Category: Blade | Politics

By Joshua Benton Blade Columbus Bureau Page 1 COLUMBUS — Governor Voinovich has formally denied approving a 1994 transaction that has landed him in legal trouble with the Ohio Elections Commission. But the governor’s campaign treasurer continues to say that the governor personally OK’d a money-laundering scheme to hide thousands of dollars that would end…

By Joshua Benton Blade Columbus Bureau Page 3 COLUMBUS — One of Governor Voinovich’s longtime aides won’t be following him to Washington after all. James Conrad, who heads the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, was named chief of staff for Senator-elect Voinovich more than two weeks ago. But he declined the post yesterday to remain…

By Joshua Benton Blade Columbus Bureau Page 3 COLUMBUS — Governor Voinovich and others accused of scheming to launder campaign expenses will have nine more days to respond to the allegations. Philip Richter, executive director of the Ohio Elections Commission, gave attorneys until Dec. 4 to file responses to the charges, which could carry penalties…

By Joshua Benton Blade Columbus Bureau Page 8 COLUMBUS — The low point for Ohio’s Democratic Party was supposed to be 1994. That’s when Republicans won the governor’s mansion, swept every statewide nonjudicial race, and wrested away a Senate seat held for decades by a popular Democrat. This year was supposed to be a step…

By Joshua Benton Blade Columbus Bureau Page 12 COLUMBUS — Voters rejected the only statewide issue on the ballot yesterday, deciding to allow continued hunting of mourning doves in Ohio. Supporters blamed the loss on a barrage of TV advertising. “Money speaks very loud, and when money wants to kill the gentlest of creatures, it…

By Joshua Benton Blade Columbus Bureau Page 3 COLUMBUS — Hours before losing her race for the U.S. Senate, Democrat Mary Boyle called on Secretary of State Bob Taft to delay certification of the election’s outcome pending a full investigation into allegations of money laundering by Governor Voinovich after the 1994 election. In a letter…

By Joshua Benton Blade Columbus Bureau Page 9 COLUMBUS — Ohio Republicans, who swept to state power in a 1994 landslide, will stay there for another four years. GOP candidates appeared to be holding on to all four down-ticket statewide offices yesterday. Two races, featuring Republican incumbents, were certifiable blowouts. Leading the charge was Attorney…

By Joshua Benton Blade Columbus bureau Page 9 COLUMBUS — For all the hubbub over the Ohio Supreme Coutr’s controversial school-funding decision last year, voters decided not to make any changes in the court yesterday. All three incumbent justices easily won re-election, incluidng Chief Justice Thomas Moyer. With 93 per cent of precincts reporting, Mr.…

By Joshua Benton Blade Columbus Bureau Page 4 COLUMBUS — Governor Voinovich has been accused of laundering $60,000 from his 1994 re-election campaign fund to pay a political supporter’s salary, according to documents disclosed yesterday. Almost half of the money allegedly ended up in the hands of The V Group, a consulting firm run by…

By Joshua Benton Blade Columbus Bureau Page PT4 COLUMBUS — While most of the attention has been on the race for governor, Ohioans will fill state government’s four other elected offices on Tuesday. In the attorney general’s race, Republican Betty Montgomery is seeking re-election against Democrat Richard Cordray, the former state solicitor. Ms. Montgomery is…