DeWine raises $1.7 million for inaugural bashes, transition
The inaugural COLUMBUS — committee that celebrated the ascension of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to office raised $1.722 million for an assortment of events.
However, the committee had spent only $1 million of its haul as of Jan. 10, ending the reporting period with nearly $700,000 on hand, according to a finance report filed Tuesday with the office of Secretary of State Frank LaRose.
State law restricts contributions to a governor’s transition fund, which also is used for office and consultant expenses, to $10,000. However, unlike standard campaign contributions, corporations and other special interests are allowed to directly contribute.
His filing shows 112 persons or entities gave the maximum, including Nationwide, Phrma, the Teamsters union, Limited Brands founder Leslie H. Wexner, First Energy, AEP, Dayton Power & Light, Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, Timken Steel, AT&T, Pfizer, Ford Motor Co., Microsoft, longtime political consultant Rex Elsass, and frequent GOP contributor James Dicke II.
DeWine separately raised a record $35 million, including $4 million in personal loans that remain outstanding, on his gubernatorial primary and general election campaigns.
DeWine and Husted took office early Monday following a series of meet-and-greet events prior to the inauguration and $400-per-couple gala Monday night at the Statehouse.
Former Repubilcan Gov. John Kasich raised $2 million in transition funds for his first term beginning in 2011. He raised so much, in fact, that a leftover $441,755 was donated to an assortment of charities. Kasich brought in $1.2 million for his second-term festivities in 2015, with an excess $247,728 donated to charities.
The other Republicans who took statewide executive office on Monday are limited to $2,500 donations.
Attorney General Dave Yost reported raising $33,500. Auditor Keith Faber took in $29,000. Treasurer Robert Sprague garnered $15,000.