More Columbus Post stories

ODJFS director improperly searched 'Joe the Plumber'

By Donna Marbury
Contributing Writer
Columbus Post

A State of Ohio director used confidential state databases to improperly research "Joe the Plumber" and used state computers to scout donors for the Barack Obama campaign.
Helen Jones-Kelley, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), was placed on a one-month unpaid suspension by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, following a report released by the Ohio Inspector General's office. She was placed on paid administrative leave on November 7 by Strickland, while being investigated.
Strickland acknowledged Jones-Kelley's contribution to Ohio, yet still reprimanded her for the findings in the report. "Helen Jones-Kelley has dedicated her life to helping the most vulnerable among us. I value her contributions to the state and her local community," Strickland said. "However, I accept the Inspector General's judgment that there was not an adequate business purpose for the searches in question."

In a report released November 20, the Ohio Inspector General's office determined that there were 18 separate records checks performed on Joseph Wurzelbacher, nicknamed "Joe the Plumber" during the presidential campaign. Eight searches conducted were found "not credible" and "without any legitimate business purposes," according to the report. Jones-Kelley authorized three searches on confidential agency databases. Wurzelbacher's records were searched through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Ohio Attorney General's Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway system, the Ohio Department of Public Safety's Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Toledo Police Department and the Ohio Department of Taxation databases.

The Ohio Inspector General's office also said that Jones-Kelley used state computers to compile a list of possible donors for the Obama campaign and listed three Obama campaign events on the state's on-line calendar. Jones-Kelley had already donated the maximum $2,500 to the campaign.
Jones-Kelley directed an employee to do a records search on Joseph Wurzelbacher the day after the October 15th presidential debate, where Wurzelbacher was mentioned several times. After Republican leaders questioned Jones-Kelley's searches, she stood by the searches and released a statement on October 29 saying that because of multiple media references about Wurzelbacher and his finances, the searches were necessary.

"Given our understanding that Mr. Wurzelbacher had publicly indicated that he had the means to purchase a substantial business enterprise, ODJFS, consistent with past departmental practice, checked confidential databases," Jones-Kelley wrote. "I recognize that our well-meaning efforts in the midst of the highly politically-charged environment in the final weeks of a national election were widely misinterpreted and misunderstood."

Ohio Inspector General Thomas Charles recommended that the agencies involved create stricter rules on who can authorize searches and for what reasons. Strickland also issued a management directive to all state agencies, boards and commissions regarding the proper use of state databases to "help ensure that a situation such as this never happens again."

Republican leaders are calling for Strickland to hand down a stricter punishment to Jones-Kelley. State Auditor Mary Taylor, House Speaker Jon Husted and Senate President Bill Harris joined to suggest that she be fired or asked to resign. "We need to restore accountability and transparency in government and send a message to Ohioans that the misuse and abuse of personal information will not be tolerated," Taylor said in a press release. "Government leaders need to be responsible for the actions of their employees."

Senator Ray Miller said that Jones-Kelley's mistake shouldn't be "punishable by death." "I personally didn't see why his background was so thoroughly examined, but I can tell you, it's not unusual," said Miller, who recommended to Strickland that Jones-Kelley be punished, but not fired. "She definitely made an error in judgment, but she shouldn't be fired. She has an outstanding reputation and an impeccable record on the national and state level. There should be no discussion of termination," Miller said.

Wurzelbacher, a plumber from Holland, Ohio, infamously approached Obama as he campaigned in his neighborhood, and questioned him about his small-business tax policies. A videotape of Wurzelbacher's exchange with Obama received national news coverage. The John McCain campaign often cited "Joe the Plumber" as an example of the frustrations of middle-class Americans.

Jones-Kelley, 57, earns $141,980 a year. Strickland appointed her as director of ODJFS in January of 2007. Jones-Kelley oversees 4,000 full-time workers and a $17 billion budget. She was previously the director of the Montgomery County Department of Job and Family Services and is also an attorney.

http://www.columbuspost.com/news/headlines1000.html

Miller looking to future in final years in Senate

Editor's Note: Over the years in Ohio, many political leaders have made a significant difference in the African-American community. For the next several weeks, the Columbus Post will take a look at some of these leaders and the impact they have had on our community.

By Donna Marbury
Contributing Writer
Columbus Post

Senator Ray Miller has been an elected official for nearly 23 years, and is using his final two years as a state senator to get back to the basics of his political career. He was recently elected to be Ohio Senate Minority Whip, a position he held before he was elected Minority Leader in January 2008.
"I enjoy serving over being an administrator for the party," said Miller. "When you are a Minority Leader, it kind of takes you out of the legislative process. I enjoy serving more than recommending; I guess it's a matter of style," said Miller.

Miller has served the 15th district as a member of the Ohio Senate since 2003. Miller was also a state representative from 1981 to 1993 and again from 1998 to 2002. He has received more than 400 community, state and national awards for his work, which focuses heavily on the development of the African-American community.

An even more rewarding experience, says Miller, was seeing the first Black president being elected to the White House. Just saying the words "President-Elect Barack Obama" brings a smile to Miller's face. After meeting Obama before his November 2nd Statehouse rally, Miller said it was clear he would win on Election Day. "It was obvious that he was going to be the next president. I had to fight back the tears and think how far we have come as African Americans. It's a really weighty point in time," said Miller.

Miller noted he has received phones calls from the Obama administration, but has no interest in working for him. Instead he would rather encourage and assist young African Americans from Ohio to work at the White House. "It would be an extraordinary gift for young people to work for the first Black president of the United States," said Miller who worked for President Jimmy Carter's staff when he was 28 years old. "That was the most important position I held, and it definitely helped to propel me to public office."

With two years left in his Senate term, Miller says that he has narrowed his future plans down to two routes: higher education or a Congressional seat. "I wouldn't want to do anything but be a president of a university," Miller said of his goals to work in higher education.

He dismissed rumors of his interest in local politics. "I have no interest in local politics. I believe that you should do what you enjoy and what you do best. I like big policy issues like education, health care and alternative energy. I just don't enjoy being an administrator," said Miller.

Ultimately, according to Miller, he would want to be a Congressman. "I would love to cap off my career as a member of Congress," he said. One of his hurdles might be the Congressional district map of Ohio. Columbus is split up between districts 12 and 15, which include large rural district along with urban areas. This has made it difficult for Democrats to win seats in the past. Miller says that major cities like Columbus and Cincinnati should have a whole district. "The way we draw district lines determines who gets elected. There have been only three African Americans in Congress from Ohio, and all of them have been Cleveland's seat. A lot of that has to do with most of Cleveland being the majority of the 11th district."

With new district lines being drawn after the 2010 Census count, Miller is hoping that Governor Ted Strickland and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner will be re-elected so that Democrats can be in majority of the Apportionment Board that will redraw district lines. He believes that the city of Columbus would elect an African-American Congress member, based on the city's record of Blacks in leadership positions. "Racial segregation is not as severe in Columbus as in other cities. Even with a population of 25 percent African American, Columbus has been able to elect a large number of African Americans to office," noted Miller.

Miller has many other initiatives he would like to enact before leaving the Senate. "Building a new Ohio State University African American Extension Center on Mount Vernon Avenue would be an inspiration to the community," said Miller. "The current building is small and not representative of The Ohio State University. We want to try to give OSU a greater presence in the urban community," said Miller, who has already secured $750,000 toward the estimated $3.7 million building. He says he hopes to secure more funds in the Capital Funds committee and through private donations.

Miller is also working toward helping families facing foreclosure, finding solutions for the public school funding problems that have plagued Ohio for the last decade, and creating community-led programs to reduce out-of-wedlock childbirths and the rising divorce rates in the Black community. "High rates of poverty, domestic violence, incarceration and high school dropouts are traced back to not having a sound family structure," said Miller.

http://www.columbuspost.com/news/headlines1001.html