ELECTIONS Montgomery plugged for governor

One of the endorsements came from the Columbiana County sheriff.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Nearly 70 percent of the Republican county sheriffs in the state are endorsing State Auditor Betty D. Montgomery in the race for next year's GOP gubernatorial nomination, the Montgomery campaign said.
According to the campaign, 38 of the 55 GOP sheriffs in Ohio are throwing their support behind Montgomery, a former state attorney general, state senator and county prosecutor from northwest Ohio.
"I know how law enforcement works," Montgomery said Monday outside the Statehouse, flanked by several Republican sheriffs from different parts of the state.
"These men ... are the first line of defense," the state auditor said.
If she gets the Republican nomination and wins in next November's general election, Montgomery pledged to work with law enforcers to improve the state and work on behalf of senior citizens and children.
Montgomery, elected to a four-year term as state auditor in 2002, plugged her work to safeguard public funds through the auditor's office. Montgomery said work by her office has led to 31 convictions of individuals on various criminal charges.
Previous experience
Montgomery also talked up her two four-year terms as state attorney general between 1995 and 2002, saying she worked to increase state support for law enforcement and update the agency's crime labs.
Montgomery also spoke of her work on anti-crime legislation as a former state senator from northwest Ohio and her work as a former Wood County prosecutor.
Montgomery could face a three-way primary among major GOP gubernatorial candidates next year including Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell and State Attorney General Jim Petro, but the sheriffs that showed up Monday said they believed Montgomery was the best person for governor.
"I've watched her since her career began," Defiance County Sheriff David Westrick said of Montgomery.
"She's tireless. It's unbelievable the energy she has," Westrick said.
"She's committed to local government and local control," said Ashland County Sheriff Estel W. Risner. "She's firmly committed to sheriffs."
"She brings experience and the knowledge of what police work is all about," said Columbiana County Sheriff David L. Smith.
Opponents' responses
Gene Pierce, a spokesman for the Blackwell campaign, said, "While we appreciate the sacrifice that local police forces make, we are running a gubernatorial campaign that focuses on a wide range of issues critical to the state's well-being.
"At this point of the campaign, we are most concerned with the endorsement of Ohio Republican voters, an endorsement process in which we have now almost doubled Betty Montgomery's support," Pierce said.
"It's a really good event for somebody who's running for attorney general," Petro consultant Bob Paduchik quipped of Montgomery's event.
"We congratulate her on her efforts."
At least two candidates -- Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman and U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon -- are vying for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.
Two-term Republican Gov. Bob Taft is barred by the state's term limits law from seeking another four-year term in office next year.