Mingo to run for Ohio treasurer
As long anticipated, Franklin County Auditor Clarence Mingo is joining the race for Ohio treasurer, becoming the second Republican to declare his candidacy.
In launching his campaign Thursday, Mingo portrayed himself as a fiscal conservative who wants to usher in “a new generation of conservative leadership” in Ohio.
“As Franklin County auditor, I’ve cracked down on fraud and government waste and safeguarded taxpayer dollars, returning millions back to our local governments and schools. I want to bring that same conservative philosophy to the treasurer’s office and the citizens of our great state.”
Mingo faces a potential GOP primary race in 2018 against state Rep. Robert Sprague of Findlay, who announced his candidacy earlier this month.
Although the treasurer’s office deals with neither issue, both candidates have made a point of informing Republican primary voters that they oppose abortion and support gun rights.
After Mingo’s announcement, Sprague said: “I’m looking forward to the race. I’ve got a proven conservative track record on issues like standing in the trenches here in the legislature between big government and protecting people’s rights, protecting the rights of the unborn, protecting our Second Amendment rights.”
Mingo, 45, an Army veteran who obtained his bachelor’s and law degrees at Ohio State University, was appointed county auditor in 2009. He was elected to the office in 2010 and 2014.
Mingo has said he hopes for a campaign without negativity and name-calling.
“I think every Republican running in 2018 must do so in a way that’s dignified and civil,” he said earlier this month. “We cannot have a repeat of 2016, where we did not give the public the best image of what it means to be a Republican.”
No Democrat has yet entered the race to replace Treasurer Josh Mandel, who is term-limited and running for the U.S. Senate.