites, while he never has held state-wide office, is well-suited for attorney general, noting that he has experience in both civil and criminal litigation and supervised a major law office as a U.S. attorney.
"He has all the skills anyone would look for," Petro said.
As U.S. attorney for southern Ohio, Crites worked first out of Dayton and later out of Columbus. He pushed for investigative task forces made up of local, state and federal investigators.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Crites is a veteran of the Vietnam War, a retired captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve and a member of the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.
He is the managing member of Rich, Crites & Dittmer, a Columbus law firm.
Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@DaytonDailyNews.com.
