On Wednesday, we posted that the majority of the Cleveland Plain Dealer Editorial Board, Ed Fitzgerald’s hometown newspaper, called for his running mate, State Senator Eric Kearney, to quit the ticket. Some even said that Fitzgerald should drop him if he refuses to quit.
Kearney needs to vacate the ticket before he sheds any more embarrassment on FitzGerald. If not, FitzGerald needs to punt Kearney.
Now the Youngstown Vindicator has joined them.
When a state legislator and his wife owe back taxes to the state and federal governments, and have property liens of about $1 million filed against them, no amount of explanations will satisfy a public already disillusioned with government.
In our estimation, the non-payment of taxes disqualifies Kearney from the position of lieutenant governor.
FitzGerald should do the right thing and drop Kearney from the ticket.
The Vindicator’s David Skolnick calls Kearney’s spin on his business failings “incomprehensible”.
The Kearney spin is what he’s experiencing as a small businessman is “something the average Ohioan can understand.” But the average Ohioan pays taxes and could never comprehend owing $730,000 to $825,000 in unpaid taxes.
Once again, this entire debacle shows where Ed Fitzgerald’s real priorities lie. In an attempt to repel criticisms about his treatment of fellow black Democrats, and possibly to secure Rep. Marcia Fudge’s endorsement, he rushed out an announcement that he was adding Kearney, an African-American, as his running mate.
He paid no attention to the fact that Kearney has a poor record of managing several small businesses, each one eventually being sued or seriously delinquent on its taxes.
He put politics ahead of selecting the right leader for the job. Ahead of the interests of the people of Ohio who would employ him.
That alone also speaks to Fitzgerald’s qualifications to run the state government, and disqualified him as well.
