[img_assist|nid=1661|title=Mike Moran|desc=mikemoran.org|link=none|align=right|width=100|height=97]After being accused of choosing Las Vegas over protecting the Great Lakes, state Rep. Richard Nero (R-Hudson) is accusing opponent Mike Moran (D-Hudson) of being a tool of the same union that pushed for paid-sick days in Ohio.

Nero said yesterday that the Service Employees International Union didn’t give up on its push to pass a paid sick day initiative on Election Day but instead focused its efforts to pass legislation on winning control of the stop the sick day ballot initiative but have now focused their energy on influencing state House races.

“They went around and found the most pro-union, most-easy to buy candidates out there and Mike Moran was on the top of their list,” he said.

The SEIU 1199 has sent more than 15 mailers worth $250,000 have been dropped in the district, according to Nero.

“Now we have a situation where special interest groups are coming in from out of the state, into this district, to try to win this,” Nero said, adding that voters will reject external groups peddling negativity for Moran.

SEIU’s Ohio chapter has sent the anti-Nero mailings and supported the sick day initiative, not the national SEIU organization.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article misstaked the dollar amount as $700,000.