GOP sneaking past donation limit, Dems say

Democrats allege that four instances illustrate an attempt to circumvent donation limits.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Democrats are taking the offensive against the Republican candidate for attorney general, contending that Republicans are using the county parties to funnel contributions to candidates and circumvent donation limits.
A spokesman for the Ohio Republican Party says the allegations are baseless and called them an "elaborate rain dance."
Leigh E. Herington, Democratic candidate for attorney general this fall, sent a letter Wednesday to Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell, asking him to investigate instances involving State Auditor Jim Petro, the GOP attorney general candidate. Democrats say donations to Petro were earmarked to get around the $2,500 donation limit from any individual or organization.
"That is not legal," said Herington, joined at a Statehouse news conference by Democratic treasurer candidate Mary Boyle.
Earmarking donations isn't illegal in and of itself, said Herington, a Portage County state senator, but it is if it's done to misrepresent contributions.
Attorney general candidates can't take any money from organizations that receive Medicaid, can take only $1,000 from those who do business with the state officeholder and can take only $2,500 from any individual or organization.
What occurred
Democrats allege that four instances involving Petro's campaign illustrate an attempt to circumvent donation limits. According to Herington's letter and records:
U On Nov. 6, 2001, the Geauga County Republican Party received a check from Calfee, Halter & amp; Griswold LLP for $5,000. The county party at the time had $790. The county party later wrote a check to Citizens for Jim Petro for $5,000 leaving $790 in the county party's account.
U On Jan. 18, 2002, 16 Columbus lawyers who share an office address each gave the Mahoning County Republican Party a $294.12 check. Another lawyer who shares the same office address donated a check for $294.08 to the Mahoning County GOP party, making the total from that office $5,000. On Jan. 28, the Mahoning County GOP sent a check to Jim Petro for Attorney General for $5,000.
Other instances involved Montgomery and Clark counties in southwest Ohio.
"If, in fact, any of the above earmarking was done to avoid the ... limits, then there has been a violation of Ohio law," Herington's letter said.
Herington's letter asks Blackwell to investigate and file a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission and to ask the boards of elections in Clark, Geauga, Mahoning and Montgomery counties to investigate as well.
Response
Jason Mauk, a spokesman for the Ohio Republican Party, downplayed the Democrats' allegations.
"This is nothing but an elaborate rain dance," Mauk said. "These are desperate candidates that are trying to stir up a controversy with a bunch of noise and a big show."
Carlo LoParo, a spokesman for Blackwell, said the secretary of state's office will request state candidate fund information from the Republican parties in Clark, Geauga, Montgomery and Mahoning counties in light of Herington's letter and perform an audit.