Republican John Kasich just made it official, "tweeting" to supporters that state Auditor Mary Kasich and Taylor have scheduled a 3 p.m. news conference at the campaign's Downtown "Please join me in welcoming Mary Taylor as OH's next LG. We are committed to working to bring Campaign spokesman Rob Nichols said more than 10,000 people signed up to follow Kasich on
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Kasich selected Taylor, who has been a vocal critic of Gov. Ted Strickland's administration and budget proposals, because of her experience and insight during a time of economic downturn and challenges, Nichols said.
"In this current economic climate, there's absolutely no one more eminently qualified for this position," he said.
Taylor has blasted Strickland for what she has said is an over-reliance on federal stimulus funds and other concerns, warning that the next two-year state budget could require massive spending cuts or a major tax increase as a result.
Asked why Taylor, the only Republican in a statewide nonjudicial office, opted to be Kasich's running mate rather than seek re-election, Nichols said, "As auditor, all she can do is warn and recommend. As lieutenant governor, she can create policy."
At the same time Kasich electronically announced his running mate, Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern held a press conference to condemn the ticket.
Redfern said Taylor took a pay raise last year while Strickland and others in state government did not and said she would not be able to help Kasich sell his platform -- including a proposal to phase out Ohio's state income tax.
"We are confident that when Ohio voters learn about John Kasich's record . . . that they will send Ted Strickland back to the governor's office," Redfern said. "Mary Taylor does nothing to change that."
Redfern also referred to what he called Taylor's "work ethic or lack thereof," suggesting that Taylor often has been absent from the auditor's office in Columbus.
"For the last three years, few have seen Mary Taylor here in Columbus working on behalf of the people of the state, and few have heard from her unless she (was) being critical of the governor's budget," Redfern said.
At year's end, Taylor, 43, will give up the auditor's post she has held since 2007, leaving the Ohio GOP scrambling for a candidate to replace her. The filing deadline is Feb. 18.
Taylor faced a tough re-election challenge from Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper, who is expected to show at month's end that he raised considerably more money than she.
Ohio GOP officials haven't discussed whom the party might field in the auditor's race. One person mentioned as possibility, state Rep. Josh Mandel, the leading GOP candidate for state treasurer, said today that he's committed to running for treasurer.
"I am 100 percent staying in the state treasurer's race," Mandel said. "I am not running for state auditor."
Both parties are targeting the auditor's race as a high priority because the auditor, along with the governor and secretary of state, sits on the State Apportionment Board. Whichever party wins two of those three seats on Nov. 2 will be empowered to apportion legislative districts in its favor for the next 10 years.
Asked what impact Taylor's decision not to seek re-election would have on the auditor's race, Redfern said he was "pleased the Republicans have ceded the race to the Democrats."
Strickland has not yet named his running mate or officially kicked off his re-election campaign but is expected to do so in the coming days, according to an e-mail from his campaign to supporters yesterday.
The campaign offered to let supporters to be "the first to know" who Strickland selected with an e-mail notification if they signed up with the campaign and encouraged them to have their friends and family sign up as well.
The moves by Kasich and Strickland are reminiscent of last year's presidential campaign, when Democrat Barack Obama in particular did anything he could to collect supporter e-mail addresses for future contacts and also promised to announce his running mate to those who signed up for it.
Strickland so far has declined to say or confirm who is considering for his running mate to replace Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, who is running for the U.S. Senate this year.
Speculation this week has focused on Yvette McGee Brown, a former Columbus judge, and Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams. Others mentioned as possibilities in recent weeks include state Reps. Jay Goyal of Mansfield and Matt Szollosi of Toledo.
Nichols said Kasich considered a number of potential running mates but that a screening committee overwhelmingly recommended Taylor.
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