The Franklin County GOP announced their endorsements for City Attorney and City Auditor, picking private practice lawyer Don Kline to run against current City Council President Zach Klein and local businessman Bob Mealy to run unchallenged (so far) in the races, respectively.
A unanimous vote last Tuesday night endorsed Kline, pitting him against Klein in the race for City Attorney. During his 13 years in private practice, Kline counseled and represented individuals and businesses.
Kline also worked with human trafficking victims through the C.A.T.C.H. (Changing Actions Through Changing Habits) court. Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Paul Herbert started the court after realizing women being brought in on prostitution charges looked more like domestic abuse victims than criminals, according to Wolfe Legal Services. The program offers drug and alcohol treatment and weekly trauma-based counseling. Kline also worked with Herbert to expand C.A.T.C.H. to the county’s juvenile court and “fight the heroin epidemic through the specialized drug and Vivitrol Court programs that divert addicts to treatment,” according to a party statement.
“Kline is a real lawyer, with courtroom experience,” said Brad Sinnott, Franklin Country Republican Central Committee Chairman. “He’s not a career politician. We’ll be pleased to match Don Kline’s qualifications against anyone’s.”
In another unanimous vote that night, Mealy was picked to replace current City Auditor Hugh Dorrian, who’s held the position for more than 40 years. After Dorrian announced last month that he wouldn’t be running for re-election, a party screening committee recommended Mealy for endorsement.
“Bob Mealy is exactly the kind of business leader we need in public life,” Sinnott said. “There’s a lack of private sector background now at City Hall and that void can be filled by Mealy.”
Mealy built his business administration and management resume in his three decades at IBM, where he was involved in sales and managed an $800 million budget. In that time he also bought and sold three companies and has since started his own business, Mealy Enterprises, specializing in real estate and business consulting.
While the county’s Democratic party has made endorsements for individual positions, so far they’ve not released an endorsement for City Auditor.