Helen Jones-Kelly is put on administrative leave. It appears there was more than snooping on citizens, now she was raising money using her state e-mail account. Interesting this is released Friday evening to minimize any political fallout. I guess when you make the governor eat his words, you better watch out. The only shame is she is still being paid.
From Columbus Dispatch:
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland placed the director of the Department of Job and Family Services on paid leave Friday for possibly using a state computer and e-mail account for political fund-raising.
E-mails obtained today by The Dispatch show that Helen Jones-Kelley's e-mail account was used to assist the presidential campaign of Democrat Barack Obama in raising money.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/11/07/direc...
AP:
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio's governor placed on leave Friday an agency director who was questioned over why state computers were used to find personal information on a man who became known as "Joe the Plumber" during the presidential campaign.
Gov. Ted Strickland said in a statement that Helen Jones-Kelley was placed on paid administrative leave because of the possibility a state computer or state e-mail account was used to assist in political fundraising.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hCfoqn3DO0ED76HhK9G48gC-NFzgD94ACV3O0
From USA Today:
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/11/ohio-agency-hea.html
The head of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has been placed on paid leave for allegedly approving a computer search for personal information about "Joe the Plumber."
Helen Jones-Kelley, a Democrat, is being investigated over whether a state computer or state e-mail account was used to assist in political fundraising, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland said in a statement. Strickland, also a Democrat, did not specifically mention Samuel Joe Wurzelbacher of Toledo, a.k.a. Joe the Plumber.
by this criminal will get her a great position in the new administation to be sure! No doubt a company car, better pay, and all the SPYING on private American citizens,our new Preisdent desires!
The Democrats lack the understanding of playing by the rules. I wonder how many reports like this exist in Ohio that has not made it to the media.
Are you stating that the Republican Party wouldn't engage in such tactics? Never had, never will?
I don't condone behavior like this by either party; however, I didn't see the Republicans pulling stunts like this in the recent batch of campaigns.
Are you saying that you condone it? Sure sounds like it.
What in my comment would make you think that I would condone illegal, irresponsible, or reprehensible behavior? You seem to WANT to read more into it than is there. Why is that? It feels like YOU have a particular axe to grind.
Politics is politics - acts like this happen on both sides of the party lines on all scales. It's not right, I don't condone it, but it happens - there it is. Investigate and prosecute. Try to make it harder to happen or easier to spot. By-and-by, whoever won an election, whichever party is in control, or whoever is in the news headlines get the greatest scrutiny (aka - why invest time investigating the losers?!?!). Happens in every dang election cycle, Republicans and Democrats.
You are so correct Wmbat2.
However, one party ran on ethical purity and a promise to end the "culture of corruption" in Columbus. The chief proponent of this was, of course, Marc Dann.
I see an ongoing and abusive culture of corruption in Columbus. With the Republicans' presence weakened, I can only see it getting worse.
Which one of them will be the next Tom Ferguson? My money is on Jennifer Brunner. I never saw anybody who worked so hard at NOT doing her job.
"However, one party ran on ethical purity and a promise to end the "culture of corruption" in Columbus. The chief proponent of this was, of course, Marc Dann.
I see an ongoing and abusive culture of corruption in Columbus. With the Republicans' presence weakened, I can only see it getting worse."
There was also one party that ran on ethical purity, moral purity, and fiscal responsibility -- the Republican controlled House and Senate from 1995 to 2007. What happened to their fiscal responsibility? What happened to their moral purity -- there were quite a few Republicans charged in nasty, nasty scandals. Democrats had their fair share, but they certainly didn't run as the moral authority.
And in regards to that state government....who was our previous Governor? Can I see a show of hands if anyone thought that HE was a fiscal conservative? An ethical authoritative figure? How about a moral authoritative figure? I believe in 2005 an article came out listing him as one of three worst governor's in the country.
Republicans and conservatives would do themselves quite a bit of good if they would just quit acting pompous and entitled and just admit they're mistakes. You spend way too much time trying to tear down why the 'raging, baby killing liberal' is not good for the country rather than why a conservative Republican would do us well.
The last thing I want is to see any political party engage in behavior like this. Unfortunately it is all too common and occasionally it is found out by the losing party and it turns into a rodeo for a few months. With that said, this article is disturbing because of the severity of the suspected abuse of State property.
I am not "trying to read anything into it" and you stated; rather, I am hopeful that something will be done about this besides a paid administrative leave. If these allegations are true, she should at a minimum lose her position. If that sounds like I have an ax to grind, where are your gathering that from my post?
The Democrats lack the understanding of playing by the rules
You must be new to Ohio
Pink Slip
A "threat to our political system"
There seem to be a lot of Strickland administration officials who have been fired or forced to resign for misconduct -- not to mention an attorney general.
I smell a culture of corruption in Columbus. Methinks that odor will only grow stronger with the Democrats in charge of the House.
I hope not Brian, but time will tell.
It was any better under the previous Republican administration?