Strickland to endorse Cordray as candidate

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Richard Cordray

Cordray has been viewed as the Dems’ best candidate for the truncated race.

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is expected to endorse state Treasurer Richard Cordray for attorney general today, clearing the way for the fresh-faced Democrat to lead the party’s attempt to retain the scandal-marred office in November.

Strickland’s intent to back Cordray was confirmed by The Associated Press with several party officials Tuesday. It was first reported by The Columbus Dispatch, which cited a high-ranking Democratic official. The AP’s sources spoke on condition of anonymity to defer to the governor to make the announcement.

Strickland is expected to announce the endorsement at an event scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on the west plaza of the Statehouse.

Former Attorney General Marc Dann resigned in May amid a sexual harassment scandal in the office and his admissions to having an extramarital affair with an employee, hiring unqualified friends, and fostering an unprofessional work environment.

Strickland appointed Nancy H. Rogers to succeed Dann on an interim basis, but she is on leave as dean of Ohio State University’s law school and not interested in running for election.

Cordray, elected treasurer in 2006, has been viewed as the Democrats’ best candidate for the truncated race because he has run his office effectively, has a recent successful statewide campaign in his past, and has $519,000 in campaign cash already on hand.

An undefeated, five-time champion of the “Jeopardy” game show, Cordray was a state representative from 1991 to 1993, state solicitor from 1993 to 1994, a general practice attorney, and then Franklin County treasurer from 2002 to 2007.

He has also struggled politically.

Cordray made two unsuccessful runs for the U.S. House and once ran and lost a race for the U.S. Senate. In 1998, he won the Democrats’ nomination for attorney general but suffered a bruising defeat by Republican Betty Montgomery in the general election.

“Richard Cordray is a nice and well-intentioned person, but the last time he ran for attorney general, Ohioans overwhelmingly rejected his candidacy,” said Republican strategist Mark Weaver, who ran Montgomery’s campaign that year. “The Democrats don’t realize he may not be the strong candidate they hope he is.”

Cordray took a break from statewide campaigns after that, running successfully in 2002 for Franklin County treasurer and distinguishing himself enough among voters to secure 65 percent of the vote during his 2004 re-election bid. He won 58 percent of the vote statewide in 2006.

Democrats said Tuesday they will officially select their attorney general pick June 21.

That is the same day Republicans are set to name their candidate to run for the office. Former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine and Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien had been early names floated for the bid, but both have stepped aside.

Delaware County attorney Robert Owens officially kicked off his campaign as an independent for the office Tuesday.