Candidate for Ohio attorney general stops by Shelby

Some parade watchers at Saturday’s Shelby Bicycle Days shook hands and greeted David Pepper, a candidate for Ohio attorney general. Clad in a blue polo and light khakis, former Cincinnati councilman and Hamilton County Commission President Pepper greeted the crowd and handed out candy to introduce himself to voters.

Attention to the local level of government is something his campaign says is characteristic of Pepper’s career.

“He views state and local government as a partnership,” said Peter Koltak, communications director for Pepper’s campaign. Koltak explained that Pepper’s experience as a locally elected official, informs his stance that the state government’s role is to provide many resources as possible to local governments in complex legal cases as well as aiding local governments in cases of corruption. 

Pepper first came into public office in 2001 when he was elected to Cincinnati City Council, where he was ultimately re-elected in 2003. Peppers moved to the Hamilton County Commission in 2006, where he also served as the Commission President from 2009-2010. He ran as the Democratic candidate for office of State Auditor in 2010.

In his 2014 bid for the Attorney General position, Koltak identified top issues of Pepper’s platform as the state’s heroin problem, dealing with issues related to violence against women and children and ensuring ethical and fair practices of government.

The third prong of Pepper’s campaign is what Koltak labeled as that of a “corruption-buster.” According to his campaign website, Hamilton County won 19 National Association of County Awards for outstanding management practices while Peppers was in office. That’s a theme Peppers looks to continue in his campaign and if elected as attorney general. 

As he closes in on the election, Peppers is also taking aim at issues related to voting. Pepper’s campaign website states, “Over the past three years, Ohio’s legislature and/or statewide office holders have repeatedly curtailed this most important right—whether it was by terminating early voting hours for most Ohioans, disqualifying voters who were victims of poll worker error, or limiting ballot access for Libertarians and other third party candidates.”

“David is very concerned that citizens right to vote and access to the ballot box ought to be defended,” said Kotak.

For more information on the Democratic candidate for Ohio’s Attorney General, readers can visit his website at http://davidpepper.com or follow him on Twitter via @davidpepper.