Expect to know who will be Ohio’s next treasurer by December

Outgoing State Treasurer Richard Cordray (D) told PolitickerOH.com that it’s likely that the governor will announce his appointment for the position next month. Cordray is leaving the office to become attorney general, replacing Interim Attorney General Nancy Rogers.

Cordray said he’s spoken to Gov. Ted Strickland (D) about his successor.

“My guess is that they’ll make that decision early next month,” Cordray said. “As has been consistently the case with the governor in terms of personnel decisions, they’re taking it slowly and trying to be very careful and make sure they understand everything they want to understand about whoever the group of candidates is that they’re looking at.”

Columbus City Councilman Kevin Boyce spoke to Strickland about the job in July, following Cordray’s entrance in the attorney general race. Boyce has the support of at least Franklin County Democratic Party Chairman Bill Anthony and Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman.

Without giving specific names, Cordray said what he thought are important qualifications for treasurer.
Cordray said the next treasurer must be able to smoothly run the office and be able to run for re-election, because campaign petitions and fundraising would begin in late 2009.

“It’s a complicated mix to try to find the right person,” Cordray said, adding that typically office seekers reach power after the winnowing process of primary and general elections.