COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio Democrats are calling for changes at the state watchdog’s office after it mistakenly omitted then-Gov. Bob Taft’s historic conviction from a report on a 2005 rare-coin investment scandal.
Inspector General Randall Meyer says faulty research led his investigators to conclude Taft’s criminal record was sealed, so Taft’s no-contest plea to ethics charges was excluded from the long-awaited “Coingate” report. Taft’s record was never expunged.
Meyer ordered the report revised Wednesday.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH’-guh) County Executive Ed FitzGerald says Republican Gov. John Kasich (KAY’-sik) should demand Meyer’s resignation. Kasich appointed Meyer, who says he won’t resign.
Republicans responded to FitzGerald’s call by accusing him of politicizing the Cuyahoga County watchdog’s office.
Some Democrats want Meyer’s office restructured to be more independent. Kasich says it already is independent.
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