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Secretary of state foes spar over experience, issues

Sandra O’Brien,  Jon Husted battle in Republican primary.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Ashtabula County Auditor Sandra O’Brien

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By Lynn Hulsey, Staff Writer 12:22 AM Thursday, April 8, 2010

DAYTON — The two Republican candidates for secretary of state each claimed their experience in government makes them the best candidate for the job, but one took aim at the other for issues that have nothing to do with the job of chief elections officer.

Ashtabula County Auditor Sandra O’Brien called state Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, a “tax raiser” during an editorial board meeting at the Dayton Daily News on Wednesday, April 7.

“I’m the Republican candidate who is proud to be Tea Party endorsed,” O’Brien said.

She contrasted Husted’s support of a state sales tax increase in 2005 with her successful efforts to defeat a sales tax in Ashtabula County the same year.

Husted supported the half-cent sales tax increase and a new Commercial Activity Tax as part of a tax reform plan that eliminated several taxes, including the tangible personal property tax, and reduced income tax by 21 percent over several years. In 2009 he voted against a state budget-balancing delay of the final 4.2 percent of that cut.

Husted focused his remarks on what he would do as secretary of state and his efforts to reform the apportionment process, which determines legislative and congressional districts. O’Brien supports keeping the current system, while Husted advocates changes he believes would make legislative districts more competitive.

He supports requiring greater disclosure by corporations in their political advertisements and has introduced legislation to require that. O’Brien said shareholders should be allowed to vote before a corporation gives money to a candidate.

The winner of the May 4 primary will face Democrat Maryellen O’Shaughnessy in November.

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