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Kasich defends decision
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Governor John Kasich
By Marc Kovac
NEWARK
Gov.-elect John Kasich defended the decision to withhold information about individuals applying for jobs in his administration, though he admitted he will have to release details once his transition to office is complete.
“All I’ve been trying to do is protect the job security of people who think they might want to come work in another job,” Kasich said Tuesday. “And I’m mystified at this. Frankly, I’m shocked. Maybe the people that demand all this openness ought to think about the way they want their kids treated. Do they want their kids to be jeopardized because they’re trying to improve themselves and look for another job?”
Kasich’s coming administration is accepting applications through its transition website — www.fixohionow.com — a separate entity that is receiving contributions to cover his inauguration and other costs associated with his move into the governor’s office.
Media groups and public records are arguing that r sum s submitted through the website should be open to scrutiny, as would be the case with applications submitted to a governmental office by someone seeking employment.
Gov. Ted Strickland released all such r sum s submitted during his transition into office four years ago.
But Kasich told reporters the transition setup allows his administration to “maintain privacy for the people” who are applying for jobs.
“When a person applies for another job, it doesn’t make their current employer happy,” he said. “I believe that when we pick somebody, they’re fair game. You can have an opportunity to look at anything you want to look at, you know, within reason. But when somebody applies for a job, you don’t want to put them in jeopardy.”
Kasich said hiring won’t be completed when he takes office in January, however. So applications and other information submitted by job seekers will have to be released after his inauguration.
“It’s clear to me that come Jan. 10, unless there’s some legal way in which I can do this, these documents will have to be made public,” he said.
Kasich urged reporters to be “responsible” in what they do with applications that are made public next year.
“Ultimately, I’m going to lose this battle,” Kasich said. “I tried to figure out a way to protect these folks, and it’s clear from Supreme Court rulings, at least at this point, I’m not going to win that.”