Columbus Dispatch: Richard Cordray for state treasurer

Richard holds up a delinquent tax bill. His mantra: more tax collections mean more money for schools

Cordray’s career record of competence, integrity make him standout choice

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Ohioans should not hesitate to vote for Democrat Richard Cordray for state treasurer in the Nov. 7 election. As Franklin County treasurer, he is eminently qualified, has demonstrated leadership and integrity and clearly is the better candidate. Since being elected to a partial term as county treasurer in 2002, Cordray has developed innovative programs to recover millions of dollars in money owed by tax scofflaws.

He auctioned off long-delinquent tax accounts to banks and other financial institutions and prodded some delinquent owners to pay simply by sending them a letter warning that he would file tax liens on them if they didn’t.

Before the legislature voted to phase out the personal-property tax on business equipment and inventory, Cordray squeezed some of those unpaid taxes out of business owners by warning them that he would inform the Better Business Bureau, credit bureaus and local banks of their unpaid debts.

Cordray has an impressive resume beyond his excellent performance as county treasurer.

He served as a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justices Byron R. White and Anthony M. Kennedy, represented Ohio’s 33 rd House district in the early 1990s and was state solicitor in 1993 and 1994.

His Republican opponent, Ashtabula County Auditor Sandra O’Brien, can’t match Cordray’s resume and has shown little of his professionalism.

In her primary race against incumbent state treasurer Jennette Bradley, O’Brien repeatedly touted her stances against abortion rights and gay marriage, despite their complete irrelevance to this office.

After the tactic won O’Brien a surprise victory, fueled by values-oriented conservatives, she has had much less to say about those issues that she earlier deemed so important.

Cordray’s qualifications and good reputation even have earned him the endorsement of prominent Republicans: former Columbus Mayor and ex-Franklin County Treasurer Dana G. "Buck" Rinehart and Joan Lawrence, former head of the Ohio Department of Aging and an eight-term state representative.

If the choice is that clear to these Republicans, it should be even clearer to other Ohioans.

Cordray is the better choice for state treasurer.

http://www.cordraycommittee.com/