Group announces second round of contributions

The Associated Press
10/28/02 4:47 PM

The issue-advocacy group Citizens for a Strong Ohio announced its second list of donors Monday to a campaign that has produced radio ads supporting the re-election of Republican Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton.

The campaign is financed mostly by insurers, manufacturers and business trade organizations. Stratton is opposed by Democratic Judge Janet Burnside of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

The group was founded in 2000 by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. It was criticized for ads funded by anonymous donors that attacked Democratic Justice Alice Robie Resnick, who won re-election despite the campaign.

The group tried to link campaign contributions to Resnick to her votes on the court. The chamber has been critical of Resnick for joining a 4-3 majority that issued rulings it said were anti-business.

This year, the chamber said it would reveal its donor list and the amounts contributed. The first round of donors was released in September.

The second group, as reported by Citizens for a Strong Ohio for the period covering Sept. 28-Oct. 28:

American Council of Life Insurers $100,000

Anthem $10,000

Ashland $15,000

Cinergy $2,500

Cooper Tire and Rubber $10,000

Fifth Third Bank $25,000

Fort Recovery Industries $2,500

Humana $5,000

McKinley Life Insurance Co. $15,000

Motorists Mutual Insurance Co. $25,000

NFIB/Ohio $2,500

Nationwide Life Insurance and Annuity Co. $150,000

North Central Medical Resources Inc. $15,000

Ohio Hospital Capital Corp. $10,000

Ohio Society of CPAs $10,000

Owens-Illinois $15,000

RPM Inc. $10,000

Sprint $10,000

The Procter & Gamble Co. $75,000

Wendy's International $10,000

Worthington Industries $70,000

Total: $587,500

Total to date: $1,018,500