GOP admits to misleading ad in 92nd House race

State Rep. Debbie Phillips, D-Athens, announced Wednesday a settlement and corresponding dismissal of an elections complaint filed in reaction to a 2008 election advertisement sponsored by the Meigs County Republican Party.

The ad ran in the Pomeroy Daily Sentinel in 2008 supporting Phillips’ opponent, Athens County Auditor Jill Thompson, a Republican.

Phillips narrowly defeated Thompson in the race for Ohio’s 92nd state House seat that year with 50.47 percent of the vote to 49.53 percent for Thompson.

Meigs County Republican Party chair Sandy Iannerelli and Phillips signed a joint statement on Tuesday saying they are pleased to have the dispute behind them so they can concentrate on the business of serving the people of the district. Iannarelli was not party chairman at the time the complaint was filed, and was later elected to the post.

In her complaint, Phillips asserted that statements in the ad that she had opposed the American Municipal Power-Ohio coal-fired power plant proposed in Meigs County, and that she had aligned herself with a campaign against the Athens-to-Darwin widening/rerouting of U.S. Rt. 33, were both false.

The joint statement acknowledges that the Meigs County Republicans sponsored an advertisement containing numerous assertions about Phillips’ positions on issues of great importance to southeast Ohio.

“After carefully reviewing the facts, the Meigs County Republican Party acknowledges that some of the statements made in this advertisement may have given rise to inaccurate impressions as to Rep. Phillips’ positions on certain issues,” the statement said. “After this review and consultation of the parties, the parties agree that Rep. Phillips supports economic development in the 92nd House District.”

The statement goes on to say that the Meigs County GOP regrets any confusion this may have caused.

“We further agree that it is in the best interests of both parties, and the people of the District, to put this behind us, and we look forward to a productive working relationship in the future,” it concluded.

Phillips said Wednesday that she is happy to have reached the settlement.

“Throughout my first term as state representative, I have worked to build strong relationships with community leaders across the political spectrum, and I look forward to working together for solutions, and for a stronger community,” she said.

In her news release, Phillips said she believes it’s important for the residents of the district to have fair and honest elections about the issues.

“Ads containing false statements, such as the one referenced in this case, have no place in our democratic process,” she said. “It is important to hold organizations and individuals responsible for their actions and keep our political process open and accountable to the people.”

This agreement, she said, further shows both her and the Meigs County Republican Party’s commitment to open, honest and fair elections.

“In tough times, people expect us to put aside partisan differences, and for Democrats and Republicans to work together for the people who chose us to lead,” she said in the release. “This agreement allows all of us to concentrate on the important work of rebuilding our local economy, and working for a brighter future for Meigs County and the rest of the 92nd District.”

While the case is technically still active, both parties have filed a joint motion requesting that the OEC dismiss the case at the hearing scheduled for Aug. 19.