Boyce Trading Contracts for CampaignCash?
Democrat State Treasurer becoming notorious for politicizing his office
(Columbus) - State Treasurer Kevin Boyce is under fire again as newquestions surface about the close ties between the treasurer's officeand Boyce's political activity. The latest controversy stems from Boyce's decision to award a majorstate contract to a vendor within days of that vendor hosting afundraiser for Boyce's campaign. Former Cincinnati Mayor CharlieLuken, a lobbyist for the vendor, hosted the fundraiser, according to theDayton Daily News. Luken's sister was hired by Boyce to work in thetreasurer's office."Kevin Boyce appears to be more concerned with running his campaignfrom the treasurer's office than with protecting Ohio's tax dollars," saidOhio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine. "This transactioninvolving a major state contract being awarded within days of acampaign fundraiser raises troubling questions about what Kevin Boyceis asking from people who do business with his office."A representative of Ohio Citizen Action, a self-described non-partisangovernment watchdog, said Boyce's decision to award the contract was"clouded by this fundraiser" and by the timing of the transaction.Weeks earlier, Boyce received criticism for spending more than $32,000in taxpayer funds on promotional items such as water bottles, grocerybags and pencils, according to theDayton Daily News. He reportedlyplanned to buy another $47,457 in "swag plastered with his name." The Daily News also found that Boyce, in a Marc Dann-style move, hadhired "a number of friends and close associates to key positions," withmany of his top aides coming from the Ohio Democratic Party and"politically connected families." His chief of staff is a formerDemocratic Party political operative who, according to the report, "didnot know how many people work in Boyce's office.""Democrats once promised to clean up the so-called culture of corruption in Columbus, but they've only become part of it," saidDeWine. "Kevin Boyce is following a pattern of questionable conductamong statewide Democratic officeholders. He replaced RichardCordray, who awarded a 3700 percent increase in state business to acampaign donor who gave thousands of dollars in illegal contributions.Cordray replaced Marc Dann, who used his campaign account as apersonal slush fund and turned his office in a frat house. It's time tohold them all accountable and get back to upholding the dignity and
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