Neil W. McCabe, the national political editor of The Star News Network, interviewed former congressman and Ohio Republican gubernatorial hopeful James B. Renacci about the March 4 letter to rival candidate Joe Blystone from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s director of the campaign finance office, Brian Katz.
Both Renacci and Blystone are primary challenging Ohio Gov. R. Michael DeWine to keep him from winning a second term.
TRANSCRIPT
Neil W. McCabe: Farmer Joe Blystone is the third man in the race for the Ohio Republican nomination for governor against former congressman Jim Renacci and Governor Mike DeWine. The Star News Network has obtained a 20 page letter from the office of Secretary of State Frank Rose questioning dozens of contributions and expenditures in Blystone’s campaign filings.
The May 4th letter signed by Lee Rose’s director of campaign finance, Brian Katz, listed 27 issues of concern with Blystone semi-annual and annual 2021 filings.
Renacci told The Star News Network, you cannot be expected to run Ohio. If you cannot run your own campaign.
Jim Renacci: Election integrity also includes election finance integrity. Clearly Blystone got into this race potentially for the right reasons, but was ill prepared. He’s got serious issues with collecting money. That’s unreported, collecting cash without names attached to it. Payments without expenditures
Neil W. McCabe: Renacci said Blystone might be new to politics, but he still needs to follow the rules.
Jim Renacci: What you will hear from Mr. Blystone as well. He’s just a farmer and he didn’t understand this, but let’s face it: clearly, based on what I’ve seen from the secretary of state’s review, he has mismanaged this very, very badly.
Neil W. McCabe: The former Congressman and gubernatorial hopeful said he appreciates Blystone his good intentions, and he shares the goal of taking down DeWine.
Jim Renacci: Mr Blystone got into this race for all the right reasons. Many of his followers want to see governor DeWine not be reelected, Jim Renacci does not want to see governor DeWine be reelected, and my supporters do not want to see, Governor DeWine be reelected.
Neil W. McCabe: The Ohio primary is scheduled for May 3rd.
Reporting for The Star News Network – Neil w McCabe; Washington.
