Cordray doesn't pull punches in first debate

COLUMBUS -- Richard Cordray is leading in the polls and fully stocked with money but that hasn’t caused him to shy away from hitting Mike Crites in the race for attorney general.

The first attorney general debate sponsored by the Columbus Rotary Club took place Monday afternoon at the Hyatt Regency where Cordray (D-Pleasant Twp.) and Crites (R-Powell) tangled about whose qualifications best suit them to be the state’s top lawyer.

Crites, a former U.S. attorney for the southern district of Ohio and private-practice attorney, said he should be elected because of his decades of prosecutorial experience. Cordray has been treasurer for less than two years and prior to that Franklin County treasurer and state solicitor.

Electing someone who has not managed a legal operation will set up the state for another Marc Dann scandal, Crites said.

“The reason he wasn’t qualified is because he hadn’t been a prosecutor before,” Crites said. “Unfortunately, we Ohioans can’t afford to go down that road again.”

Cordray moved to cut Crites’ argument off at the knees.

“We both have good management credentials: you manage a law firm of 16 lawyers, I manage the state treasurer’s office of 140 employees, which also includes lawyers on staff,” Cordray said.

Cordray then pivoted to make his experience as treasurer relevant to the attorney general’s office in light of the financial crisis. As attorney general Cordray’s top priority would be to deal with financial institutions that may have used fraudulent accounting and marketing strategies, he said.

“I’m not suggesting that we should sue everyone in sight, but in a measured way...we need to make this good for Ohioans and we need to stand up for practices in the markets going forward,” Cordray said.

Crites said Cordray hasn’t prosecuted any of the cases he promises to investigate if elected.

“I’m the only one to address the financial mess that Rich has referred to. I’m the only one in this race who has actually been involved in the investigation and prosecution of individuals, of savings and loan owners, presidents and officers,” Crites said.