As reported by multiple sources, State Rep. John Widowfield, R-Cuyahoga Falls, resigned his position on last week just as a scandal was breaking regarding the resale of Ohio State University football tickets. As some of you may know, legislators have the opportunity to purchase Buckeye tickets because they are members of the General Assembly. Where as the rest of us schlubs, have to donate (at a minimum) $1500 annually for the opportunity to purchase two(2) season tickets. [For the record, I don’t have a problem with either of these items.]
Apparently, Mr. Widowfield was purchasing his tickets with campaign funds, which is not against the law. [Again, let the record state that I am not opposed to the use of campaign funds for such purposes, as I know that many times members donate sets of tickets to local charities, etc.] However, what the Ethics Commission took issue with was the re-sale of said OSU Football Tickets on Ebay…for a profit…and without reimbursing the campaign for the tickets and the proceeds…and for not noting this source of income on his Financial Disclosure Form. [It’s at this point, in stories like this, that I always like to remind folks that Al Capone didn’t go to jail for murder, he went to jail for failure to file an accurate tax form.]
I also found an interesting note in a Dayton Daily story which mentioned Mr. Widowfield spent an extra $90 one year on tickets. It is my understanding that when one is purchasing season tickets, one can have their name and address removed from the tickets for a small fee…is that the extra $90?
And for the record, while I think its funny that he sold his tickets, and possibly paid a fee to remove his name from the tickets, I think its stupid to think that his fellow legislators, who would be seated in the general area, would miss a pattern of new faces in seats that were his. I have also learned from multi and cross party sources that Mr. Widowfield was, ah, how do I say this…not a pleasant person to deal with. You reap what you sow.
At least he didn’t drag this thing out for 12 days like someone else we know.
And one parting question, if he was doing this, who else is? I smell another Pulizer for the Toledo Blade. After all, what would sell more papers than a good bipartisan ticket scandal?
Apparently, Mr. Widowfield was purchasing his tickets with campaign funds, which is not against the law. [Again, let the record state that I am not opposed to the use of campaign funds for such purposes, as I know that many times members donate sets of tickets to local charities, etc.] However, what the Ethics Commission took issue with was the re-sale of said OSU Football Tickets on Ebay…for a profit…and without reimbursing the campaign for the tickets and the proceeds…and for not noting this source of income on his Financial Disclosure Form. [It’s at this point, in stories like this, that I always like to remind folks that Al Capone didn’t go to jail for murder, he went to jail for failure to file an accurate tax form.]
I also found an interesting note in a Dayton Daily story which mentioned Mr. Widowfield spent an extra $90 one year on tickets. It is my understanding that when one is purchasing season tickets, one can have their name and address removed from the tickets for a small fee…is that the extra $90?
And for the record, while I think its funny that he sold his tickets, and possibly paid a fee to remove his name from the tickets, I think its stupid to think that his fellow legislators, who would be seated in the general area, would miss a pattern of new faces in seats that were his. I have also learned from multi and cross party sources that Mr. Widowfield was, ah, how do I say this…not a pleasant person to deal with. You reap what you sow.
At least he didn’t drag this thing out for 12 days like someone else we know.
And one parting question, if he was doing this, who else is? I smell another Pulizer for the Toledo Blade. After all, what would sell more papers than a good bipartisan ticket scandal?
0 comments:
Post a Comment