Franklin County auditor Mingo to seek state treasurer position

March 31--COLUMBUS -- Franklin County Auditor Clarence Mingo on Thursday announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for state treasurer in 2018.

Long groomed by the state Republican party for a bigger stage, Mr. Mingo said in a video posted on his website that it's time for a new generation of conservative leadership in Ohio, one that is against abortion rights and pro-Second Amendment.

"We've cracked down on fraud and government waste and safeguarded taxpayer dollars," the husband and father said. "We've returned nearly $18 million to our local governments and schools -- $18 million saved.

"That's why I'm running for state treasurer," Mr. Mingo said. "I want to bring that same conservative philosophy to the state treasurer's office and to the citizens of our great state."

The African-American has had a high profile within a state party that, unlike Democrats, has experienced success in electing blacks to statewide executive office.

His announcement sets up an internal party primary fight in 2018 for the party's nomination to serve as the state's top banker and broker. State Rep. Robert Sprague (R., Findlay), who is white and the only northwest Ohio candidate for statewide office for either party, recently announced his candidacy.

Both candidates play up their conservative credentials. They seek to replace Republican Treasurer Josh Mandel as he nears the end of his second and final two-year term and prepares for a run next year against Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Mr. Mingo received his undergraduate and law degrees at the Ohio State University. He and his family live in the Columbus suburb of New Albany.

No Democrat has yet announced for treasurer, but names mentioned for down-ticket races like treasurer and auditor include state Rep. David Leland (D., Columbus) and former U.S. Rep. Zack Space, of Dover.

Mr. Mingo served in the U.S. Army during the 1991 Persian Gulf War that pushed Iraqi invasion forces out of Kuwait.

He was appointed in 2007 as a commissioner on the Ohio Court of Claims and in 2009 to county auditor. He then won elections for the post in 2010 and 2014.

Contact Jim Provance at: jprovance@theblade.com or 614-221-0496.

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