Ohio Auditor Dave Yost has made public his plans to run for state attorney general in 2018.
Yost, a former reporter and prosecuting attorney in Delaware County, would follow Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, one of three statewide Republican office holders who have voiced interest in running for governor.
Gov. John Kasich, along with Yost, DeWine and other statewide officeholders, will reach term limits in 2018, triggering an electoral shuffle in Ohio government.
“As a former prosecutor, and as your Auditor of State, I have fought to find the truth and to bring forth justice,” Yost said in a release announcing his candidacy. “I will continue that fight as your Attorney General — in the courts or in City Hall, from the streets to the Statehouse.”
Yost pledged to tackle human trafficking and the opioid epidemic, and to support law enforcement. He cited 110 convictions involving public officials in his first six years as state auditor, Ohio’s top watchdog for public spending and government accountability.
Yost has broken ranks with state and national Republicans. Instead of supporting the deregulation of the charter school sector, Yost has launched numerous investigations that have uncovered overpayment in these privately run public schools. He also refused to endorse President Donald Trump after the Republican presidential primary last year.
In filing his latest campaign finance report Tuesday, Yost reported $1,084,219.82 cash on hand.
In a prepared statement, Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper said: “Dave Yost seeking higher office is a slap in the face to the taxpayers, who are still looking for answers about how he’s mishandled his current job, particularly when it comes to the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow and the for-profit, online school industry.”
Known as ECOT, the online charter school is the largest charter school in Ohio.
“ECOT has bilked Ohio taxpayers for millions of dollars by padding their attendance figures,” Pepper said. “Rather than cracking down, Auditor Yost rewarded their bad behavior, honoring ECOT with an award ‘for distinction’ and speaking at their graduation. Twice.”
The Ohio Democratic Party has not made an endorsement ahead of the 2018 primary for any prospective attorney general candidate, including former U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach of Cleveland.
Dettelbach has not announced his candidacy but launched a fundraiser for the end of this month. He told Cleveland.com that he would make an announcement in the coming weeks.
Other Democrats considered possible attorney general candidates include Ohio Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni of Youngstown and Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn.
Doug Livingston can be reached at 330-996-3792 or dlivingston@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @ABJDoug .