I HAVE DECIDED TO KEEP A LOG OF

I HAVE DECIDED TO KEEP A LOG OF NEWSPAPER STORIES ABOUT STRICKLAND APPOINTEES WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RESIGN, FIRED OR DISGRACED (OR ARE ON THE PRECIPICE)

Columbus vice detectives monitoring online discussions among clients of prostitutes for years have noticed a man posting under the names "Sullivant Guy," "Broad Street Guy," "Toby" and "God O Thunder."

The man, like many others on the sites, would trade information about street hookers and online escorts. He would recommend some prostitutes, issue warnings about others and give advice on ways to avoid law enforcement.

Detectives said today that they arrested the "go-to guy" behind those posts.

Robert Eric McFadden, who was the director of Gov. Ted Strickland's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives until his transfer to another state job in fall 2007, was arrested in Dublin.

McFadden, 46, of 6290 Hyland Dr. in Dublin, was taken into custody on seven prostitution-related counts, including charges that he promoted a 17-year-old prostitute online.

The charges include compelling prostitution involving a minor, promoting prostitution and pandering. He is being held in the Franklin County jail pending an appearance in Municipal Court this morning.

Police said they have seized a computer and two vehicles. One was his wife's car, which detectives said was the setting for photos of the 17-year-old girl that McFadden then posted online.

Police have identified the girl, who is cooperating with the investigation.

Detectives said McFadden was one of the men involved in a hooker-review Web site that spawned what police called a raffle for sex last fall and the creation of a Brewery District brothel.

Police had arrested an academic adviser at Ohio State University, a sex-abuse caseworker at Franklin County Children Services and a real-estate agent in connection with the brothel.

Through that investigation they learned that McFadden had been promoting the girl, who already had been advertising her sex services online, Sgt. Stan Latta said.

It is unclear how McFadden was compensated, if at all, for furthering the girl's business, police said.

Vice detective Jeff Ackley, stressing that he was speaking only generally, said johns have been known to promote prostitutes in return for sexual favors.

Before joining the Strickland administration, McFadden served as field director for Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good.

He was hired in February 2007 to lead the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. He was paid $36 an hour but was transferred to the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction in late October that year, Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey said.

The Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives is charged with making it easier for such organizations to compete for public funding, encouraging partnerships among the groups and measuring the impact those partnerships have on needy Ohioans.

"It had become clear that he wasn't a good fit for the office," Dailey said. "It wasn't working out. The position was a leadership position. He wasn't the right person to lead such an important office."

McFadden, who told police today that he is unemployed, was laid off by the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction in March because of budget cuts.

Dispatch reporters Mark Niquette and Alan Johnson contributed to this story.

The law has finally caught up with Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good/Catholic Democrats sociopath Eric McFadden.

After many years of his stalking and psychopathic behaviors, I certainly will sleep a little more soundly at night knowing he has finally been exposed.

McFadden obsessively communicated (sometimes 20 or 30 times) the most bizarre, threatening/lunatic stuff, not only to me - but to Deal Hudson, and I'm sure other pro-lifers. Some of you may recall that once, during one of his compulsive psychotic periods of threats, I actually called the Ohio police, explained to them that his conduct was making me fearful for my life, my home, my children. They suggested I file a restraining order - which of course only makes criminally insane people all the more dangerous and I decided in prudence not to.

The former director of the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives for the governor of Ohio was arrested Wednesday for his involvement in an online prostitution ring. Eric McFadden, who has also formerly served as the president of the organization Catholics for Faithful Citizenship and spokesperson for Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, will face seven prostitution-related charges tomorrow in court.

Eric McFadden, 46, the former head of the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives for Governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland, was arrested this morning and faces two counts of promoting prostitution, two counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, two counts of pandering obscenity involving a nude minor and one count of compelling prostitution, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien told the Springfield News-Sun.

His communications to me were so sexually charged and threatening and along with his obsession with tormenting Deal Hudson, I always suspected there was self-loathing over some kind of sexual deviancy going on with him fueled by deranged malice towards women.

Ted Strickland is claiming to be shocked over McFadden's conduct, which I would characterize as untruthful and, I have the paper trail to prove it. I know for a fact that Strickland and his staff KNEW McFadden had a deep rooted and frightening sociopathy. Specifically, they were informed that his man particularly victimized and bullied women. Further, even though Strickland and his staff knew, they covered it up and shuffled him from their office to Hillary Clinton's national campaign. God knows how many women would have been spared McFadden's bondage if they had stepped up the plate and taken him out of commission when they had the knowledge he was a dangerous person. He used to claim Pelosi was the power behind him and would use her political power to bankrupt through false accusations, use the IRS to scrutinize your tax returns until they found something they could exploit to claim you were evading taxes, and various other delusions if anyone dared to call the police or expose him. He is a sicko.

McFadden used complex encoded postings on Craiglist that would look like useless or corrupted data, in which he would embed the information of the woman available, the type of sex interaction she would be willing to perform and the place to meet her. Paradoxically, McFadden's code name in his transactions was "mcfaddencatholic."

I'm sure McFadden was confident Strickland and Clinton would cover his back as they had for many years - along with Patrick Whelan of Catholic Democrats, Chris Korzen, Alexia Kelly and other Democrats who were aware of this lunatic and kept him on the payrolls. Of course he was brazen.

Police said they have seized a computer and two vehicles. One was his wife's car, which detectives said was the setting for photos of the 17-year-old girl that McFadden then posted online.

Police have identified the girl, who is cooperating with the investigation.

I'd like to say this is unbelievable, but it just isn't.

Dorris, who was a peripheral figure in the scandal that toppled her onetime boss, former Attorney General Marc Dann, was among the office brass that did not survive the transition to new Attorney General Richard Cordray.

While other scandal-tainted employees ended up unemployed, Dorris -- perhaps the best-connected of the bunch -- landed a new job in state government thanks to the intervention of aides to Gov. Ted Strickland.

Her last day as executive director of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy is Saturday. On Tuesday, she starts in a custom-designed $79,310 job at the Ohio Department of Insurance dealing with fraud against the elderly.

Dorris, 51, ran last year as the Democratic candidate for Franklin County prosecutor but exited the race under pressure from fellow Democrats during the Dann scandal.

The scandal had cast a harsh spotlight on inappropriate office relationships, including Dann's own affair with an underling. Dorris was dating Dann's chief of staff at the time Dann vetoed the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission's choice of an executive director and promoted Dorris instead.

Dann, Dorris and the chief of staff, Edgar C. Simpson, denied any suggestion of favoritism.

The scandal, however, created fresh embarrassments for Dorris, such as the release of flirty office e-mail messages between her and Simpson, who called her "a raging furnace of hotitude."

During the campaign to replace Dann, independent candidate Robert M. Owens repeatedly called for Dorris to resign or be fired. Among other things, Owens said that Dorris had unilaterally and improperly extended deadlines for police agencies to comply with training requirements.

Strickland's spokesman, Keith Dailey, acknowledged that the governor's staff worked to find Dorris another job in state government.

The head of that department, Strickland appointee Mary Jo Hudson, personally signed off on Dorris' hiring. Dorris was the only candidate for the position.

"(The job) hadn't been created on paper, but it was something that (Hudson) had been looking to fill for some time," said Carly Glick, spokeswoman for the Department of Insurance.

Dorris, an attorney, initially interviewed for a legal position with the Department of Insurance but was not offered the job, Glick said.

"During the course of the interview, a light bulb went off that she would be a perfect fit for this (new) position," Glick said.

The position title, fraud-prevention program coordinator, entails assisting seniors on life- and health-insurance matters, hosting and attending seminars, and assisting law enforcement on fraud cases.

Dorris did not attend what would have been her final meeting of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission yesterday, but Cordray did. The new attorney general acknowledged complaints about leadership at the police academy.

"We will get this place back on track and we will do that as quickly as possible," he said.

Reached yesterday, Dorris declined to discuss her job search but said she landed her new position on merit.

"I've gotten every job since I've been working because I am a qualified individual for the position," she said.

Your article entitled “Minor Dann scandal figure lands new state job” tests the credibility of the Strickland administration again. Tomi Dorris leaves a better paying job with Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission with regret only to land a newly created position within the Department of Insurance that pays less and for which no one else was considered. Thankfully, Attorney General Cordray had the sense to tell Tomi Dorris to go but not before a “made up” job could be created specifically for her within the Strickland administration.

Doris has been a past democratic candidate for several offices, most recently Franklin County prosecutor. She had a romantic relationship with the discredited chief of staff of former Attorney General Marc Dann’s office and was selected over the recommendation of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission. I assume the only one being screwed this time is the public?

With the tight state budget and possible cuts in agency staffing, this “made up” position should be the first to go if Strickland has the same sense as Cordray.

Note: I assume they won't publish it since it uses the word "screw" but I gave it a try anyway.

TOP ‘JOE’ SNOOP QUITS (3 IN THIS STORY)
State agency leader, 2 others leaving over checks on ‘Plumber’

By Catherine Candisky
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Helen Jones-Kelley, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, resigned last night near the end of a month long, unpaid suspension for mining state computers for confidential information on “Joe the Plumber.”

Two senior managers suspended for their roles in the scandal that spiced this year’s presidential campaign also are leaving, The Dispatch has learned. The administration fired Doug Thompson, deputy director of child support. Fred Williams, assistant agency director, resigned effective Jan. 31.

The action came soon after the Republican controlled General Assembly approved a measure cracking down on state workers who improperly conduct checks involving Ohioans’ personal information. Republicans complained that Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, who promised to set a high ethical standard as governor, was letting Jones-Kelley off too lightly. Now, Strickland must decide whether to sign the bill, which Republicans say is a step toward restoring Ohioans’ trust in government. “The institution of state government and the trust is paramount and stands above any of us, and I think she made the right decision,” House Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering, said. Both Strickland and Jones-Kelley rejected calls for her dismissal last month after a report by Inspector General Thomas P. Charles found that the database checks that Jones-Kelley approved on Toledo-area resident Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher were for no legitimate government purpose. The checks came the day after Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain repeatedly mentioned Wurzelbacher by his nickname, “Joe the Plumber,” in a televised debate with Democratic opponent Barack Obama on Oct. 15.

Charles found that Williams and Thompson participated in Jones-Kelley’s authorization of the checks and that Thompson directed an employee to lie about the checks. That staff member reported the incident to Charles.

In response to Charles’ report, Strickland suspended Jones-Kelley for a month without pay from her $141,980-a-year- job. Thompson also was suspended without pay for a month. Williams was suspended for a week without pay.

Jones-Kelley and Thompson had been scheduled to return to their jobs Monday. Williams recently returned to work after his suspension.

“It appears she was driven out by this intense pressure on the part of the Republicans,” said Senate Minority Leader Ray Miller, D-Columbus. “I think it’s a tremendous loss. She’s an outstanding public servant who made a mistake and was disciplined for it.”

The agency’s actions drew outrage from across the country after The Dispatch broke the story in October. The paper also reported that Jones-Kelley had used her state computer and e-mail to assist the Obama campaign, providing names of potential Dayton-area contributors and helping to arrange an event for Obama’s wife, Michelle.

Administration officials announced Jones-Kelley’s resignation last night less than an hour after telling The Dispatch they were unaware of any impending departures.

Cabinet Secretary Jan Allen will serve as interim director.

Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey said Jones-Kelley was not asked to resign. “The governor values Helen Jones-Kelley’s years of public service as a dedicated advocate for the most vulnerable among us,” Dailey said. “The governor understands her decision and accepts it.”

Jones-Kelley did not respond to messages left at her Dayton-area home and on her cell phone.

In a statement released by the Strickland administration, she wrote that “it is with sadness and clarity that I have decided to resign my position as director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. This decision comes after having a time of pause, in which I realize that I continue to be used as a political postscript, providing a distraction from urgent state priorities.”

She also cited security concerns, saying: “I also remain concerned for the safety of my family and myself.”

Strickland ordered the State Highway Patrol to provide security to Jones-Kelley after she received threats because of the checks on Wurzelbacher. The protection ended Nov. 25.

Jones-Kelley told the inspector general that the checks of child-support records were run on those thrust into the public spotlight to see whether they were receiving public assistance or owed child support or unemployment-compensation taxes. Previous directors and staff members said they were unaware of such a practice, and the probe questioned the credibility of her claim.

Dispatch reporter Jim Siegel contributed to this story

Don D. Barber was playing golf or attending social functions on 21 days he said he worked between May 2007 and June 2008, according a report by Inspector General Thomas P. Charles' office.

Barber, 69, was paid $98,000 a year as the ODOT deputy director in charge of District 5, which covers Coshocton, Fairfield, Guernsey, Knox, Licking, Muskingum and Perry counties. The Newark resident resigned Sept. 30 when confronted with evidence about golfing on the clock.

The inspector general said Barber was paid $7,728 for time when he actually was playing golf or attending social functions. One of those functions was a fundraiser for Vicky Christiansen, a Newark lawyer who unsuccessfully ran for Licking County Domestic Relations Court.

The inspector general forwarded the findings to the Licking County prosecutor's office, which could file charges against Barber for theft of state time or falsification of records.

Barber's unorthodox work habits came to light in June when an anonymous tipster presented the inspector general with evidence, including photos snapped of Barber's car during work hours at the Hawks Nest Golf Club in Creston, nearly 100 miles from the ODOT district office in Jacksontown.

Barber told investigators that he often worked more than 40 hours a week, banking the extra hours as "drawer time" that he could use to play golf during the day, according to the inspector general's report. He also said he sometimes discussed state business over golf.

ODOT does not recognize the concept of "drawer time," said Scott Varner, spokesman for the transportation agency.

"I think the report was pretty clear that there was a need for Mr. Barber to better account for his time," Varner said. "While he believed that he had created this drawer of time, no such thing existed."

Reached by The Dispatch yesterday, Barber said he had not seen the inspector general's report and declined to comment.

The investigation concluded that ODOT does not need to tighten its policies on timekeeping, and Varner said the agency has not done so.

"ODOT's policies pertaining to working hours and time-keeping are adequate and appropriate; Barber simply didn't follow them," the report said.

Barber is a veteran transportation planner who has moved between the public and private sectors during his 30-year career in eastern Ohio.

As an ODOT deputy director from early 2007 through his forced resignation, Barber supervised a staff of 350 and was responsible for 3,255 miles of highways.

The former head of a state agency that was plagued by allegations of racial discrimination and retaliation is stepping down in January.

Patrick J. Gannon, who was executive director of the Industrial Commission of Ohio from the summer of 2007 through summer 2008, will leave the agency in January, according to a Dec 23 e-mail from the commission's chairman, Gary M. DiCeglio, to the agency's staff.

Gannon was demoted from the $106,000-a-year executive director position to a $93,500 job supervising various projects after outside reports found that he presided over a commission racked by mismanagement, discrimination and bad morale.

A November report by the Ohio Department of Administrative Services also said racial discrimination had beset the agency.

The Industrial Commission has nearly 500 employees and decides appeals of workers' compensation cases, as well as all cases in which an injured worker seeks lifetime disability pay.

DiCeglio's e-mail does not cite a reason for Gannon's departure, although the commission said Gannon is retiring.

The commission now is headed by Christa D. Deegan, a veteran lawyer who has worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in Alabama and Ohio and who has pledged to restore morale at the state agency.

jnash@dispatch.com

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