(Columbus) - Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine called today on Gov. Ted Strickland to demand the resignation of his Athens County Democratic Party chair amid allegations of vote fraud.
The Ohio University Post reports the party is under investigation for "scheming to pay Ohio University students $5 for each 4th Ward resident brought to the polls for early voting," prompting questions about whether money was being exchanged for votes.
According to the Post, prosecutor Dave Warren said, "I think it smells like the Democrats are trying to buy an election."
Party Chair Susan Gwinn was recently indicted by a grand jury for money laundering and theft in office.
"Gov. Strickland said he would enforce a higher standard, so he should start by demanding the resignation of his corrupt Athens County chair," said DeWine. "The governortalks a big game when it comes to cleaning up his own house, but, unfortunately, he'll probably turn a blind eye to the alleged fraud in Athens County just like he's done with the scandal in Cuyahoga County."
Strickland has been silent on Gwinn's indictment, and he has refused to call for the resignation of two Cuyahoga County commissioners targeted in an FBI corruption probe, which has also implicated the treasurer of the Ohio Democratic Party.
"Whether it's allegations of vote fraud in Athens or corruption in Cleveland, Ted Strickland is all talk and no action. It's kind of like saying you're going to turn around Ohio's economy but then losing 340,000 jobs."
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For the Record
That Was Then...
Strickland: "It is important for Democrats to send a very clear message that we will clean our own house."(The Plain Dealer, 5/6/08)
This Is Now...
Strickland says he's "too busy" to denounce Democrats targeted in a public corruption investigation in Cuyahoga County.
The state's top Democratic officeholders - Gov. Ted Strickland and Sen. Sherrod Brown - say they're too busy doing their own jobs and focusing on issues like job creation to take a stand on whether Cuyahoga County public officials who are being investigated for corruption shouldresign. (The Plain Dealer, 09/23/09)
Strickland said he is "reserving judgment" on a major scandal involving prominent Democrats.
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is still reserving judgment on the corruption probe involving top Cuyahoga County Democratic officials but said he won't have sympathy if they are guilty. (The Plain Dealer, 06/12/09)
Strickland refused to demand the resignation of a Democratic Party chairman under federal investigation.
Gov. Ted Strickland said in an interview he has been asked by Democrats to urge [county commissioner Jimmy] Dimora, whose term ends in 2010, to step down. Strickland said he doesn't feel it's appropriate for him to ask Dimora to leave... (The Plain Dealer, 08/13/08)
Strickland refused to speak out when the treasurer of the Ohio Democratic Party, Dean DePiero, was implicated in a corruption investigation.
For the first time, Parma Mayor Dean DePiero is implicated. The charges do not name DePiero but allege a politician who could only be the Parma mayor gave something of value to Russo in exchange for Russo getting Kelley out of the mayoral race in 2003. (The Plain Dealer, 06/12/09)
Strickland has been accused by opinion leaders of "staying silent" about the scandal in Cuyahoga County.
On Monday, county Commissioners Tim Hagan and Peter Lawson Jones, county Treasurer Jim Rokakis and Lakewood Mayor Ed FitzGerald all publicly asked county Auditor Frank Russo to resign. Advice so good should be repeated as often as necessary by the state's top Democratic officeholders. So far, however, Gov. Ted Strickland and the Cleveland area's Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and Sen. Sherrod Brown have stayed silent. (Editorial, The Plain Dealer, 09/23/09)
Reps. Dennis Kucinich and Marcia Fudge and numerous county officeholders say Russo must go. Other Democrats -- most notably Gov. Ted Strickland and Sen. Sherrod Brown -- should join the chorus. (Editorial, The Plain Dealer, 09/29/09)
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