Taylor’s run for governor cost her $3.1M

Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor paid a hefty price to run for governor.

The unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination, who was easily toppled by Attorney General Mike DeWine in the May 6 primary, personally parted with $3.1 million.

When Taylor's campaign filed its finance report last week, it showed the campaign had repaid the loans, which requires the filing of accompanying paperwork. But, none arrived with the filing and the numbers didn't add up.

Questioned by The Dispatch, the campaign said the filing was in error. It was amended this week to instead show Taylor had forgiven $3.1 million in loans that constituted most of her campaign cash ahead of the primary.

Her running mate, Cincinnati-area retired Procter & Gamble executive Nathan Estruth, also forgave $350,000 in loans, allowing the campaign to report no debts and a balance of $9,665.

An earlier $3 million loan on Jan. 26 led to controversy for Taylor. She reported that she personally made the loan to her campaign, but paperwork Taylor showed it was repaid later the same day to her husband, wealthy developer Donzell Taylor, The Dispatch found. The quick transaction apparently was a bid to inflate her campaign cash on hand and make it look more respectable.

An individual can loan an unlimited amount of personal funds to his or her campaign. But, the repayment of the money to her husband made it appear to be an illegal campaign contribution since it exceeded the $12,707 limit, according to a complaint filed by a DeWine supporter.

The lieutenant governor contended the loan was legal since it came from joint marital assets held with her husband.

Whether the $3.1 million in forgiven loans — $500,000 on March 27, $2.5 million on April 11 and $100,000 on May 4 — came directly from Lt. Gov. Taylor, her husband or joint assets cannot be determined since no documentation has to be filed when loans are forgiven.

State Rep. Mike Duffey, R-Worthington, who filed the complaint against Taylor, since has asked the Ohio Elections Commission to dismiss it, a request which must be granted under law.

The complaint is expected to be formally dismissed at the commission's meeting on Thursday.