Kasich Aides Cleared of Political Mischief

Ohio’s inspector general said Tuesday there was no evidence that regional staff members for Gov. John Kasich were spending time on political activities while on the state payroll.

Three workers for the Republican governor were alleged to be campaigning while being paid by the state, reports the Cincinnati Post. The complaint was tied to efforts to unseat state GOP chairman Kevin DeWine after Kasich was elected in November 2010. The battle between the two lasted quite a while before DeWine stepped down last April.

 

Officials said the three Kasich aides filed petitions for candidates to run for seats on the Republican State Central Committee, all for the purpose of getting the panel to oppose  DeWine’s continuation as chairman.

 

Kasich, at that time, had promoted his own candidates to the committee, but DeWine’s contract had already been renewed for two years, beginning in January 2011.

 

DeWine refused Kasich’s demands to step down resulting in a battle as the state approached the presidential primaries this year. He finally stepped down in April after the primaries were over.

 

Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said the governor welcomed the inspector general's "close scrutiny," adding, "We were fully confident it would result in the way it did.”