Ken Blackwell, my friend, mentor and reason I got involved in state politics, has endorsed Dave Yost for Auditor:

Ken Blackwell today endorsed Prosecutor Dave Yost for Auditor of State.

“Dave Yost is one of us — a man of integrity who shares and lives our values and convictions,” Blackwell said. “He knows that the government is reaching too far into our lives and too far into our pockets – and with his record and his experience, he has the tools he needs to fight for us.”

Blackwell is an icon among Ohio social conservatives and has often been the standard-bearer for people disaffected with the moderate wing of the Republican Party. “Ken Blackwell, like Barry Goldwater, was conservative long before it was cool to be conservative,” said Gene Pierce, a conservative political analyst. “Like Ken, Dave is pro-smaller government, pro-life, pro-family and pro-tax cuts. There should be no argument from Ohio Republicans about Dave’s heartfelt commitment to a conservative platform of government.”

Blackwell won the Statewide Republican Primary for Governor in 2006. “Ken anticipated and led the ‘No More RINOs’ movement,” Pierce added. “His endorsement will speak volumes in this primary, when people want true conservative leadership.”

Prosecutor Yost welcomed the endorsement. “I’ve known Ken Blackwell for years, and he does not speak lightly, or for the sake of convenience – he’s always about what he believes to be right. I am humbled and honored to have his strong support.”

Ken Blackwell is the most conservative candidate Ohio has ever had for Governor, and is now a major force within the national conservative movement.

From Dave Yost’s campaign for Auditor:

Dave Yost earned the unanimous endorsement of the Belmont County Republican party for his bid to be Ohio’s next State Auditor last night, and picked up strong support in Knox County as well.

“We’re proud to stand with Dave Yost to carry on the legacy of Mary Taylor as a watchdog of our tax dollars,” said Belmont County GOP Chair Kent Moore. “I cannot think of a better candidate than Dave Yost,” he said.

Also, the Knox County Republican Central Committee voted 2-to-1 in favor of Yost for Auditor of State, although the vote tally was one vote short of the supermajority required for a formal endorsement under that county’s bylaws.

“I’m pleased and honored to have the support of Republicans all over the state,” said Yost, who was campaigning along with John Kasich in Putnam County. “Ohio’s government is a mess, and this campaign is about choosing who is ready to tackle that challenge. The last decade of my life has uniquely prepared me to step up for the people of this great State.”

From the Seth Morgan for Auditor campaign:

Auditor of State candidate Seth Morgan, CPA was endorsed by both the Scioto County Republican Party and the Mansfield North Central Tea Party on Tuesday, March 9.

“Seth Morgan clearly is the peoples’ candidate for Auditor of State,” said Rob Scott, Friends of Seth Morgan Communications Director. “Not only is he garnering support of county Republican parties across Ohio, but also is supported by the Tea Party movement. Ohio Republican Chairman Kevin DeWine said just this week what an integral role the tea party movement will play in this year’s election.”

Additionally, the Knox County Republican Party , which neighbors Delaware County, chose not to endorse either candidate in the Auditor of State’s race but to allow the voters in Knox County make their endorsement on May 4.

Team Morgan is really racking up the county endorsements.

I’m waiting for the Yost’s campaign announcement of their endorsement from Belmont County. Their Chairman, Kent Moore, is not exactly a Morgan fan.

So what’s David Pepper up to lately, other than spending his allowance from his parents?

From Dave Yost’s campaign (an email fundraising appeal):

Our campaign for Auditor of State continues to build momentum across Ohio. I had the honor to deliver the key note address at the Champaign County Lincoln Day dinner this week. The GOP faithful were very kind, and gave me a standing ovation! Experience and fiscal integrity are popular themes right now – not just among the Republicans, but among people of all political stripes.

I got to attend the Ohio Right to Life Rally Friday in Columbus. Sarah Palin was really impressive, laying out an empathetic, persuasive argument for the cause. Maybe the best part of the night was working the floor of the auditorium, getting to meet activists from all over the state. More than 70 counties were represented.

Saturday was even better, because I got to meet her personally at Umberto Fedeli’s fundraiser in Cleveland. Darlene was with me at both events, and was really excited to meet Sarah Palin. We closed out that day with the Friends of the NRA dinner in Columbus at Villa Milano.

Of course, I continued to work my day job as Delaware County Prosecutor, going after the bad guys.

I’m sad to report that my primary opponent continues to sling mud. My pledge to you is to run a clean, issues-focused campaign, and to fight back hard when attacked.

And from Seth Morgan’s campaign:

Auditor of State candidate Seth Morgan, CPA announces his support today of Citizens United to End Ohio’s Estate Tax.

“I applaud this grassroots campaign to end Ohio’s Death Tax and urge all Ohioans to join me in supporting this effort to begin the process of returning Ohio back to economic prosperity,” said Seth Morgan, CPA.

“Working families in Ohio have already paid considerable taxes on any money saved during their lifetime, and taxing their hard earned money again at death is unfair, arbitrary and bad for job creation. Additionally, Ohioans are at an added disadvantage because Ohio is one of only a handful of states that levies a death tax at the state level,” Morgan said.

Citizens United to End Ohio’s Estate Tax is a grassroots statutory initiative campaign to end the harmful death tax effective Dec. 31, 2012. The campaign is being supported by fiscal and social conservatives, tea party activists, business and industry groups from across Ohio. For more information, visit www.endohioestatetax.com

There is quite a controversy brewing in the Seth Morgan / Dave Yost primary, which originates from yesterday’s Ohio Right to Life event event with Sarah Palin. (Media coverage can be found here and here. I’ll post video as quickly as it is made available.)

Since I was there, the first report is something I can personally confirm: Many Republican leaders were visibly in attendance and on stage. Also, the Ohio Right to Life PAC, which is spereate from ORTL’s non-profit 501c3, put its slate card on cars in the parking lot. Also Republican candidates, such as Jon Husted, also distributed literature. I suppose this is fine, but the Ohio Right to Life is so important to the cause of ending abortion that– especially at an event with the next Republican nominee for President– if I was running the ORTL, I would make it a specific point to keep anything else that is remotely Republican entirely out of the event. What the IRS giveth, the IRS can taketh away.

But the second report is more interesting: Seth Morgan was kept out of the private reception prior to the Palin’s speech.

I shook Morgan’s hand after the event and he looked rather distracted and unnerved. It was a mob of people trying to leave and he understandably had no time to talk, but today I have figured why he looked how he did.

Seth Morgan did not buy a ticket in advance to the reception, Sarah Palin’s people and major Ohio Right to Life donors invited him in- repeatedly.

What Seth Morgan was reportedly told was that there was simply no room at the $1000/ticket event. Also, a well placed source said they were a tight schedule and there was perhaps no room in the picture line for Morgan or anyone else… many other people were also turned away. But considering the red-hot nature of this primary and the bad PR this could cause, why couldn’t they have made an exception?

Things got so heated that there are reports that lawyers were involved.

While the Morgan campaign has absolutely no interest in commenting on thus, his supporters are speaking up. And I’m hearing through the grapevine that Tom Norris, Lara (Mastin) Norris,  Tim Crawford (who works closely with Palins’s team… The event wouldn’t of happened without him.), and many others were royally pissed because of this situation.

Regardless of why Seth wasn’t allowed in, things were so bad that they made sure to allow him into the Umberto Fedeli event today in Cleveland.

Not that it should have mattered, but the ORTL PAC has not endorsed in the Auditor’s race, and will probably give out a dual endorsement anyway.

And if the situation involved heavy handed politics, then the treatment of Morgan looks far worse for the ORTL than the distribution of campaign literature.

For such an amazing event, this is a horrible parting thought.

And the “squabble” former GOP Chairman Bob Bennett talks about in the Dayton Daily News continues…

Update: Sunday at 10am – Reports are coming in now that Dave Yost was also not at the event and was treated exactly the same, as Yost asked to be comped for a ticket but was turned down. So perhaps the way to have solved this was for candidates to buy tickets in advance? Regardless, Palin’s people and Morgan people were upset.

I was the first to raise questions about Yost Spokesman Matt Borges. Even though the charges have been expunged and it’s entirely probable that the accusations were politically motivated by Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason (who was hoping to become Ohio Auditor), at least $50,000 was illegally transferred! This an image Yost or Borges’ other candidates probably don’t want to be associated with.

Here is Seth Morgan’s letter:

From the Dave Yost for Auditor campaign:

March 2, 2010 – A supermajority of Republican state senators – 16 of 21 — today threw their support behind Prosecutor Dave Yost for Auditor of State.

“Dave Yost has the maturity, judgment and real-life accomplishments to lead,” said Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester. “We have great confidence that he will continue the high standards of professionalism and integrity of the last three Auditors of State.”

Senator Karen Gilmor, R-Tiffin continued, “I believe Dave Yost possess the wisdom, character, and dedication for public service on which Ohioans can rely.”

Prosecutor Yost, who served as an award-winning county auditor from 1999-2003, has already been endorsed by more than 95% of Ohio’s GOP county auditors, most of Ohio’s county prosecutors, the Ohio Republican Party and several county GOP organizations.

Yost said he was grateful for the support. “I look forward to working closely with members of the Ohio General Assembly as Auditor of State,’ Yost said. “These Senators want the same thing that the people of Ohio want – clean, efficient government, from the State House to the county courthouse. I’m prepared to fulfill my role.”

The Senators endorsing Yost are:

1. Sen. Steve Buehrer
2. Sen. John Carey
3. Sen. Gary Cates
4. Sen. Kevin Coughlin
5. Sen. Karen Gillmor
6. Sen. David Goodman
7. Sen. Bill Harris
8. Sen. Jim Hughes
9. Sen. Tom Niehaus
10. Sen. Tom Patton
11. Sen. Kirk Schuring
12. Sen. Bill Seitz
13. Sen. Jimmy Stewart
14. Sen. Mark Wagoner
15. Sen. Chris Widener
16. Sen. Tim Shaffer

With Sen. Tim Grendell supporting Seth Morgan, the hottest question in all of Ohio politics remains:

WHO DOES SHANNON JONES, KEITH FABER, BOB GIBBS, AND JON HUSTED SUPPORT? HUH? HUH?

From the inbox:

Auditor of State candidate Seth Morgan, CPA was endorsed by the Cuyahoga County Republican Party on Tuesday, March 2.

“Seth Morgan is the most qualified candidate of either party for Auditor of State,” said Rob Scott, Friends of Seth Morgan Communications Director. “Cuyahoga’s endorsement solidifies Seth’s support across Ohio.”

During the endorsement meeting, former Ohio Republican Chairman Bob Bennett moved to endorse both Auditor of State candidates Seth Morgan, CPA and Dave Yost which was promptly struck down. Immediately after, the Cuyahoga County Republican Central Committee endorsed Seth Morgan overwhelmingly for Auditor of State.

It is important to note that out of a 600 member committee, only 160 members (27%) voted tonight. I’m surprised that counts as quorum, but it does.

From the Seth Morgan for Auditor campaign:

The list of support for Auditor of State candidate Seth Morgan, CPA, continues to expand with a group of influential legislators have announced their public support for his candidacy for Auditor of State.

Legislators for Morgan are:

State Representative John Adams (78th District), Minority Whip
State Representative Pete Beck (67th District)
State Representative Terry Blair (38th District)
State representative Terry Boose (58th District)
State Representative Danny Bubp (88th District)
State Representative Dave Burke (83rd District)
State Representative Courtney Eric Combs (54th District)
State Senator Tim Grendell (18th District)
State Representative Dave Hall (97th District)
State Representative Cliff Hite (76th District)
State Representative Ron Maag (35th District)
State Representative Jarrod Martin (70th District)
State Representative Jeff McClain (82nd District)
State Representative Margaret Ann Ruhl (90th District)
State Representative Barb Sears (46th District)
State Representative Joe Uecker (66th District)
State Representative Lynn Wachtmann (75th District)

“It is becoming clearer with each day that Seth Morgan has the people’s endorsement for this race,” said State Representative and Minority Whip John Adams. “Seth has a great reputation for being an unflinching conservative, true to his word. Seth Morgan is drawing support from all corners of the state, and I can’t think of a better CPA to continue the excellent work of Mary Taylor.”

Just about everyone on this list is instantly recognizable to me as some of the most outspoken conservative legislators in Ohio.

The rumor is, there are other legislators in the House who support Morgan for Auditor, but they won’t go public because those in question supported former State Rep. Matt Dolan of Geauga County, a liberal, for the minority leadership role over Rep. Bill Batchelder of Medina County. (Morgan has been one of the staunchest supporters of Batchelder.) But many legislators have made it know that they won’t be endorsing Dave Yost unless he wins the primary.

However, remember how useful legislative endorsements were for Jim Petro in 2006? Yeah, so do I.

From the Dave Yost for Auditor campaign:

Delaware County Prosecutor Dave Yost tonight secured the endorsement for Ohio Auditor of State from the Delaware County Republican Central and Executive Committee, defeating State Representative Seth Morgan with 73% of those who voted for a candidate. Yost was previously endorsed by the Ohio Republican Party, as well as the Muskingum County Republican party, and a majority of Ohio’s Republican county auditors.

“I am humbled and honored that my fellow Delaware County Republicans have put their confidence in me to best serve the people of Ohio by protecting their tax dollars,” Yost said.

Yost’s record in office reflects a strong commitment to rooting out public corruption, protecting Ohios hard-working citizens, and safeguarding taxpayer dollars. He is the only candidate for Auditor of State of either party who has actually served as a county auditor, having done so in Delaware County from 1999 to 2003. As auditor, Yost won the prestigious Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting four times from the Government Finance Officers Association.

“This is a big win that gives our campaign even more momentum than we had already gained. Delaware County is one of Ohio’s most formidable Republican strongholds, so this endorsement is crucial for any candidate running for statewide office,” Campaign Manager Brent Swander said.

Now serving his third term as Delaware County Prosecutor, Yost has served as a special prosecutor, securing five convictions against corrupt public officials of both parties in several Ohio counties, including his own county’s sheriff.

“Dave Yost is a very known commodity in Delaware County. He has a nearly perfect skill set, background, and proven track record in office to help him build on the accomplishments of current State Auditor Mary Taylor,” said Teri Morgan, Delaware County Republican Chair.

And wouldn’t you love to know what’s going on her with Summit County GOP County Chairman Alex Arshinkoff’s endorsement? He is able to win elections in a county where he is heavily out numbered, but his history doesn’t match the TEA party brand Rep. Morgan favors:

Alex Arshinkoff, Chairman of the Summit County Republican Party and statewide Republican leader, has endorsed Seth Morgan for Auditor of State.

“Seth clearly is the most qualified candidate to be Ohio’s next auditor. He espouses many of Mary Taylor’s qualities as a state auditor candidate, and voters made it clear in 2006 having a CPA as their fiscal watchdog is important. Seth is a fresh face with bold ideas, and the excitement his campaign is generating is just what our ticket needs to beat the Democrats in the fall,” said Summit County Republican Party Chairman Alex Arshinkoff.

“I’m honored to have the public support of Chairman Arshinkoff,” said Seth Morgan, CPA. “Alex is a longstanding, respected leader within the Republican establishment here in Ohio, and to gain his endorsement is truly exciting for this campaign and adds to my campaigns broad support throughout Ohio.”

Alex Arshinkoff is largely considered to be the leading county party chairman in Ohio, and has served in that position for 33 years. Chairman Arshinkoff made his first run for office at age 18, while a student at The University of Akron, seeking election to the City Council’s 5th Ward in Akron. At age 23, he became one of the youngest county Republican chairman in Ohio.

This morning, the Seth Morgan for Ohio Auditor campaign sent out a press release noting they were endorsed by Family First PAC:

Auditor of State candidate Seth Morgan, CPA was endorsed by Family First PAC for Auditor of State.

“Family First is honored to endorse Representative Seth Morgan CPA for Auditor of State. Seth Morgan has a proven record on the issues of limited government, school choice, pro-life, the sanctity of marriage, and responsible spending and taxation,” said Lori Viars, Executive Director of Family First.

“Seth has proven himself as a solid fiscal conservative and social conservative, as well as a man of integrity. With his credentials and experience as a CPA, Ohioans could not ask for a more qualified watchdog for our tax dollars,” Viars said.

Family First is a conservative political action committee serving Ohio and Northern Kentucky. More info can be found at www.familyfirstpac.org.

In other news, I’m quite concerned that Dave Yost’s campaign spokesman is Matt Borges. He recently worked on the John McCain campaign for President and has worked with Congressman John Boehner, but he is most famous for his role in the scandals that took place in the office of former Ohio Treasurer Joe Deters (Deters is now the Hamilton Count Prosecutor).

I don’t point this out, Seth Morgan and David Pepper would be more than happy to.

This is from The Cincinnati Enquirer (July 28, 2004):

COLUMBUS – Two top associates of state Treasurer Joseph Deters pleaded guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor charges involving campaign fund raising.

The guilty pleas of former Deters chief-of-staff Matthew Borges and former fund-raiser Eric Sagun conclude a year-long investigation by a grand jury in Cuyahoga County that threatened Deters’ ambitions to run for attorney general in 2006.

Deters, a former Hamilton County prosecutor and county Republican Party chairman, testified before the grand jury in June and will not face criminal charges, said Thomas Sammon, special Cuyahoga County prosecutor assigned to investigate the case.

Borges, 32, of Columbus pleaded guilty to one count of improper use of public office, a misdemeanor, and was fined $1,000 by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Eileen Gallagher. Court documents said he gave preferential treatment to certain brokers who made contributions to Deters’ re-election campaign.

Sagun, 35, of Columbus pleaded guilty to one count of election law violations and was fined $5,000.

Court documents said he solicited a $50,000 donation from Cleveland broker Frank Gruttadauria in December 2001 for the Hamilton County Republican Party when the two intended the money to benefit Deters’ re-election campaign.

At the time, Sagun was raising money for Deters and the Hamilton County Republican Party.

Gruttadauria is in prison for bilking his clients out of $125 million.

He has admitted masking the donation to Deters by running it through the county party’s operating fund – a secret account that can accept unlimited, undisclosed donations.

He also admitted to repaying clients and employees $7,000 for donations they made to Deters’ campaign.[...]

Sammon, who worked out the plea agreements, said if Borges is so convinced of his innocence, he should vacate his plea and go to trial.

“He pled guilty and is admitting to the charges,” he said. “How is he now saying he only did this for convenience sake?”

SG Cowen Corp. and Lehman Brothers Inc. hired Gruttadauria, and from 1999 to 2001 they did a combined $5.9 billion in investment trades with Deters’ office.

“If one reads what (Borges) admitted doing, he used the power of his office to gain favorable treatment for vendors that did business with the office,” Sammon said.

“To me, that’s a very serious offense.”

An attorney for Sagun did not return messages seeking comment.

Deters issued a one-sentence statement.

“I feel badly for Matt and Eric, but I understand why they wanted to bring this matter to an end,” Deters said.

I am all for redemption and second chances in life. Every one in life, at some point, sins and falls short of expectations.

But I don’t think you should get this type of second chance in public life if you are out there accepting $50,000 of kickbacks on behalf of state wide officials. And this was only what they could prove in court- PACs were set up to funnel in hundreds of thousands of dollars for firms that wanted to handle the tobacco money (the same money which Strickland is squandering), Firth Third Securities was fined $1 million for pay-to-play which also included $250,000 of donations in employee contributions to Deters, and 5 Columbus brokers exchanged $125,000 in campaign contributions for millions in state contracts. What happened in Joe Deters’ office, over and over again, was criminal, and certainly added to the toxic climate for Republicans that would eventually sweep them out of all but one state-wide office and out of the Ohio House majority in 2006.

The rumor is that this job was arranged by Jo Ann Davidson and the Franklin County GOP Chairman as a way to attempt to control Yost’s office if he is successful in November against the spoiled brat rich boy David Pepper. Other party insiders think that is a huge stretch to assume.

What would Borges end up being in the Auditor’s office? Yost’s official bribe taker? Dave Yost has such a fantastic record of fighting crime as a prosecutor and ensuring his office is run with the highest ethical scandals… so he really couldn’t have found someone more counter to his principles than Matt Borges.

Update at 5:12pm: Yost’s response is quite funny:

Here is Seth Morgan’s cease and desist letter:

Maybe it has been stated elsewhere, but the Yost campaign has since removed the blog post from his site. Here is Google’s cache.

Obviously Team Yost wants voters to know he has the only experience as a PUBLICLY ELECTED auditor. But Morgan as an accountant is certainly an auditor in the private sector. This wording issue is splitting hairs, but I don’t blame Morgan for raising a fuss.

Teri Morgan says "Keep that TEA away from me."

From yesterday’s The Delaware Gazette by Andrew Tobias:

Communications between a member of a local group with “Tea Party” ties and the county’s Republican Party chair has led to a request for security at an upcoming meeting.

A member of the group has asked to speak at the Feb. 25 Delaware County Republican Party central committee meeting during which the county party is expected to vote to endorse county prosecutor Dave Yost in his run for Auditor of State. The party will also vote on whether or not to issue an endorsement for the local county commissioner race.

Earlier this week, Powell resident Mike Gemperline called county GOP chair Teri Morgan to inquire about the Feb. 25 meeting, which he plans to protest.

Gemperline, 55, is a member of the Delaware County 9/12 group, which he describes as a loosely-affiliated group without membership rolls that meets semi-monthly at a local Panera Bread store.

The group’s name is a reference to the “nine principles” and “12 values” espoused by conservative talk show host Glenn Beck, and part of his effort to launch a grassroots political movement.

The 9/12 movement is somewhat affiliated with the Tea Party movement, which itself is non-centralized and non-specific.

Gemperline said in a phone interview he is concerned that “progressives” have infiltrated the Republican Party. He said he is also concerned with what that will mean for the direction of the United States.

Gemperline said he told Morgan he doesn’t think the local Republican Party should endorse before the primary election.

“Our observation is there’s a ‘good ol’ boys’ club, and that’s got to stop. The American people need to choose, not the club,” he said.

Gemperline was part of a group that on Feb. 2 protested the state Republican Party’s decision to ask Yost to redirect his efforts from a contested primary for state attorney general against former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine to instead run for auditor of state.

Yost had positioned himself as a more conservative alternative to DeWine, who Gemperline called a “milquetoast Republican.”

“He might as well be a Democrat,” Gemperline said.

Gemperline also told Morgan he plans to protest outside the Delaware Area Career Center North Campus, where the meeting will be held. However, Morgan told him he could not speak during the proceedings. Although the endorsement meetings are open to the public and media, the county Republican Party does not typically allow public participation.

Morgan on Tuesday e-mailed Delaware County Sheriff Walter L. Davis III, asking him about providing deputies to provide security at the event.

Read the rest of the article for more details here. It also includes the obligatory, obvious quote from a political science professor- This time, it happens to be OSU’s Herb Asher, who I took multiple classes with. I like him personally, but it is journalistic malpractice whenever a newspaper doesn’t mention that he is also a long-time Democrat political operative. He probably agrees.

Delaware County has been the fastest growing area in Ohio and is heavily Republican, so there are plenty of new residents who may not have any relationships with the entrenched local political establishment but are staunch Beck fans or Dittoheads. So instead of welcoming them in, they call the sheriff?

I don’t know if what Mike Gemperline said was “very unreasonable and threatening” or not. And while the protesters at the ORP during the state endorsement meeting were right to be frustrated with DeWine, they were VERY misguided to protest against Delaware Co. Prosecutor Dave Yost personally, as he is every bit as conservative as Rep. Seth Morgan. Plus, there are so many other constructive problems for TEA partiers to cause- Such as stopping the Third Frontier renewal, eliminating the Ohio estate tax, running for central committee, or taking part in my favorite hobby: messing with tax-raising Gov. Strickland.

But as a whole, the unorganized TEA party groups should be embraced by the Republican Party. If a liberal county GOP Chairman like Robert Frost can do that, then why can’t Teri Morgan?

From the Inbox:

Huber Heights, Ohio – Auditor of State candidate Seth Morgan, CPA was endorsed by the Greene County Republican Party with 60 percent of the vote on Thursday, February 18.

“Seth Morgan continues to be recognized as the most qualified candidate of either party for Auditor of State,” said Rob Scott, Friends of Seth Morgan Communications Director. “This endorsement further builds on the huge base of support Seth has gathered across Ohio.”

Ohio Republican Chairman Kevin DeWine currently serves as a Greene County Central Committee member and resides in the county. Both Morgan and his primary opponent Delaware County Prosecutor Dave Yost were in attendance to ask for the county’s endorsement for state auditor.

So what’s going on here with Rep. Morgan being endorsed by two very red counties?

From William Hershey in The Dayton Daily News:

Morgan entered the auditor’s race after incumbent Republican Auditor Mary Taylor, like Morgan a CPA, joined GOP gubernatorial candidate John Kasich as his lieutenant governor running mate.

Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine, however, asked Yost to enter the race and paved the way for his endorsement. Yost had been running for the GOP nomination for attorney general against former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, Kevin DeWine’s second cousin.

Members of the Tea Party movement and other anti-Mike DeWine conservatives lashed out at the move by the state party. They want Morgan in the race for auditor and Yost in the attorney general race. Kevin DeWine said Yost, as a prosecutor and former county auditor, had the experience needed for the state auditor’s race and was already geared up for a statewide campaign.

“I think Seth could have a bright future in our party if he makes the right decisions,” Kevin DeWine said in an e-mail. “He’s a politically ambitious young man and sometimes that desire to climb the political ladder can make you do things you end up regretting.”

The state chairman said that he knows many of Morgan’s House colleagues asked him to stick around to help them try to regain the majority.

However, State Rep. John Adams, R-Sidney, House Republican whip, the number three GOP leadership position, is behind Morgan in the auditor’s because of his CPA credentials and “his tenacity and work ethic.”

“I don’t believe his political career will be over with, whatever happens in the auditor’s race,” said Adams.

This primary battle is between two solid conservatives, and I wish it wasn’t taking place. The grassroots should be focused elsewhere- ie, defeating Gov. Strickland, defeating the Third Frontier, and winning back the Congress.

However, Rep. Morgan has every right to run and is qualified for the job.  I think DeWine’s comment about Seth “doing things he may end up regretting” is a really uncalled for and sounds very threatening. Between voting for massive tax-increases in the legislature and his repeated verbal attacks on the conservative wing of the Republican Party, Kevin DeWine already has more to “regret” than Seth Morgan could rack up in 10 lifetimes of political maneuvering.

Kevin, you have handled this entire situation poorly. No matter what the specific details are, you have managed, in a politically toxic environment for Democrats, to make a huge distraction for Republicans. So please, just shut up!

From the Inbox:

Huber Heights, Ohio – State Auditor candidate Seth Morgan, CPA was endorsed by the Brown County Republican Party with 75 percent of the vote on Thursday, Feb. 11.

“Republican leaders in Brown County selected Seth Morgan overwhelmingly,” said Rob Scott, Friends of Seth Morgan Communications Director. “This is just another example of leaders across our state publicly recognizing that Seth Morgan is the most qualified candidate of either party for Auditor of State.”

Both Morgan and Delaware County Prosecutor Dave Yost were in attendance to ask for the county’s endorsement for state auditor. Yost received 13 percent of the vote.

“This endorsement further solidifies the base of support Seth is gathering across the state. Not only is he being supported by the leaders of conservative organizations statewide as well as the Tea Party movement, the Republican ‘establishment’ is joining these groups and proclaiming Seth as their candidate for Auditor no matter what the Party ‘elite’ want the rank and file to believe”, said Emery Phipps, Friends of Seth Morgan Political Director.

And they simply decided to not endorse at all in the Attorney General’s race.

From Seth Morgan:

As I noted before, Mike DeWine’s campaign, at least for awhile, was a mess and they had to dump my friend and former co-worker Amanda Sima (in addition to their campaign spokesman Jon Seaton).

Today, the Seth Morgan for Auditor campaign announces Amanda is now their Finance Director. Amanda said in the press release: “Seth has the qualifications and grassroots support as Ohio’s next auditor. I’m excited to hit the ground running to support him.”

Kyle Sisk’s anonymous blog-gal has a lot to say about the November elections, and this paragraph mentions something I was wondering about in the AG race:

5.  Yes law firms will be forced to consider hedging their bets, but one thing that will prevent many of them from doing so is the Alex factor.  Many law firms know that even if they support (Mike) DeWine and DeWine wins the AG work will be controlled by Alex Arshinkoff, so it may not matter anyway.   And why do you call out Roetzel and Lee Smith?   You made a lot of money off Roetzel and Lee Smith during your time raising money for Montgomery and Petro.  Bad karma to throw them under the bus.

I don’t know enough about Summit County politics to comment on Chairman Arshinkoff, except to say he is a tough party boss and he has a long-time relationship with Mike DeWine, just like he has with Mary Taylor. There is no doubt he would have influence in a Mike DeWine AG office when it comes to what law firms work for the office.

But, those TEA partiers supporting Seth Morgan should think about is his campaign launch announcement on Jan. 21 when he proudly noted that Alex is (was?) a strong supporter of his candidacy. I was surprised no one asked him about it during the Q&A, but reporters are lazy and it was early.

In this situation, the concern about Mike DeWine is the same for Seth Morgan.

I don’t say any of this to disparage Rep. Morgan, Auditor Taylor, or anyone else in the slightest. In fact, it probably isn’t a terrible idea to have a strong party leader like Alex on your side. But I want to politely explain to causal TEA partier that every politician engages in “politics as usual” on some level or another.

The Ohio Liberty Council, with is a loose association of central-Ohio libertarians and John Birchers, posted pictures of the rally here.

Update: Who is Yoast?

Update: Video has been posted to YouTube:

And Progress Ohio revels in the Alinskyesque nature of angry protesters.