Bob Schaffer, David Brennan and D'Oh!

by: Colorado Pols

Fri Apr 04, 2008 at 11:24:38 AM MDT

Schaffer's connection with Brennan could be getting worse in light of a couple of recent stories out of Ohio. From The Columbus Dispatch:

A record $5.2 million fine was levied yesterday by the Ohio Elections Commission against a pro-charter-school group that helped elect Republicans across Ohio in 2006.

The whopping fine fell on All Children Matter, a Michigan-based organization that the commission said illegally funneled $870,000 in campaign contributions through its Virginia political-action committee to its PAC in Ohio in 2006. David Brennan of Akron, Ohio's biggest charter-school operator, has donated $200,000 to the group.

Voting 5-0, the bipartisan commission agreed with the secretary of state's argument that All Children violated Ohio campaign finance laws that limited PAC contributions to $10,000.

The fine amount was unheard of, particularly from a commission that is regularly criticized by watchdog groups and others for going light on campaign-finance violators. Philip C. Richter, executive director of the commission, said his previous highest recommendation for a fine was about $90,000.

This certainly doesn't make Schaffer's involvement with Brennan look very good. And neither does this story from The Cincinnati Enquirer: