Crooks highlights importance of fair elections, campaign financing

TIFFIN, OH — Rachel Crooks, the Democratic candidate for the District 88 seat in the Ohio House of Representatives signed the American Promise 28th Amendment Pledge at a recent Sandusky County Democratic meeting, thus solidifying her support for restoring power in our society to the people over corporate interests. Ms. Crooks will be challenging Bill Reineke in the November midterm election. District 88 includes all of Sandusky County and a majority of Seneca County.

“I am happy to be part of a movement to push for more transparency in campaign financing, as well as a reduction in the unhealthy influence of money in politics,” Crooks stated.

The American Promise Candidate Pledge is a volunteer-led effort to get candidates and elected officials at all levels of government to pledge on the record that they will use their office to advance the 28th Amendment. The proposed amendment would: 1) secure fair, free elections; 2) protect the rights of all Americans to equal participation and representation; and 3) return to original liberties for people rather than new privileges for the largest corporations, unions, and special interests.

Crooks has run a grassroots campaign with an average donation of $39 from approximately 2,000 individual donors. In contrast, her opponent, Bill Reineke, has an average donation of $1,276 mostly from wealthy individuals and corporate PACs. Reineke, the heir to Reineke Family Dealerships, has received the largest contributions, totaling over $18,000 this year, from the Ohio Auto Dealers Association.

As has previously been reported, Mr. Reineke received over $12,000 in campaign donations from Bill Lager, the founder of the now-defunct Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT) that siphoned almost $1 billion from Ohio taxpayers and is now under investigation by the FBI. Of all ECOT-linked donations, 92% went to Republicans, many of whom have since donated such funds to charitable organizations amidst the scandal. Mr. Reineke, however, has remained silent on this issue and has yet to donate his ECOT contributions.

In contrast, Crooks stated, “I want to hold myself accountable to the people, not corporate interests and wealthy donors. I am extremely proud to have individuals chipping in from all over the country to support the grassroots efforts of my campaign, and I look forward to the opportunity to work on behalf of the many rather than the few.”