Dispatch: Judge denies GOP info on teachers

Columbus Dispatch, November 15, 2009

Judge denies GOP info on teachers

By Cathy Candisky

A Franklin County judge has temporarily blocked releasing to the Ohio Republican Party the names, addresses, phone numbers and other information about Ohio teachers, administrators and staff.

Common Pleas Judge Laurel Beatty granted the temporary restraining order yesterday at the request of the Ohio Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union.

A permanent decision will be made after a court hearing later this month.

The GOP sought the information on both public and private school employees from the Department of Education, citing Ohio public record law.

The union, which has a strong historical alliance to the Democratic Party, claims the information is not subject to disclosure.

“The protection of members’ personal information is of utmost importance to the OEA,” said union president Patricia Frost-Brooks.

Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine said this is not the first request for such information and blasted the union for trying to block it from communicating with educators.

“We’re only trying to let Ohio teachers know where our candidates stand on education issues, and we’re no longer going to allow the leadership of the OEA to spread lies and attacks without an appropriate response,” he said.

“We’ve asked for similar information from other departments to help us communicate with veterans, farmers, fisherman, hunters and dozens of other groups. Political parties have done this for many years.”