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Candidate distances self from some funds
(by Sue Reid - August 06, 2009)
Candidate distances self from some funds
By SUE REID
Solon Councilwoman Susan A. Drucker, who is running for mayor this fall, said this week that her campaign committee has donated to charity the contributions she has received in previous years from individuals recently convicted of felonies.
This week Mrs. Drucker donated $1,075 to the Solon Blue Ribbon Program. The amount reflects a past campaign donation by J. Kevin Kelley, who was convicted in U.S. District Court of public corruption charges. Mr. Kelley made the donation during Mrs. Drucker's 2007 campaign for the Ward 1 council seat.
She said Monday that the reason she had not donated Mr. Kelley's donation until now is because he did not plead guilty until recently.
Mr. Kelley resigned from his position earlier this year with the Cuyahoga County Auditor's Office and Cuyahoga County Engineer's Office. A former Parma School Board president, he was charged with conspiracy, public corruption, bribery, tax counts and mail fraud.
As a result of this revelation, Mrs. Drucker instructed her campaign committee, led by treasurer David Brown, to review all past campaign contributions since she first ran for public office in 2003.
She said Monday that she also received a $25 donation six years ago from businessman Brian Schuman, who pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of bribery and conspiracy in connection with the Cuyahoga County commissioner's scandal. Also during her bid for council, she received a $50 donation from Robert A. Paulson, her current mayoral opponent and former mayor, who pleaded guilty in 1998 to minor charges of mail fraud and filing a false federal income-tax return.
Mrs. Drucker said she will donate all of these contributions received from individuals convicted of felonies to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
Mrs. Drucker also said that at the time Mr. Kelley's contribution was made, neither she nor her campaign committee was aware of any criminal activity on his part. She also said she had no business relationship with him and that he had not conducted or attempted to conduct business activity with the City of Solon.
She said she believes the residents of Solon should be able to count on their leaders to act with honesty and integrity. She said that during her 15 years of public service, she has worked closely with municipal, state and federal law-enforcement agencies in pursuit of a safe community.
"My campaign is committed to the highest quality of integrity," she said.
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