Lawsuit threatened over résumés to Kasich

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Photo by: AP Photo/Jay LaPrete

Governor John Kasich

The Enquirer

COLUMBUS

Gov.-elect John Kasich and the chairman of his nonprofit transition committee were asked by a representative of The [Cincinnati] Enquirer today to preserve all résumés and related memos or records as people apply for state government jobs.

A letter hand-delivered to Kasich and Doug Preisse, chairman of the Kasich-Taylor New Day Committee and the Franklin County Republican Party, states: “If you refuse to produce the records, please note that The Enquirer intends to file suit to obtain them,” wrote Enquirer attorney John C.Greiner of Graydon Head & Ritchey.

Last week, Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said that résumés submitted through the FixOhioNow.com website “are not subject to public record demands.”

Greiner wrote that there is legal precedent in Ohio for releasing such records: “They are public records because they are being submitted for a job as a ‘public employee.’ ”

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, Ohio Newspaper Association and Ohio Democratic Party also have insisted the names and résumés of job applicants should be made public.

Kasich, a Republican, defeated Gov. Ted Strickland on Nov. 2 and becomes governor on Jan. 10.

Strickland, a Democrat, released résumés from state job applicants on compact discs during his transition in December 2006 and January 2007.