Turnes out she's only been working for DeWine since February, prior to that she was in Liebermans office.
Akron Beacon Journal Editorial
Posted on Sun, May. 30, 2004
Fight club
Are Ohio Republicans losing their grip?
Larry Householder is finding out what it's like to be in a war of words with J. Kenneth Blackwell. The Ohio House speaker and secretary of state have been sparring back and forth, with Blackwell questioning Householder's campaign finances and Householder aides (according to a leaked memo) plotting to destroy Blackwell's political career while boosting the speaker's plan to run statewide.
Recently, the feuding within the Republican camp became an out-and-out slug fest. News broke that a federal grand jury had issued subpoenas to some of Householder's top campaign vendors. At issue, according to a separate, anonymous memo, is whether vendors were overpaid, with kickbacks to Householder and top aides.
The federal probe also includes the activities of a secret group called Informed Citizens of Ohio, organized by David Brennan to air campaign ads in Ohio Supreme Court races. The anonymous memo says vendors were overpaid, with some of the money going back to Householder.
Blackwell promptly urged Householder, ``the prince of darkness'' in a decaying political culture, to step down and apologize for ``political racketeering.'' Householder dismissed Blackwell's call for a resignation as ``ridiculous.'' He again asserted that the anonymous allegations have ``absolutely no base.'' The speaker said he had a lot of important work to do, so he wouldn't be taking any action in response to the subpoenas until later.
The rhetoric from Blackwell may be overheated. Householder's dodge about pursuing public policy is laughable. What the war of words tends to obscure are serious questions about Team Householder and the Republicans' long grip on power.
It is hardly surprising that Householder's tactics should come under such close scrutiny. His drive for power and campaign cash apparently knows no limits. Lately, he has pounded on trial lawyers, while taking their campaign money. A former aide, Brett Buerck, works for the Republican caucus (which is for limits on jury awards) and the trial lawyers.
Those like Householder and his aides, who have come to power after the Republican Party completed its long comeback, display an arrogance built on the fixation they will always be on top. Ohio's cyclical political history teaches otherwise. Householder appears determined to learn the hard way.