FACT CHECK: The new Lazarus ad

Click here to see our FACT CHECK for the latest ad from John's opponent.

FACT: Lazarus has not been a judge since 2005.

FACT: According to the Franklin County Board of Elections, Lazarus is not a registered Democrat. She did not vote for Ted Strickland in the 2006 Democratic primary.

FACT: As an Appeals Court judge, Lazarus used a template for virtually all of her court opinions. She sided with businesses over labor unions in over 70% of her cases.

FACT: Lazarus has only been endorsed or supported by one of her former colleagues.

FACT: John O’Grady is the only candidate with proven county executive experience.

FACT: Cindy Lazarus quit her elected terms to City Council and Court of Appeals early.

FACT: It is impossible for Cindy Lazarus to have the endorsement of “the people.”

O’Grady’s opponent continues negative campaign for commission

Today, John O’Grady’s opponent, Cindy Lazarus, released the latest negative theme in her campaign for the Franklin County Commissioner. O’Grady, the endorsed Democrat, has focused his campaign on a Five Point Plan for Franklin County.

“First Cindy Lazarus called the hard-working neighborhood leaders of our local Democratic Party a ‘small group of politicians,’ a ‘party machine,’ and ‘party bosses.’ Now Mrs. Lazarus is turning her negative campaign towards John O’Grady,” stated Bryan Clark, Communications Director for John O’Grady.

In her latest television commercial, Mrs. Lazarus attacks John O’Grady’s public service.

Previously, Mrs. Lazarus has issued campaign direct mail that referred to the volunteer neighborhood Democratic leaders who unanimously endorsed John O’Grady as a “small group of politicians” and a “party machine.”

Her negative attacks against the local Democratic Party also included publicly condemning their endorsement of O’Grady after Mrs. Lazarus spent months attempting to secure the same endorsement for her campaign.

John has set the record straight with two new ads.

Mary Funk, Harrison West community leader, endorses John O'Grady

Here is Mary's video!

"I endorse my Daddy"

Patrick O'Grady is John's youngest son (until his fourth child is born in just a few weeks!). Here is Patrick's video endorsement for his Daddy.

The Communicator News endorses John

The Communicator News, one of Ohio's most distinguished African-American newspapers, has endorsed John O'Grady for Franklin County Commissioner!

We appreciate the strong support John has received from Central Ohio's African-American community. We especially appreciate The Communicator News' endorsement because it is a testament to John's civil rights dedication.

Ohio's oldest, largest Latino paper endorses O'Grady

La Prensa, the largest and oldest Latino newspaper in Ohio, has endorsed John O'Grady for Franklin County Commissioner!

This wonderful news shows just how strong and diverse John's support is with real people across Franklin County.

Thanks to La Prensa for making John O'Grady la eleccion de la gente.

Even Republicans say, "Put politics aside and support O'Grady"

As you know, John O'Grady just completed his business degree at Ohio Dominican. Here is a letter to the editor from one of John's fellow students.

I met John O'Grady, clerk of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court and a candidate for county commissioner, two years ago at Ohio Dominican University. We are finishing our degrees to fulfill 25-year-old promises to our parents. We occupy opposite sides of the political spectrum.

Now that we are graduating, I will miss him the most. He and I had spirited debates that made us both better people and even greater friends. Although O'Grady, a Democrat, and I may not share identical views, our conversations reassure me that he leads his professional life with the best for Franklin County residents as his only concern.

Leadership and experience are not abundant qualities in political leaders today, and it is unlikely that O'Grady and I will back the same candidates this fall. However, political alliances should yield to voting for who is best equipped to serve.

I urge my fellow Republicans to vote for [John O'Grady] the person with a track record of serving Franklin County with evenhandedness and dignity.

WILLIAM McDOWALL
Columbus

Thanks, William! Here's what John has to say about his decision to go back to college --

"Sometimes life gets in the way. I left OSU to take a dream job serving Ohioans with Ohio's Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow. Twenty years later, I had an amazing wife and family, had served my state in the Treasurer's office for nine years, had owned my own business, and had been elected to serve Franklin County as Clerk of Courts.

But I had to keep my promise and finish the work I started."