As Ted Strickland campaigns with the promise of being The Antidote to Republican corruption, one has to wonder about the Democratic gubernatorial candidate’s own greased palms.
After all, his inner circle includes Brian Hicks, former chief of staff to Governor Bob Taft — and a man who doesn’t shy away from accepting gifts in exchange for favors. Last year, Hicks was convicted of failing to disclose discount vacation stays at Tom Noe’s Florida house. Hanging out with the man who drained the state of millions of dollars? How’s Strickland gonna explain that one?
The Hicks connection has largely been ignored by the mainstream press. If elected, will Strickland not owe favors in exchange for the more than $4 million Hicks has helped him raise? –Denise Grollmus
This article appears in Sep 27 – Oct 3, 2006.
This news hasn’t been completely “ignored”…it’s just that nobody cares. The Toledo Blade ran a story “Strickland taps ex-backers of Taft for campaign cash” in June:
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060611/NEWS09/606110369
Excerpt:
The Hicks connection
In addition to taking money from the people who propelled Mr. Taft to the governor’s office, Mr. Strickland also has met with the controversial architect of the governor’s career.
In April, Mr. Strickland attended an event hosted by Brian Hicks, Mr. Taft’s former chief of staff who was convicted last year of failing to disclose vacation stays at Noe’s Florida home on his annual ethics statement.
Mr. Strickland said the purpose of the one-hour meeting at the Capital Club in downtown Columbus was to talk with Mr. Hicks’ lobbying clients. Mr. Strickland said he didn’t know how the meeting was arranged.
Mr. Strickland said the event was not a fund-raiser, and he noted that last year he questioned whether Mr. Hicks should remain on the Ohio State University Board of Trustees after his misdemeanor ethics conviction.
Mr. Strickland has accepted at least $36,000 in contributions from Hicks Partners’ clients and their clients’ employees and PACs, campaign-finance records show.
Tim Hagan, a Democrat who ran for governor against Mr. Taft in 2002, said any effort by Democrats to meet with Mr. Hicks and his lobbying clients is “repugnant and disgusting.”
“Politics is not just who wins and loses,” Mr. Hagan said. “It’s the impact you have on the people of this state.”
He added, “That whole group ought to be run out of the state,” referring to Mr. Taft and his former aides who have become lobbyists and consultants.
Mr. Hicks didn’t return a message seeking comment.