Candidate criticizes Blackwell's conduct

A Blackwell spokesman called the candidate a 'walking conspiracy theory.'
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Jennifer Brunner, the Democratic nominee for secretary of state, says the actions of the current occupant of that post, Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell, "does real damage to the office."
In an interview Thursday with The Vindicator, Brunner sharply criticized the way Blackwell, the GOP gubernatorial candidate, runs the secretary of state's office.
"I'm questioning how Ken Blackwell is doing his job," she said. "There's too much politics in his office."
Brunner said it wasn't appropriate for Blackwell to serve in 2004 as a co-chairman of President Bush's Ohio campaign while being the state's top election official.
"That puts into question the objectivity of the election," she said. "People think you're doing something wrong by being so involved. He should have never put himself in a position where people are questioning him."
Brunner, who resigned as a Franklin County Common Pleas Court judge to run for secretary of state, also said Blackwell's interpretations of new state elections laws "suppress the vote."
Blackwell will permit only petition circulators to submit their petitions even though they are doing it for voter registration organizations that have turned in the paperwork before, she said.
Also, Blackwell's policy on identification requirements for those who vote with absentee ballots is restrictive, she added.
"He is going beyond what the Legislature had intended," Brunner said. "It's put a chill on the process."
Carlo LoParo, Blackwell's campaign spokesman, fired back saying Brunner is purposely misleading people about the secretary of state's actions.
"She's a walking conspiracy theory," LoParo said of Brunner. "She's exploiting the misunderstanding of the Ohio voter process. She should be ashamed of herself."
Brunner, a former Franklin County Board of Elections member and ex-deputy director and legislative counsel to the secretary of state, hosted a lightly attended voters forum Thursday at the McGuffey Centre on the city's East Side.
At the forum, she answered questions about the voting process and new election laws effective with the November general election. This is the second of five voters forums she is holding in Ohio.
Impending election
Brunner will face Greg Hartmann, a Cincinnati Republican who serves as Hamilton County's clerk of courts, in the Nov. 7 election.
In a telephone interview, Hartmann didn't offer much praise for Blackwell but wasn't nearly as critical as Brunner.
When asked if Blackwell has done a good job, Hartmann said, "There's always room for improvement."
In discussions with members of county boards of elections, Hartmann said they want to have improved communications with the secretary of state's office.
"I would give clear directives and provide more uniform standards," he said. "We can always work together better. One thing I've heard from boards of elections is they want more clear lines of communication."
Brunner said she has also heard those concerns.
skolnick@vindy.com