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Ohio Secretary of State shunned by fellow Democrats

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By Laura A. Bischoff and William Hershey
Staff Writers Updated 5:55 PM Tuesday, October 20, 2009

COLUMBUS — Gov. Ted Strickland teamed up with the men holding statewide office to send a letter to Congress urging action on consumer protection issues but left Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and Auditor Mary Taylor out in the cold.

Strickland signed a letter along with Democrats Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, Attorney General Richard Cordray, and Treasurer Kevin Boyce.

The letter urged Ohio’s congressional delegation to support President Obama’s call to establish a Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

It’s no surprise Taylor was left out — she is a Republican — but Brunner is a fellow Democrat. And Brunner issued a press release in May calling for the same thing.

“I’m glad the guys caught up,” said Brunner.

Strickland’s press secretary Amanda Wurst said Brunner and Taylor were not invited to participate because their offices don’t have direct responsibility for consumer protection, financial literacy or the regulation of the financial services industry.

When asked how the lieutenant governor — whose only legal duty is to step in for the governor if he died or was incapacitated — has such responsibility, Wurst said, “He is part of the executive branch.”

The omission illustrates just how much of a party outsider Brunner has become since taking on Fisher in the Democratic primary race for the U.S. Senate.

Brunner insists she is in the race to stay despite her troubles raising money. In the most recent reporting period, which ended Sept. 30, Brunner spent $200,579 and took in $147,204. Her campaign has $111,896 on hand compared with Fisher’s $1.6 million.

Both are far behind Republican Rob Portman, who had $5.14 million on hand Sept. 30.

Brunner accused Fisher of pressuring political donors not to give to her campaign.

Still, she vowed not to give up.

“I’m a bit of an underdog in the Senate race but that’s OK with me,” she said.

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