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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061007...eecdMlh24cA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-
Trial may hurt Ohio GOP on Election Day
By JOHN SEEWER, Associated Press Writer2 hours, 18 minutes ago
Just a month before the elections, a former Republican fundraising star is set to go on trial on charges that he stole millions of dollars from a state investment in rare coins.
The timing couldn't be worse for the GOP. Democrats, who haven't won a statewide executive office since 1990, are poised to take back the governor's office and are in position to win a majority of the five statewide races, according to recent polls.
National Democratic leaders also are watching closely because Ohio again is widely expected to play a key role in picking the next president. The party believes that if it can capture Ohio's governor's office, it will have a better shot at winning the state in 2008.
The trial of Tom Noe will shine a spotlight on Republican Party problems even though its leaders have worked to distance themselves from the former coin dealer who managed the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation's $50 million rare coin investment.
"You couldn't think of much worse to happen to a state party during a critical election," said William Binning, a political scientist at Youngstown State University who has worked on past GOP campaigns.
The scandal has become a dominant issue in Ohio over the last 18 months along with the state's sluggish economy. Investigations into Noe's coin investments led to separate ethics charges against Gov. Bob Taft, who pleaded no contest last year to failing to report golf outings and other gifts.
Noe has pleaded not guilty to state charges of theft, money laundering, forgery and a corrupt activity charge that includes accusations he stole more than $2 million. He faces up to 10 years if convicted on the corrupt activity charge.
Whatever happens in state court, Noe already faces more than two years in federal prison after pleading guilty earlier this year to improperly funneling $45,000 to President Bush's re-election campaign. He won't be sent to federal prison until after the state charges are resolved.
The state trial is set to begin Tuesday, and is expected to last at least six weeks through Election Day on Nov. 7.
Among those who could be called to testify are state Auditor Betty Montgomery, who is running for attorney general, and James Conrad, former director of the workers' compensation bureau.
A big question is whether testimony will link Noe's fundraising for Republicans with his management of the coin fund. A prosecutor said last month during a pretrial hearing that Noe got the deal because of his political connections.
Noe used his political connections to win appointments to state boards that oversee the Ohio Turnpike and Ohio's public universities.
Attention on the trial now could make it difficult for GOP candidates locked in tight races.
"It focuses the debate where Republicans can least afford to have it, and that's on this administration's greatest failure," said Rex Elsass, once the head of the Ohio GOP and now a media consultant.
"Most of it has had its impact," said James Ruvolo, a Democratic consultant from Toledo. "Of course, if something new comes out, it's a whole different story."
Ohio started its rare coin investments in 1998, giving Noe $25 million, followed by another $25 million in 2001.
Democrats charge that the deal demonstrates a culture of corruption that has set in while Republicans have been in charge.
Investigators began looking into the coin investment after The Blade wrote about the fund in April 2005.
State officials initially defended the investment, saying it earned more than $15 million. But then Noe's attorney told investigators the fund had a shortfall of at least $10 million.
A state lawsuit later accused Noe of improperly taking more than $4 million from the funds to pay himself and his coin collection business.
Trial may hurt Ohio GOP on Election Day
By JOHN SEEWER, Associated Press Writer2 hours, 18 minutes ago
Just a month before the elections, a former Republican fundraising star is set to go on trial on charges that he stole millions of dollars from a state investment in rare coins.
The timing couldn't be worse for the GOP. Democrats, who haven't won a statewide executive office since 1990, are poised to take back the governor's office and are in position to win a majority of the five statewide races, according to recent polls.
National Democratic leaders also are watching closely because Ohio again is widely expected to play a key role in picking the next president. The party believes that if it can capture Ohio's governor's office, it will have a better shot at winning the state in 2008.
The trial of Tom Noe will shine a spotlight on Republican Party problems even though its leaders have worked to distance themselves from the former coin dealer who managed the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation's $50 million rare coin investment.
"You couldn't think of much worse to happen to a state party during a critical election," said William Binning, a political scientist at Youngstown State University who has worked on past GOP campaigns.
The scandal has become a dominant issue in Ohio over the last 18 months along with the state's sluggish economy. Investigations into Noe's coin investments led to separate ethics charges against Gov. Bob Taft, who pleaded no contest last year to failing to report golf outings and other gifts.
Noe has pleaded not guilty to state charges of theft, money laundering, forgery and a corrupt activity charge that includes accusations he stole more than $2 million. He faces up to 10 years if convicted on the corrupt activity charge.
Whatever happens in state court, Noe already faces more than two years in federal prison after pleading guilty earlier this year to improperly funneling $45,000 to President Bush's re-election campaign. He won't be sent to federal prison until after the state charges are resolved.
The state trial is set to begin Tuesday, and is expected to last at least six weeks through Election Day on Nov. 7.
Among those who could be called to testify are state Auditor Betty Montgomery, who is running for attorney general, and James Conrad, former director of the workers' compensation bureau.
A big question is whether testimony will link Noe's fundraising for Republicans with his management of the coin fund. A prosecutor said last month during a pretrial hearing that Noe got the deal because of his political connections.
Noe used his political connections to win appointments to state boards that oversee the Ohio Turnpike and Ohio's public universities.
Attention on the trial now could make it difficult for GOP candidates locked in tight races.
"It focuses the debate where Republicans can least afford to have it, and that's on this administration's greatest failure," said Rex Elsass, once the head of the Ohio GOP and now a media consultant.
"Most of it has had its impact," said James Ruvolo, a Democratic consultant from Toledo. "Of course, if something new comes out, it's a whole different story."
Ohio started its rare coin investments in 1998, giving Noe $25 million, followed by another $25 million in 2001.
Democrats charge that the deal demonstrates a culture of corruption that has set in while Republicans have been in charge.
Investigators began looking into the coin investment after The Blade wrote about the fund in April 2005.
State officials initially defended the investment, saying it earned more than $15 million. But then Noe's attorney told investigators the fund had a shortfall of at least $10 million.
A state lawsuit later accused Noe of improperly taking more than $4 million from the funds to pay himself and his coin collection business.
