Reply #13: Blackwell Sends Letter Asking for Illegal Contributions

[dzika]

January 8, 2005

Blackwell Sends Letter Asking for Illegal Contributions


COLUMBUS (AP) -- The state's chief elections officer, already accused of mishandling the presidential vote in Ohio and criticized for backing President Bush, sent a fund-raising letter for his 2006 gubernatorial campaign in which he asks for illegal corporate contributions.

Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, a Republican who co-chaired the Bush-Cheney campaign in Ohio, said the request for corporate checks in a letter to GOP donors and activists was an oversight. His spokesman, Carlo LoParo, said on Saturday that any corporate donations would be returned.

The letter said "corporate & personal checks are welcome." Corporate donations are illegal in Ohio. Jeff Ledbetter, fund-raising coordinator for Blackwell's gubernatorial campaign, blamed a printer for using a template for an issue committee, which is allowed to accept corporate donations.


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http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=2783219