Early end to race raises question

MARIETTA - With the race for Washington County sheriff now uncontested, some of the nearly $50,000 dedicated to the campaign is being redirected.

Independent candidate Chris Forshey had a little more than $200 left from the $3,115 he'd raised when he dropped out of the race on Oct. 3 to take another job. To close out his campaign account, he donated the remaining $211.21 to EVE Inc., the local domestic violence prevention organization and shelter.

Forshey said he knows it isn't a large donation but it's going to a worthy cause.

"I'm very passionate about domestic violence, and I always have been," he said.

Incumbent Sheriff Larry Mincks, now heading unopposed toward a third term in office, isn't sure how much he'll have left in his war chest after outstanding bills are paid, but he's already looking toward a future.

"I would clear all of the debts that I have and then anything that's left over, I just would continue it until 2016," the next time he would be up for re-election, he said.

Mincks' voice can still be heard on local radio stations because he'd already signed contracts for ads with them. Since his election is now assured, he changed the message from asking for support to thanking residents for their support and sharing public information.

"Some of them I was unable to withdraw," he said.

According to his most recent campaign finance report, on file at the Washington County Board of Elections, Mincks was able to recoup $517 by withdrawing ads slated to run in The Marietta Times.

Mincks and his wife financed much of his campaign themselves, contributing $40,000 to the Committee to Elect Sheriff Larry R. Mincks since 2011. The last $10,000 came in the form of a loan, but Mincks said he doesn't intend to recoup any of that.

"I don't plan on doing any fundraisers to pay myself back," he said.

Besides himself and his wife, Mincks' largest donors were Beverly residents Arden and Claudia Sims, who contributed $1,000 to his campaign. Washington County Commissioner Tim Irvine gave $200, and Commissioner Steve Weber contributed $100, plus the 88 cents that remained in his campaign committee's fund following his defeat in the March primary.

Mincks and Forshey both reimbursed themselves some money - $3,623.41 and $584.24, respectively -for campaign-related expenses.

Forshey contributed $540 to his campaign, according to his financial reports. He also listed $839.63 in in-kind contributions from himself, for items like shirts and business cards.

His biggest contributor was Marietta resident Shelda Bloomingdale, with $1,025. He also received $200 from former Sheriff Robert Schlicher, $700 from former county jail administrator Jack Brum and $25 from another former administrator, Dean Ketelsen, who recently filed and then withdrew a lawsuit against Mincks and the sheriff's office over accusations that he stole medication from the jail, charges of which he was acquitted. His wife, Bonnie, also gave $25.

Ohio Secretary of State spokesman Matt McClellan said in addition to paying for election-related activities, campaign money can be given to other campaigns, used for charitable contributions or used for expenses related to duties associated with a candidate's elected office.