Reply #1: OH: Ohio Leg to Bar Chief Election Officer from Campaign Positions

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Blackwell would be barred from heading another presidential campaign. But can he be barred from running for Governor? Isn’t that a clever question? He’ll put in place; he has put in place, the election system that he’ll run in for governor of Ohio. That guy is always one step ahead.

http://www.onnnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=4204982&nav=Lrzs

Bill would limit secretary of state's campaign activities

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio's chief elections officer would no longer be able to hold two jobs seemingly at odds with each other _ counting votes and backing candidates _ under changes to an election-reform bill released Monday.

In a jab at GOP Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, criticized for his honorary role in the Bush-Cheney campaign last year, fellow Republicans want to prohibit such dual responsibilities in the future.

"It is reasonable to expect that a person making decisions during and after an election about a campaign should not be an interested party to that campaign," said Sen. Kevin Coughlin, a Republican from Cuyahoga Falls in northeastern Ohio.

He said the proposal came out of the perceived conflict-of-interest last year when Blackwell was an honorary vice chairman in the Bush-Cheney campaign.

Blackwell, running for governor next year, held that campaign post along with other statewide Republican officials.

The proposal also prohibits the secretary of state from taking an active role on a ballot issue, although it would not affect issues already in the pipeline.

That would seem to allow Blackwell to proceed with his own proposal, headed for the ballot next year, to limit the state's ability to increase spending and taxes.

Blackwell was reviewing the changes and had no immediate comment, spokesman Carlo LoParo said.

The bill to be introduced Tuesday in the Senate Rules Committee would also require that all Ohio voters show identification at the polls to curb voter fraud.