State-paid videos used in Husted campaign
The secretary of state’s office produces slick videos at public expense promoting Jon Husted in his capacity as an elected officeholder.
But some of the videos seemingly have little to do with the work of the state’s chief elections officer.
Husted talks about National Adoption Month. Husted talks about Veterans Day. Husted talks about his self-declared “Veteran-Owned Businesses Month.”
And, after the videos are stitched together on state time with state money, they also are used to promote Husted politically as he campaigns for the Republican nomination for governor.
The videos, as well as photos, are generated by the secretary of state’s office and shared on its @ OhioSOSHusted account on Twitter and retweeted by Husted’s personal @JonHusted account. His personal account states he is a candidate for governor and that it is “paid for by Husted for Ohio.”
Asked whether it is appropriate for materials produced at public expense to also be used for political purposes, Husted campaign spokesman Joshua
Eck said he sees nothing wrong with the practice.
“The things Jon Husted has done as secretary of state are among the many things that qualify him to be Ohio’s next governor and our campaign is very proud of that work and we have enthusiastically shared it with our supporters,” Eck said.
Sam Rossi, spokesman for Husted in his capacity of secretary of state, declined comment on the Husted campaign’s use of the office’s videos and photos. “Obviously, anything we do produce is available to the public to consume and share as they see fit,” he said.
Rossi said the videos are “all produced in-house and are intended to educate and raise awareness about the work we do and the important issues facing Ohioans.” He did not respond to repeated questions about the cost of producing the videos, only saying Husted’s office has cut its spending by $14.5 million and the number of employees by 40 percent compared to his predecessor.
The secretary of state’s office has used videos for years to promote voting and voting registration and to recognize Ohio businesses, Rossi said. Husted’s office handles the paperwork that businesses file to incorporate in Ohio. One video boasts of how Husted currently uses no tax dollars to operate his office, which is funded by fees.
One office-produced video posted this month and retweeted four times by Husted’s personal account shows him talking about the importance of adoption. The campaign Twitter account, @ HustedforOhio, retweeted the video once.
Asked what adoption had to do with the secretary of state’s duties, Rossi said the office handles “apostilles and certifications,” which verify the signatures on public documents when they are needed in a foreign country, such as international adoption paperwork. The office issued 21,446 apostilles last fiscal year. A breakdown on the number involving adoptions was not available.
Rossi said Husted provides a “unique perspective to raising awareness about important issues like adoption.” Husted was adopted as a small child and often speaks passionately about the issue.
The state-produced videos do not appear on Husted’s gubernatorial Facebook page or his campaign website.
None of the campaign Twitter accounts of the other five elected Republican and Democratic officeholders running for governor appear to use materials produced by their public offices: Attorney General Mike DeWine, U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci of Wadsworth and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor (all Republicans) and state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley (both Democrats).