Round 1 of the emerging legal battle in Ohio. From The Cleveland Plain Dealer:
Ohio Republicans have asked Attorney General Jim Petro to determine whether his former running mate is eligible to replace Republican Rep. Bob Ney on the November ballot for Congress.
Democrats said it’s a conflict of interest for Petro to decide a question about State Sen. Joy Padgett, who ran for lieutenant governor this spring on Petro’s defeated gubernatorial ticket.
“If anyone believes that Jim Petro is not going to do what he can to help his former running mate, they are being politically naive,” said Ohio Democratic Party spokesman Brian Rothenberg.
Petro spokeswoman Kim Norris denied that the request presents a conflict for her boss, and said it would be handled by career civil servants whose work is widely respected.
“The attorney general is the statutory authority who gives opinions on this issue,” said Norris, predicting an opinion could be issued as early as today.
