Ohio Dems sue GOP Gov. Kasich to get public schedules

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio Democrats today sued GOP Gov. John Kasich to get access to public schedules they allege could show he’s misusing state time to campaign for Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney.

The lawsuit came the same day Kasich appeared with Romney on a campaign swing through the battleground state.

The action filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court charges Kasich with violating state public-records law by failing to produce copies of his public schedules. Ohio Democratic Chairman Chris Redfern said the party’s request has been pending for 42 days.

Kasich’s spokesman called the lawsuit political. Rob Nichols said the office has complied with the law and released the schedule upon request at least six times, including to the Ohio Democratic Party.

“This is predictable election-year politics from the same people who were just rebuked for using public records demands to interfere with the Auditor of State’s investigation into possible data manipulation in some school districts,” Nichols said.

That investigation by Auditor Dave Yost is ongoing.