Ginther ally files complaint on sample ballot
An ally of Columbus mayoral hopeful Andrew J. Ginther has filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission alleging that the leader of a local nonprofit organization violated elections laws by using the group’s money to campaign for Ginther’s opponent.
The complaint filed on Wednesday states that Jonathan Beard, leader of both the nonprofit Columbus Compact Corp. and a political-activist group called the Columbus Coalition for Responsive Government, used Columbus Compact’s funds to pay for a sample ballot backing Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott for mayor.
Beard said that he followed elections laws and the complaint is “silly.”
“We are exercising our constitutional right as a PAC to put out a sample ballot, and Ginther is just mad it doesn’t endorse him,” Beard said. “We can invest in a PAC; there’s nothing wrong with that.”
The complaint was filed by Stefanie Coe, who is an ally of Ginther’s. She has applied in the past to fill vacancies on Columbus City Council.
Coe’s complaint also states that Beard paid someone to distribute the sample ballot and literature for Scott to voters outside the Franklin County Board of Elections’ early-voting center.
The elections commission will hold an expedited review of Coe’s complaint and notify both parties when that review will take place. A ruling is expected as soon as next week.
The sample ballot in question is titled “Ordinary People Power (O.P.P.) Official Ballot.” On the back of the card are pictures and names of the group’s endorsed candidates for various local races, including Scott.
Language at the bottom states that the card was paid for by Beard’s coalition, which is an organized political-action committee filed with the elections board.
Coe writes in her complaint that Beard violated the bylaws of the nonprofit he runs because almost all of the political group’s money comes from the nonprofit Compact, which was set up to improve poor neighborhoods. That money, the complaint says, was then used to pay for election material that makes political endorsements.
The Compact’s bylaws, filed with the Ohio secretary of state’s office, say it “shall not participate in, or intervene in, any political campaign on behalf of or for the opposition to any candidate for public office.”
“Corporate funds that should be used for affordable housing are going to support Scott’s campaign,” Lisa Griffin, Ginther’s campaign adviser, said in an email.
Scott’s campaign fired back, calling the complaint “desperate nonsense” from Ginther.
“Zach Scott is very proud to have the endorsement and support of an array of neighborhood groups, including the Coalition for Responsive Government,” said Melissa Barnhart, Scott’s campaign strategist.
Beard said his corporation, which distributes grants and loans to poor Columbus neighborhoods, has been audited every year in the 20 years it has been in operation and has always complied with federal law.
“Andy Ginther talking about misuse of public funds is rich,” Beard said. “The same guy that doesn’t report he went to an Ohio State football game in a suite as a gift but instead says it’s a campaign expense.”