Trotwood-Madison vs. Winton Woods
.jpg)
2009-10 UD men's basketball
Pyramid Hill lights up
Jones-Kelley regrets allowing database searches
Thursday, November 20, 2008
COLUMBUS — Suspended Director Helen Jones-Kelley of the Job and Family Services Department said Thursday, Nov. 20, she should not have allowed the searches of state databases for information on Samuel Joseph — "Joe the Plumber" — Wurzelbacher, who emerged as a key figure in the Ohio presidential campaign.
Gov. Ted Strickland suspended Director Helen Jones-Kelley of the Job and Family Services Department for one month without pay after a state Inspector General's report found Jones-Kelley improperly authorized the searches of state databases and used her state e-mail account for political fundraising.
"I accept the content the (of) Inspector General's report and should not have allowed the Wurzelbacher searches to move forward," Jones-Kelley said in a written statement. "While there is a disagreement as to whether those searches were done for legitimate business purposes, my only intent was to fulfill my agency's fiduciary responsibilities to Ohio's families. I am committed to implementing agency procedures which better protect confidential, personal information. In this case no confidential information was released."
Based on her annual salary of $141,980, the suspension will cost Jones-Kelley, 57, of Clayton, $11,831.
The report issued on Thursday, Nov. 20, by Inspector General Tom Charles found that Jones-Kelley improperly authorized searches of state databases for information on Wurzelbacher. Charles also found that Jones-Kelley's use of state e-mail resources to raise money for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was improper.
The decision by the Democratic governor to suspend Jones-Kelley isn't likely to satisfy Republicans.
Before it was announced, Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, called on Strickland to "immediately terminate" Jones-Kelley and Doug Thompson, deputy director of child support who came with Jones-Kelley to Columbus from Montgomery County.
"You entrusted these individuals with sensitive information regarding thousands of Ohioans.
"They not only failed in their responsibilities to protect that information, but they abused positions of authority to access confidential databases for what, based on the evidence released today, had no legitimate government purpose, was not in response to media requests and appears to be based on political motivations," Harris said in a letter to Strickland.
Strickland had put Jones-Kelley, on paid administrative leave after charges of the improper use of e-mail emerged on Nov. 7. She also is receiving protection from the Ohio Highway Patrol.
Before her appointment by Strickland last year, she headed the Montgomery County Job and Family Services Department.
In his report, Charles also said the Ohio Attorney General's office, under Attorney General Nancy Rogers, failed to prevent a misuse of the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway (OHLEG) by an agency contractor and for a wrongful act with the contractor in using OHLEG to access confidential information about Wurzelbacher.
This matter currently is being investigated by the Ohio Highway Patrol for possible criminal charges, the report said.
Charles said 18 separate record checks were conducted on Wurzelbacher, from suburban Toledo, following the Oct. 15 presidential debate in which Republican John McCain frequently involved "Joe the Plumber" and his criticism of Obama's tax plan.
"...we determine that ODJFS director Helen-Jones Kelley's authorization to search three confidential databases for information on Wurzelbacher was improper, and that the use of state e-mail resources to engage in political activity was also improper," the report said.
The report said investigators found "no policies or procedures to support" Jones-Kelley's contention that it was agency practice to search databases when someone was "thrust into the public spotlight."
Two former department directors — Tom Hayes and Barbara Riley — said they didn't conduct searches just because someone was raised to "celebrity" status.
The report said that none of Jones-Kelley's justifications for conducting the searches met any reasonable agency function or purpose as required by the administrative code.
On the e-mail fundraising issue, the report said Jones-Kelley had her personal Blackberry synchronized with her department's e-mail system. As a result, all e-mails from her Blackberry went through the ODJFS e-mail system.
Among those were four in which she provided lists of names of potential contributors to the Obama campaign. One included her offer of a $2,500 contribution to the campaign.
"The use of the ODJFS system violates the governor's policy on political activity and constitutes an inappropriate use of state resources," the report said.
Wurzelbacher emerged as a key figure in the presidential race after he and Obama met in mid-October as Obama campaigned in the Toledo area. Wurzelbacher told Obama that he was getting ready to buy a company that makes $250,000 to $280,000 a year and said "your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn't it?"
Obama explained his plan — which he said would provide tax cuts for 95 percent of Americans making less than $250,000 a year — and said "I think when you spread the wealth around it's good for everybody."
Republican John McCain championed Wurzelbacher's cause and Wurzelbacher endorsed McCain and campaigned with him.
Jones-Kelley defended her agency's actions in an Oct. 29 letter to Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland. She said the department frequently runs checks on Ohioans in the news because they came into money.
"ODJFS, consistent with past departmental practice, checked confidential databases to make sure that if Mr. Wurzelbacher did owe child support, or unemployment compensation taxes, or was receiving public assistance, appropriate action was being taken. The results of those checks have never been publicly shared," she wrote.
Strickland defended Jones-Kelley on the records checks but put her on paid administrative leave on Nov. 7 due to the possibility a state computer or state e-mail account had been used for political fund-raising. E-mails from Jones-Kelley's state account were released from to the Obama campaign in connection with a campaign event, including a fundraiser, in July at Stivers School for the Arts in Dayton. Jones-Kelley contributed $2,500 to Obama.
The records check on Wurzelbacher prompted cries of outrage across the political spectrum. State Rep. Shannon Jones, R-Springboro, is preparing legislation aimed at cracking down on such record checks. Also, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio has called on Strickland and other state officials to enact regulations protecting private information on state databases.
Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By Lying Dem
December 18, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
Buh-Bye, Lying Nigg*r!! 8-)
By Frank Taylor
November 27, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
Not only should she be fired. She should be prosecuted for a criminal offence.
On top of that Joe should sue her along with the State of Ohio.. For big bucks.. Where is the Civil Liberties Union?
By Alexis
November 24, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
I do not beleive that these actions are ethical nor should they go ignored for either party - whenever a government official uses their power for political gain or to endorse their own personal preferences, it it wrong and should be punished. Regardless of the party that is committing the act, it is wrong and noting that the wrongdoing took place on both party lines is no excuse. I am a supporter of Barack Obama and a beleiver in the democratic process - he did not need this to win!
By Lavera Floyd
November 24, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
I don’t hear the Republicans complaining about Sarah Palin’s unethical behavior as governor of the State of Alaska. Her behavior was worst. And already the GOP wants Palin to run for president. If she was forgiven then Jones-Kelley lesser action should be also. And I am sure there are Ohio State personnel procedures that specifically mandates how Jones-Kelley should be dealt with. Any other procedure, like GOP and public comments, should not intefere with mandated State policies and procedures.
By Dee
November 23, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this
She should be fired.
By Wakeuppeople
November 23, 2008 12:28 AM | Link to this
I am amazed at how naive most of you are. This kind of thing happens daily and if you don’t think that the Republicians did not check this guy out before they put him up as the “poster child” for the “average joe” you are truly kidding yourselves. Why do you think nothing was found? If there was something in his background, they would not have used him. Obama is President,get over it!Stop CRYING!There are bigger issues plaguing this state than this.Let he who has not sinned,cast the first stone
By Steve
November 22, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Of course Helen Jones-Kelley had assistance. HJK use her office to aquire this information from individuals that were loyal to the Obama camp. It will be interesting to see if HJK throws these workers under the bus. Ted needs to ask for HKJ to leave, but he also does not want to hurt her political career in the eyes of Obama. Wait and see…HJK will most likely show up in Washington D.C. Ted did not kick her to the curb for one reason. Obama could not reward her in Washington D.C.
By John
November 22, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
She should be fired.
By guess who
November 22, 2008 6:48 AM | Link to this
She said it’s commonplace for DJFS to do this?
I want to know who all the OTHER people are that she did this to. AND WHY they were “investigated”.
She didn’t just become crooked overnight - she’s been crooked a LONG, LONG time.
FIRE her scamming butt. THEN sue her personally for every penny she’s got.
By the looks of these posts, most of us would teach her a lesson she should have learned a long time ago.
By olivia
November 21, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this
First of all to all of you who says HJK should be fired get real. She has done no more than any other gov’t official has done. Second, Director’s of almost all of Ohio agency’s sync their personal e-mail and blackberry’s to the agency computers b/c they are on call 24 hrs a day seven days a week. I am sure if they were to look at her personal e-mail at home or her blackberry when she wasn’t at work they would be alble to link other personal information. CUT THE CRAP.
By Debbie
November 21, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
This is a blatant abuse of power and she needs to be fired. The last I knew our freedom of speech was protected by our constitution, which gives us the right to say what we feel without fear of repercussions from the government. All Joe did was ask a question, and because it was not to her thinking or idealogy, she set out to find info to destroy him. If this is allowed to go by with only a ‘slap on the hand’, we have moved one step closer to government control and the loss of our freedom.
By Clevo
November 21, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
This is some of the dumbest s**t ever!
By Fred
November 21, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this
ODJS should be investigated by the DoJ immediately. Once Obama takes over, there’s is no chance that HJK nor Strickland would be held accountable.
People, there is a reason why gun sales have shot through the roof. We no longer have a government, state or federal, that has an interest in protecting all of it’s citizens…just those that adhere to a certain ideology. Those who dissent will be attacked and persecuted.
By glus
November 21, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
fire her and spread the wealth of her salary. 3 TIMES WHAT I MAKE!
By blue5691
November 21, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
She should be fired plain and simple. And Gov. Strickland needs to be investigated as well. To let her get by with this is a slap in the face to the hardworking families of Ohio.
By dick
November 21, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
She should be fired - abandonment of the people’s trust - there is not reason to keep someone with that type of morals in any state job. Fire her at once. Her attitude reeks of oops, I should not have gotten caught but I will take this and wait for the next chance to get the info on the people who are opposed to my party. Exactly what the gov said he would not permit but obviously with the Sec of State and people like this he lied. He should go next.
By Fred
November 21, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
I am not one that is prone to hyperbole. However, what is happening in our once proud state is the re-nascence of fascism.
Remember what Strickland’s original stance was. He insisted there was no political motivation behind Jones-Kelly’s actions. That is beyond ridiculous.
Her “suspension” is a joke. If you don’t realize that her her lost pay will be made up by the Obama campaign, you’re an idiot.
By John
November 21, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Not only did she loose more of the public trust for government but she LIED to her superiors. At the least she should be moved out of her managerial position.
By red
November 21, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this
Dems get by with murder, literally. Rep & Dems just don’t think alike—Dems just don’t think.
By Barry
November 21, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
Why is it repubs get fired and demos get a bye? Repub commits a crime, go to jail.
Demo commits a crime, nothing happens, or at most they lose their job only if it cannot be swept under the rug.
“paid leave” as a punishment? What a joke, why not buy her a thanksgiving turkey and get her a job with the Obama White house where I am sure this kind of behavior is going to become s.o.p. like it was in the Clinton days?
By red
November 21, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
“ME” since you’re criticizing reading skills, you have a curse word and a typo in your comment so you seem to be lacking in writing skills. D MAN you have dyslexia.
By Dave
November 21, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
HJK acted in a felonious manner, violated her oath of office, and should be fired. On top of her inexcusable invasion of privacy, she has absolutely NO REMORSE. She still clings to the inane defense that “… there is a disagreement as to whether those searches were done for legitimate business purposes.” Worse, she seems to think that she is a bureaucratic heroine, stating that “… my only intent was to fulfill my agency’s fiduciary responsibilities to Ohio’s families. I am committed to implementing agency procedures which better protect confidential, personal information. In this case no confidential information was released.” If Governor Strickland has a nonpartisan bone in his body (which I doubt) she must be fired!
By red
November 21, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
Another black eye for Strickland to match the first one that being ACORN. Let her get a job at ACORN. Strickland would highly recommend it and her. She won’t admit she did anything wrong, what’s not to stop her from doing something superstupid again?
By red
November 21, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
What a slap on the wrist. Let’s see, appointed by Strickland,an 8% loss of her 142K yearly salary. Ouch, that really hurt. She’s been on paid leave & is receiving protection from the Ohio Highway Patrol. Don’t forget the use of state e-mail resources on “company” time while she’s supposed to be doing her overly paid job. It’s reverse discrimination not only against whites but anyone who dares to even question Democrats who have shown their true colors.It’s just not politically correct to say so.
By Tony
November 21, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
Amazing how others have lost their jobs in the wake of this. The employee at the center of this is the one who contacted the AG in the beginning after she had to fire someone working for her for the exact same thing. The employee was in fear of losing her job of 15+ years. HJK sould be terminated, she violated state and federal laws. This is not over yet. At last check, no one was above those laws. I am glad the State Auditor is calling for her resignation/termination.
By Whut A Joke
November 21, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this
Its amazingly comical to hear caucasions scream “prejudice” or “racism”. When I start seeing or hearing minorities working in what decent jobs are left in Ohio (SUBERBS) full time & not just temp jobs to fill status quo then maybe as a minority I wont find these allegations so comical. Insecurity is a sign of weakness & ignorance over production is a major reason why the poverty level is equaling out throughout Ohio. Dear suberbs coming soon…A GHETTO (too include your peeps)NEAR YOU!!! lmao.
By glus
November 21, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
Fire her. If it was a republican doing the snooping, it would be a national scandal. I just heard on the news this moring that there were 12 people snooping in his background. Can you say big lawsuit?!
By Chipster
November 21, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
HJK just regrets getting caught and exposed - not performing the act. When you support your candidate against Bush (or any other Republican) nothing is too extreme. It is a beautiful example of the liberal double standard - if a conserative does something and is caught - throw him in jail and if a liberal should do the same thing to help (fill in favorite name) he or she is just helping “the people”. Actually what is really exposed here is just plain arrogance.
By Ed
November 21, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
Strickland is now the one that needs to go. See you all at the polls in 2010!
By Fred
November 21, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
A warning to all..if you want to post a comment critical of the Strickland administration, I would advise you to use a proxy server.
There is no doubt that he has his thugs monitoring this site. You can be traced by your IP address and I’m sure that he has “friendlies” at the Journal News who would gladly pass your personal info on to him.
If not you, they will go after your family members. Just be careful. Please.
I’m angry and heartbroken at what has happened to my state.
By squirrellygirl
November 21, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this
I demand a list of who was checked out and by whom and when. This is privacy act information!
By squirrellygirl
November 21, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
This stinks to high heaven. She should be in prison along with her helpers. Anything else is prejudiced behavior. Yeah, I said it, prejudiced!
By Elliot
November 21, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this
I have a friend that lost his job and prosecuted as a police officer in Montgomery County for using the police computer to conduct criminal background checks on applicants at a local nursing home. Jones Kelly is no better than my friend, If was right for him to burn then throw Jone Kelly on the fire too.
By Squirrellygirl
November 21, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
I think Gov Strickland showed himself by his decision in this case. IMO he has not done his job. What about the other people involved with using government email to benefit Obama’s campaign, and the others who have been doing these “checks” that Jones-Kelley talked about? Are any of these people having to answer for what they have done? Why isn’t she being prosecuted and going to prison. I thought that was a stipulation of breaking public trust.
By Dismay
November 21, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
She should be fired immediately, of course since she helped Obama a democratic Governor won’t let that happen.
By parental
November 21, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this
She should be fired. She wasa involved in checking on a private citizen for political purposes. Then she tried to cover it up with a lame excuse about checking everyone who gains notariety. Fire her and her deputy. Strickland has done a decent job to this point as Governor. Not firing her will be a big blemish. Now how do we trust anyone who works for him?
By Squirrellygirl
November 21, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
OMG, I didn’t even think about the fact that she has been providing official government privacy information to Obama. OMG, this guy wants to take away all of our rights, and now he has been supplied with the information to accomplish it? This is an outrage. Can we as citizens do anything to override the Governor’s lack of justice? She can’t be allowed to return to do more damage. Come on, now! She should be in prison, along with anyone else who abused their power to put Obama in office.
By Truth
November 21, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
So what did Helen Jones-Kelley do in Dayton that was so great to bring her to Columbus? Last I checked, Dayton wasn’t doing so well.
If someone should be checked out, it should be this Jones-Kelley person. Why does she have possession of political fundraising lists? Where did these lists come from?
What other databases does she have in her possession?
This is not only infuriating, but it should scare the heck out of all Ohioans!! Why is she giving databases to Obama?
By Squirrellygirl
November 21, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this
She should be fired and then prosecuted and go straight to prison, and the Governor should be replaced in 2010. This is a violation of public trust. And her imps should also be prosecuted. You put her back in office after only 1 month and she will have access to all of our private records again? Is this a BLACK THING? Because any white person would have been crucified over this. I no longer feel that my privacy is protected. How do you keep the government from doing this? Can Joe sue the gov’t??
By david
November 21, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this
She regrets being caught is all. She should be fired, but because she’s a black liberal democrat and Obama supporter, she gets a slap on the wrist.
By Amazed
November 21, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this
Would anyone reading this subject matter still have a job if they so severely violated their work policy? I know I would have been axed and not slapped. Enough said …
By john doe
November 21, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
I don’t care about Joe, but I do care about my privacy and fairness. I seem to remember that two functionaries at the State Department were fired for snooping into President-Elect Obamas’ passport information. Look, the people defending this lady would probably agree that the patriot act is wrong….so what is the difference?
By Steve
November 21, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this
She should be dismissed as well as her minions who participated in this fiasco. If not, Strickland should be dismissed at the next election.
And why does she need protection from the Patrol? I can understand protection by the Patrol, but not from it. What does she have to hide? Or has the Dayton Daily Worker, I mean DDN screwed up again? They need to get a spell checker and some more English courses for some of their writers.
By Barking bulldog
November 21, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this
the only reasons she isn’t going to be fired or face intense media scrutinity is because 1) she is a black liberal democrat 2) she is a black liberal democrat and 3) she is a black liberal democrat. Our society now has two sets of standards - one for liberal democrats and one for the rest of us normal people
By Butch
November 21, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this
Anything less than giving her the pink slip that she deserves shows that either the Governor is sleeping with this piece of trash, or she has n*de pictures of the Governor. What a slap in the face for all of Ohio.
By Wil Davis
November 21, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this
Fire her and her deputy!!!
By Patty
November 21, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this
I understand not wanting to terminate someone in these economic times. BUT she abused her power and stole the trust of the people of Ohio. We have no reason to trust this women, therefore, she should not be allowed to keep her position. Gov Strickland needs to demote her and put somebody else in her position. This has nothing to do with dems or repubs. This has to do with all Ohioans having trust in their government. When an official abuses power they do not get to keep their position!
By daniel
November 21, 2008 7:49 AM | Link to this
she should be fired!!!!!!!!!! if she were white she would be!!!
By ruth
November 21, 2008 7:37 AM | Link to this
JOE THE PLUMBER…..HO HUM if all the political persons in ohio were put in hell there wouldn’t be room for the devil…..
By MIKE
November 21, 2008 7:35 AM | Link to this
SHOULD BE FIRED. SHE IS JUST POSTURING FOR POLITICAL GAIN. THIS PIECE OF TRASH, USED HER OFFICE AND SHOULD BE REMOVED. I HOPE HE SUES ARE —- OFF.
By bucksnort
November 21, 2008 7:20 AM | Link to this
I remember what Hitler did and how he had check’s on everyone so now if you are a democrat and someone says something you don’t like have them checked out. What has happened to the Ohio govt. has it slipped back to the 1930’s and after reading all the comments I am sure Ohio is racialy divided.
By Tom
November 21, 2008 7:08 AM | Link to this
She should be fired, not suspended. Has the Dayton Daily News investigated exactly what the policies are? Has the Dayton Daily News investigated to find out what other people she has investigated? Have you asked for a list of people she or the department has investigated? Have you probed at all?
Jones-Kelly should be fired. The Dayton Daily News should probe as far as this goes and if not you also continue to lose credibility as a Democrat rag (which we all know you are).
By elizabeth B. Schaf
November 21, 2008 6:49 AM | Link to this
She should be terminated!!!!! Enough said.
By madbecauseMccainlost
November 21, 2008 6:24 AM | Link to this
I think alot of this stem from who won the election and who lost, I do not think Ms Jones-Kelly should be fired, she has not done anymore than alot of crooks in office. Bush and Cheney started a fake war-that has killed over 5000 people, Palin completed fake forms for her travel and changed them so that her family would not be included, these are the people that should be FIRED. It was a hoax from day one-I bet if someone checked they will find that the Republican party paid that stupid fake Joe
By Buckeye
November 21, 2008 5:44 AM | Link to this
She should be fired! Of course, now she regrets it since it hit her in the pocketbook.
By Virginia
November 21, 2008 4:21 AM | Link to this
Of course it is improper for anyone with official access to personal information to use that access for unapproved purposes. But we all know that if we want a background check on someone we know, we can get it if we have a friend who works for the police/sheriff’s dept. And anyone who just has a curiosity about someone and has access to information about them will probably give in to the temptation. Improper? Yes. Shocking? Give me a break!”He that hath no sin, let him cast the first stone.”
By Mike
November 21, 2008 4:17 AM | Link to this
She should be fired, and the Governor should be replaced in 2010.
By Tim
November 21, 2008 4:13 AM | Link to this
Carolyn - since we are asking stupid, unrelated questions on this comment board I have one for you - how come you didn’t ask for Clinton to be fired when he killed all those people in Kosovo & Serbia?
By Bemused
November 21, 2008 2:21 AM | Link to this
To continue Jones-Kelley should be fired, if for no other reason than she set a bad example for those in her dept. I hope the gov is just using this suspension to gather more evidence. As for Acorn you really ought to investigate it further. These people paid people to register people to vote. I read serious analysts from both sides who said it did not effect the vote because no one uses those names. The people who were ripped off was Acorn. People really need to investigate the real facts.
By Bemused
November 21, 2008 2:14 AM | Link to this
For all of you Democrats and Republicans I have news for you. Both parties do this. It is American politics at its worst or best (if you are cynical). If more people looked at the reality of this kind of practice and others we might clean up the system. I have always thought the Republican leadership was the maddest at Clinton because he was better at them in finding the loopholes and working the system.
By Bob
November 21, 2008 1:25 AM | Link to this
It was a violation of his privacy. She should be fired. If i was Joe The Plummer i would bring legal actions againist her. This should not be permitted in politics i dont care what party you brlong to.
By Whatever
November 21, 2008 12:38 AM | Link to this
She also donated money to Obama’s campaign which make’s me wonder did she steal people’s money that paid csea, they need to investigate really deeply and fire everyone that is involved, the truth is if she donated to mccain campaign she would have been fired on the spot so why isn’t she FIRED? I think obama campaign should give the money back just in case she did steal it.
By Tonia
November 21, 2008 12:16 AM | Link to this
Joe did not throw his self into this whirlwind. It was Obama’s answer that put him in the limelight.If anyone needed to have an investigation it should have beem Pres-Elect Obama> The Media should have brought Obama to the fore front and have him give a detailed explanation of his plan of spreading the wealth. So everyone would have had a better understanding of spreading the wealth to the less fortunate.So she most definetly deserves to be terminated for not properly fullfilling her job duties.
By Carolyn
November 20, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this
Well. well. well—even though she should not have done it, and all of you right-wingers are calling for her to be fired, why did you not insist that Cheney and Bush be fired? They were responsible for almost 5,000 of our young American men being killed in a senseless war. I hope that Joe has had has 15 minutes of fame—tick,tick,tick….
By poppawu
November 20, 2008 11:43 PM | Link to this
She is taking the heat for now.. but mark my word, in the end, some underling flunky in her office, is gonna end up taking it up the a** for this one and she will be sitting pretty still.
By Me
November 20, 2008 11:14 PM | Link to this
First off, if McCain won, I’m sure 99% of you wouldn’t give 2 shits about the situation.
Second, for the idiots with reading comprehension issues, she was place on paid administrative leave Nov 7 when the investigation started. According to the article, she is now on unpaid suspension for a month.
By Karl
November 20, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this
Oh yes like that little slap on the wrist is really going to do anything .Had that been a Republican they would have burned her at the stake. Just like the witch Brunner “But mommy I can’t check these questionalble ballots” BOO WHO WHO , we may need them to come up with a few extra hundred democrat votes like in Alaska, Minnesota or Georgia. ACORN taught us well with the guidance of the chosen one. If we can fool them this time again they will fall for it in 2012. Cheat at any cost to win.
By jimmie
November 20, 2008 10:58 PM | Link to this
Fire her butt - now!
By Duke
November 20, 2008 10:49 PM | Link to this
Jones-Kelley needs to be fired both for what she did and what she failed to do (protect personal records). Terminated immediately for cause and serve as the despicable example that she is. She has FAILED miserably and publicly. Humiliating that these self serving “public servants” run cover for each other. Strickland’s failure to act regarding her termination renders him complicit in the acts. He needs to go too!
By bob
November 20, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this
why didn’t all you republicans calling for george bush and carl rove being fired when they invaded the privacy of all citizens.this is very minor compared to all thier dirty tricks.
By County Employee
November 20, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this
Jones-Kelly and the rest of the Democrats (i.e.Heck) have been playing this game in Montgomery County for years. Where do you think she learned it.
By joey
November 20, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
Democrats never do anything wrong…just Republicans. She should loose her job just like you and I would if we did something like this. Governor Strickland has not kept his word about stopping corrupt activity in this state from the secretary of state, to the ODJFS director, to ACORN activity. I guess Gov Strickland needs to give us his definition of wrong doing.
By QED2000
November 20, 2008 9:30 PM | Link to this
Is anyone surprised? She was in charge when Montogomery County Child Support Enforcement was busted faking court documents. A father have overpaid by $17,000 due to errors in her department and they solved it when they found out by creating fake court orders and putting him behind. It was his lawyer finding they had dated one form 2 years before it even came out for them to be caught. He was arrested, shamed and harassed by her and she did nothing to those who committed crimes against him.
By D MAN
November 20, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this
Republicans are such sore losers. Even when you gave us your dumbest duff for president, I did not hear such moaning and groaning from the Dems. You got your hat handed to you in the elections, live with it.
By D MAN
November 20, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this
Republicans are such sore losers. Even when you gave dumbest for president, I did hear such moaning and groaning from the Dems. You got your hat handed to you teh elections, live with it.
By QED2000
November 20, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this
Is anyone surprised? She was in charge when Montogomery County Child Support Enforcement was busted faking court documents. A father have overpaid by $17,000 due to errors in her department and they solved it when they found out by creating fake court orders and putting him behind. It was his lawyer finding they had dated one form 2 years before it even came out for them to be caught. He was arrested, shamed and harassed by her and she did nothing to those who committed crimes against him.
By stupid people
November 20, 2008 9:19 PM | Link to this
all of you are stupid. bitter and stupid
By abdowlaw
November 20, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this
Joe the plumber should sue for violation of several constitutionally protected rights and all the participants up and down the line from Ms. Kelly should be investigated and similarly sanctioned, up to and including job loss and barred from governmental service in the future as well as possible fines, jail time for any criminal acts. Their action to get their candidate elected at all costs are reprehensible, egregious, insidious and in other ways blatant abuses of freedom, and shall NOT stand.
By Karen D.
November 20, 2008 9:02 PM | Link to this
I am disgusted…Is this how the incoming Democrats are going to take care of the Middle Class People. Pretend you are doing good for the people while the people with power continue to abuse the power? If we were caught we would be fired. She needs to be treated like us the middle class. I haven’t heard this information on the National News. HMMMMMM Figures
By rj
November 20, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this
She should be fired. Strickland is losing credibility daily.
By josh
November 20, 2008 8:40 PM | Link to this
Get used to it. Does anyone remember that one of the first things the Clinton administration did was to get the FBI files on all prominent Republicans?
By jaime
November 20, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
Pure and simple, fire her. Paid administrative leave, what is that, a reward? She has lost the peoples’ trust, abused the office, and needs to go. A lesser employee would likely have been fired on the spot. I’m a democrat, but this is way over the top.
By M
November 20, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this
Of course she “regrets” having been caught … the liberals are always regretful and the DDN dutifully swallows. If this were Taft, the ed’s here would be screaming for heads to roll. Nope, Gov “BOHICA” Strickland must still believe that the illegal access was not politically motivated. He just keeps proving himself to be without integrity. JTP should sue Gov “BOHICA” Strickland, Kelley, and Ohio for all he can get.
By Double
November 20, 2008 8:27 PM | Link to this
Suspened her? How about her being fired and then a very long PRISON TERM. I say charge kelly with 18 counts of violating the Federal Privacy Act and another 18 counts at state level, then civil rights violation at both levels. Pile on the indictments with about 180 charges like they do everyone else as to be sure she will do at least ten years. It is time that Federal,State County and Local officials are forced to live by the same restrictions as do the people!! KELLY-PRISON, KELLY-PRISON!!!!
By doc
November 20, 2008 8:10 PM | Link to this
It would be interesting to see how many ODJFS employees or how many state employees who have been fired for using their work computers for personal purposes. It would also be interesting to see what ODJFS IT policy is in regards to use of their work computers and see if the director signed the policy.
By Pat
November 20, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this
guess this sets a new standard for the employees who work in her office…misuse taxpayers time and computer and keep your job. nuf said.
i would like the media to request the emails of the cronies that did her bidding and see how many of them were campaigning while working for the state of Ohio.
By nully
November 20, 2008 7:49 PM | Link to this
the story says that the the suspension cost her about $12000 dollars then goes on and says that she was put on paid leave? how does that work?
By oldertipp
November 20, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this
fire HER now. period end it. FIRE,FIRE who’s next. Them press all charges. WHO’S NEXT
By Steve
November 20, 2008 7:40 PM | Link to this
I would like to know what the policy & procedure manual at her office says regarding the personal use of the equipment/computers of her job. Regardless of what her excuse is, this was the abuse of power by her and her superiors. The fact that it was motivated by their personal politics is even more of a reason to fire her.Governor Strickland should be embarrassed that he hasn’t fired her.We go back in the last few years and look for any precedents of people being fired for similar reasons.
By Bob
November 20, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this
A democrat governor ignoring a democrat activist that misused state equipment to harass a citizen?
He should have done a lot more than suspending her. She should be fired, and criminal charges filed.
By sfcmac
November 20, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this
A liberal democrat governor covering the a*s of a liberal democrat government employee. I’m shocked.
By June
November 20, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this
I think the Jones-Kelley act was absolutely out of line and anyone knows if it had been someone else that person would have lost their job, not a paid suspension. She did wrong and now after all the flack is now admitting it. Let her find another job somewhere else.
By rob dolder
November 20, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
Why is it when a Republican gets caught they either resign or are fired but when a Democrat gets gaught they get a slap on the hand?
By Jerry Willis
November 20, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this
She is taking all the heat, and she should be fired, but the secretary of state and the governor are involved in improper voter registrations, and protecting Acorn. The person at the top is responsible.
By joe
November 20, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this
burn her a*s…