Election official's pay docked for forwarding political donation

Associated Press     20 July 2005

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The director of the Franklin County Board of Elections will lose 30 days' pay for forwarding a $10,000 check to the Republican Party from a voting-machine company's representative.

Elections Director Matthew Damschroder used poor judgment when he accepted the donation in January 2004 and violated an agency rule against employees soliciting or accepting political contributions on the job, Chairman William A. Anthony Jr. said. The bipartisan elections board unanimously approved the reprimand.

Damschroder makes $97,240 a year.

"We cannot have the perception out there that you can buy us off," Anthony said.

Damschroder acknowledged last week that a representative for North Canton-based Diebold Election Systems came to his office and offered $10,000 on a day when the board was opening bids for new voter-registration software.

Damschroder told Pasquale "Pat" Gallina to make the check out to the Franklin County Republican Party as a donation.

Diebold didn't get the software contract, and Damschroder said he never recommended the company. But Damschroder said he should not have taken the check.

The encounter - and Damschroder's claim that Gallina later boasted of a $50,000 donation to political groups that support Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell - was revealed as part of a civil lawsuit by one of Diebold's competitors, Election Systems and Software.

ES&S charges that Blackwell improperly favored Diebold in ing electronic voting machines for use statewide.

A spokesman for Blackwell has denied the claims.

Gallina wouldn't address questions about any donations to Blackwell and said the contribution to Franklin County Republicans was his own and not on behalf of Diebold.

Damschroder said Monday that he "mixed too much politics with public service" and apologized after the board decided his punishment.

Members of the elections board have said that Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien is investigating whether Damschroder or Gallina broke any laws. A message was left Tuesday seeking comment from O'Brien.

Ohio law forbids public officials accepting anything of value meant to influence their actions, and state elections law prohibits public employees from soliciting campaign contributions on the job.

Diebold spokesman Michael Jacobsen said the company knew nothing of Gallina's donation to the Franklin County GOP and does not want any made on its behalf. The company formally barred employees from making political donations in June 2004.