Crites Questions Cordray's Use of State Office to Pursue Political Agenda

Release:

Columbus – Attorney General candidate Mike Crites today questioned his opponent Richard Cordray’s use of the State Treasurer’s office to pursue his own personal agenda while putting tax dollars at potential risk.

Crites was referring to a move by Cordray early in his administration as State Treasurer to have Ohioans write checks to “Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray” as opposed to “Ohio Treasurer of State” as had been the practice for decades.

“Richard Cordray has made expert use of his press office within the Treasurer’s office for shameless self-promotion, but making taxpayers write his name on their checks to the state – it’s the ultimate PR move,” Crites said.

The change drew sharp criticism from the media and was deemed by Cleveland ’s Plain Dealer to be “both transparently political and in questionable taste.” The paper editorialized on the matter twice, saying “on the self-promotional scale, this idea sails out of the stratosphere.”

Crites rejected Cordray’s argument that the move made transactions with the state feel more personal for taxpayers, noting that he has not met a single Ohio taxpayer who feels better about writing a check to the state because they’ve written “Richard Cordray” on the check.

Crites previously took Cordray to task for dedicating nearly 20 percent of his staff and payroll budget to public relations, and for issuing a disproportionately large number of press releases for what Cordray himself referred to the smallest of all statewide offices.

“In the wake of the Marc Dann scandals, the Ohio Attorney General’s office needs a leader who will put the office, the state, and most importantly, taxpayers first,” Crites said. “Because my only political ambition is to serve as Attorney General, that won’t be a problem for me. Richard Cordray has shown us that he isn’t afraid of blatant political maneuvers if they propel him to higher office.”

The whole Make the check out to Dick scheme irritated me greatly.