Householder helped local rep

SANDUSKY — State Rep. D.J. Swearingen said he will press to have Larry Householder removed as Ohio House speaker when House Republicans hold a caucus today in Columbus. Swearingen, R-Huron, said he has donated money to charity that his campaign received from people and organizations caught up in a Columbus bribery scandal and said he does not want his election campaign to receive any help from Householder. Alexis Miller of Sandusky, Swearingen's Democratic opponent in the fall race for Ohio House District 89 representing Erie and Ottawa counties, said Swearingen already has gotten help from Householder. "He can't keep benefiting now knowing what we all know," Miller said. Householder and four of his associates in Republican politics were arrested last week and accused by federal officials of being part of a $60 million bribery scheme to push a measure through the Ohio General Assembly, House Bill 6, that kept open two nuclear power plants in Ohio, including Davis-Besse. Swearingen said Householder must go as speaker. Swearingen said he plans to press for that outcome today with fellow Republicans. Miller sent the Register a photo of a piece of campaign literature which praises Swearingen's work on behalf of cleaning up Lake Erie and other issues. The leaflet left at the house of a Miller supporter states it was paid for by the House Republican Campaign Committee, which received $1 million from Householder. The leaflet shows Swearingen has been getting help from Householder, Miller said. "I know it was printed before the news broke but what I'm saying is that he can't keep benefiting now knowing what we all know," Miller said. "Swearingen has evidently already benefited but the question is how much and are there plans to sever ties?" Swearingen responded that he has tossed out the remaining leaflets paid for by the House Republican Campaign Committee and supports a planned audit of HRCC. He said his campaign has not received money from Householder or HRCC. Swearingen's campaign did receive donations from Juan Cespedes, one of the Householder alleged cronies arrested last week, and from FirstEnergy. Swearingen said he's donated all of that money to a Sandusky charity. Swearingen said that while he completely understands why House Bill 6 is considered tainted and is a target for repeal, he still supports nuclear energy and the jobs at Davis-Besse. If House Bill 6 is repealed, Swearingen said he will make it a priority to pass a bill to keep Davis-Besse open. Miller said she also wants to protect Davis-Besse. "I would support a replacement bill if it protects the workers at Davis Besse and our community that relies on it," Miller said. "I also want to make sure any replacements preserve pensions and healthcare for workers and retirees. I want to work to bring jobs to Northwest Ohio and we can work to make us the energy capital of Ohio."