Appointees to state boards and commissions are worth tracking: Mark Naymik

View full sizeJay LaPrete, Associated PressGov. John Kasich will have to fill more than 1,000 openings on the Department of Boards and Commissions.

There's a place in state government where you can go to pad your political resume, pick up a little health care coverage and credit toward retirement, or enjoy some college football perks.

It's called the Department of Boards and Commissions.

Long controlled by the governor's office, it places hundreds of people on nearly 270 independent bodies that have authority over such varied concerns as Ohio's casinos, ski lifts and public universities as well as over professionals such as health care workers and morticians.

Like his predecessors, Gov. John Kasich will have to fill more than 1,000 openings. So far, the first-term Republican has named nearly 300 people to open positions. He names more almost daily.

Not everyone should apply.

The track record of both Democratic and Republican governors shows preference goes to ex-officials, wealthy do-gooders, party operatives and aides to elected officials. While most seats provide only a modest stipend and travel expenses, some are financially and politically lucrative.

Kasich, for instance, appointed Republican and former U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce as chairwoman of the Liquor Control Commission. The board demands a lot of work but provides among the best compensation for board members: About $50,000 plus health care benefits and pension.

Kasich tapped Amy Sabath for the Ohio Lottery Commission, an agency the governor hopes to privatize. Sabath is a Republican campaign and fundraising consultant who's worked on top statewide campaigns. More recently, Kasich added James Brady, a  Shaker Heights city councilman and former Republican, to the commission. Each will get $5,000 and pension credit, which is as good as a winning lottery ticket.

A spot on the prestigious State Medical Board went to Laurie Elsass, wife of Rex Elsass, a top Republican media consultant.

Kasich appointed Republican and former State Sen. Jimmy Stewart to the Ohio Water Development Authority. Sure, it's not as exciting as being a trustee of The Ohio State University. But Stewart receives $5,000 and qualifies for the state's health care coverage. University trustees, by the way, receive no salary or benefits but have access to good seats to sporting events.

These are just a few of the connected Republicans Kasich has appointed so far. Not everybody is a member of the GOP. The rules for some boards require members be named from both parties.

Reviewing a list, I noticed another marker of success: Be from a county other than Cuyahoga County.

Only 20 of Kasich's appointments are from the state's largest county. Coincidentally, it's also the most Democratic.

In addition to Brady, among those who made the cut from Cuyahoga County are Republican businessman and former U.S. Rep. Martin Hoke, who is on the Casino Control Commission; and James Boland, who was picked for the new economic development board, JobsOhio. Boland is a former Ernst & Young and Cleveland Cavaliers executive who also served on the board of directors with Kasich at the medical device company, Invacare.

Looking slightly broader, Northeast Ohio has strong representation on the Lottery Commission, which is based in Cleveland, and on the Casino Control Commission.

Residents of the more centrally located Franklin County, grabbed nearly 80 spots. Residents in nearby Delaware County received 18. Hamilton County, which includes Cincinnati, produced 16 board and commission members.

I asked Kasich about why there seems to be a bias against Cuyahoga County.

"This is an ongoing process guided not by geographic quotas but by the openings that arise, the requirements of service and the pool of candidates who apply for openings to largely unpaid, volunteer positions," spokesman Rob Nichols said. "We're continually looking for dedicated Ohioans who want to serve and welcome any and all recommendations from Northeast Ohio and the rest of the state."

A more important questions: Will the governor try reduce the number of boards and commission to make government more efficient and less political?

"Just as Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor is continuing to review all of Ohio's rules and regulations to eliminate duplication and waste, we are likely to apply that same level of scrutiny to our boards and commissions," Nichols said.

Republican Gov. Bob Taft tried to reduce the number of boards by consolidating some of their administrative functions into state departments while keeping the boards independent. But powerful professional boards persuaded the legislature to leave them alone.

The issue is worth a hearing.

I know members of both parties on boards and commissions. Most are hard working and committed. But if anyone doubts the need for some reform, remember Tom Noe, the rogue coin dealer and Republican fund-raiser, who is now in jail for stealing millions from the Bureau of Workers' Compensation investment fund.

A college dropout, Noe was appointed by then-governor George Voinovich to the board of directors at Bowling Green State University and the Ohio Board of Regents.

Noe used the positions to boost his reputation and Rolodex.

Most applicants want a few more years of public pension credit or health care benefits.

That shouldn't be the goal.

Here's a list of people appointed to state boards and commissions by Gov. John Kasich. The list only reflects those appointed through mid-October. Others have been appointed since and are included in the story's tally.

Feel free to point out people from either party with political connections. You can email me at mnaymik@plaind.com.