Ohio attorney general: Dave Yost’s tough time in Cleveland
By Trevion Johnson
Supporters of Steve Dettelbach, candidate for Ohio attorney general, crowd around the outside the Cleveland’s City Club. It is Oct. 22, the day of the Cleveland debate with Dave Yost, his Republican opponent, but it’s hard to find any Yost supporters in the crowd. Signs in hand, Dettelbach supporters mingle and chat, waiting to enter the lobby of the venerable City Club. Entering the doors to this storied building, where presidents and stars have made appearances for more than 100 years, could make anyone uneasy. In the lobby, dim-colored walls and old, creaky elevators contribute to one’s unease. The main floor of the City Club, two floors up, is a marked contrast, like a “room of gold” compared to the lobby. The pristine white walls, accented by brightly stained wood and detailed ceiling, made the club floor truly captivating.
People quickly fill the room and soon, the smell of a well-cooked meal fills the air. Dettelbach himself is out and about in the room, while Yost is, at first, nowhere to be found. Dettelbach makes his way around, but only talks to a couple of people before Yost enters and the loud murmur in the room slowly lowers. Dettelbach starts to make his way to his podium. Yost begins to greet and make small talk with multiple people,then calmly walks to the podium and waits for the debate to begin.
This scene has been repeated in various parts of the state of Ohio over the past few months, as Dettelbach and Yost fight for the position of state attorney general. In Cleveland, the Democrat Dettelbach has the crowd of supporters. But in some places elsewhere, it’s highly probable that Yost has the crowd, since the race is close overall, statewide.
Before this election, Yost served as Ohio’s 32nd state auditor, a position he has held since 2011. Yost also had many years of experience as an auditor in Delaware County. He did practice as an attorney before he entered politics, and was a county prosecutor from 2003 up until he ran for state auditor in 2011.
It is clear that Yost is very fond of the legal system. On his campaign website, he claims credit for 165 criminal convictions from corruption investigations. As an auditor, the website continues, Yost found $260 million in savings for taxpayers. However, his involvement in the regulatory side of the ECOT charter school scandal might diminish his edge.
ECOT, which stands for Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, was an online charter school in Ohio. It came under heavy investigation starting in 2016, after suspicions were raised that ECOT was receiving money for students who did not “attend” their online classes. Audits occurred twice, in 2015–16 and again in 2016–17, according to Cincinnati.com. ECOT closed in January, owing the state over $80 million in repayments owed to the government for grants it received for students it could not prove attended courses. Yost did his job, auditing the school repeatedly and providing the evidence that led to its shutdown. However, the time frame in which he completed it has allowed Dettelbach leeway to raise suspicions. So much so, in fact, that ECOT was the main focus of the first half of the debate.
Dettelbach claims Yost conspired with ECOT while they were receiving taxpayers’ money. He went as far as to say that some of that money went to Yost’s campaign. Yost quickly denied these claims and stated, “I will push for the recovery of assets from the founder of ECOT personally.” However, it didn’t stop Dettelbach from bringing it up again.
“Heading into election night, I can see either candidate winning,” said Colin Swearingen, a political science professor at John Carroll University. Dettelbach might be favored due to the “pro-Democratic environment” in this election, he added. However, Swearingen believes Yost is very well known and brings state-level experience that Dettelbach doesn’t have, which could aid Yost in this race. Whoever wins, Swearingen believes either candidate could represent Ohio well as attorney general, whose job is to ensure that state laws are being enforced fairly and effectively.
Swearingen isn’t the only person who believes this. At the City Club, many questions were focused around the role of the attorney general. However, broadcaster M.L. Shultze, the debate moderator, asked a very interesting question: “What demonstrates best your ability to link across the aisle?” Since the attorney general is the chief prosecutor for Ohio, that person must be able to handle anything, regardless of someone’s political affiliations.
Dettelbach talked about various ways he will be able to work across the aisle. Yost respond to the question by listing his involvement in an anti-monopoly amendment, reform legislation and Criminal Rule 16, which he put forward as a detailed recorded of working across the aisle. The items he listed were created or amended with the help of both parties, or made for the use of both parties. Yost’s actions might speak louder with voters than Dettelbach’s words. But that’s not guaranteed.
When asked if there was anything unique about Yost, Swearingen stated that Yost had a history of nonpartisan actions and has gotten flak from both sides for some of his actions because he went after public institutions. Although this can be interpreted in different ways, one thing is evident: Yost will do whatever it takes to complete a task.
After the Cleveland debate, the candidates slowly made their way out of the hall. Yost was asked if he had a message for John Carroll students. His response was if they vote for him, he will protect their free speech. So if you are of voting age at John Carroll, or anywhere in the country, go out and vote on Nov. 6.
