Marion Mayor Schertzer starts Democratic campaign to become Ohio Treasurer
Marion Mayor Scott Schertzer says he wants to help end what he calls a "culture of corruption" in statewide politics and that's part of the reason why he's initiated a campaign to become Ohio Treasurer of State.
"Republicans have had control of the state for almost the last 30 years," Schertzer said. "And there are no checks and balances that exist in state government when they have control of the judiciary, the executive branch, and the legislative branch. And that has led to the culture of corruption. So to bring true balance back to state government, we need the other side of the political aisle to be that balance that is not in existence anymore."
Schertzer, a Democrat, is challenging incumbent Robert Sprague, a Republican, in the November general election.
A native of Findlay, Sprague is Ohio's 49th Treasurer of State. He is serving in his first term after winning election to the office in 2018. He previously represented the 83rd District in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2011 to 2018.
No other candidates have filed petitions seeking the office, according to the Ohio Secretary of State website listing of statewide office candidates.
Schertzer has served as mayor of Marion since 2008. He said he believes his experience as mayor has prepared him to be successful in a statewide office.
"I'm in my 15th year as mayor and we can't afford to kick the can down the road," Schertzer said. "Mayors actually have to roll up their sleeves and get the job done, and they need to get it done right. I helped lead this city through the great recession, through the opioid epidemic, and a COVID-19 pandemic that are still raging across this community, this state, and this country.
"We can't afford to play politics. Mayors actually have to get things done," he added. "And it's those small town values and that philosophy of collaboration cooperation that leads to success. That's what we need in the state and we do not have enough of that."
Schertzer said he believes the political imbalance in state government and scandals like the one surrounding former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, the Republican lawmaker who was arrested in July 2020, are having an adverse effect on everyday people.
"Places like my hometown here in Marion, where people get up every day and they go to work, they go to church, they cheer on their local sports teams, and all they really want is a fair shake to get ahead in life," Schertzer said. "And I don't think we're really getting that chance because when you look at the powers that be in Columbus, like my opponent, they've been too busy playing politics to really see what's happening in towns across the state of Ohio.
"They don't notice the corruption happening right underneath their noses, and we can't afford to have somebody like that in the treasurer's office, who doesn't really recognize the scandal and the ultra-corruption that's taking place with House Bill 6 and Larry Householder and FirstEnergy."
Schertzer said "politicians and political handlers enrich(ed) themselves personally and enrich(ed) themselves politically all up and down the ticket in 2018."
"And that's just wrong," he stated. "What you'll get with Scott Schertzer as the state treasurer is a sure thing. I'll watch over every dollar spent and I'll pinch every penny. It's quite simple when it comes to scandals, if you see something you have the responsibility to say something. And we're not hearing that from our elected officials in Columbus right now."
Politics has been part of Schertzer's path in life since he was a young man. After graduating from the University of Toledo in the early 1990s, he worked on Sherrod Brown's reelection campaign for Ohio secretary of state and also worked on the campaign committee for fellow Marion Countian Mary Ellen Withrow when she was running for Ohio treasurer of state.
Schertzer, a native of Marion County and alumnus of Ridgedale High School, worked for Elgin Local Schools from 1996 to 2007, serving as a history teacher at the junior high school.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Mayor Schertzer starts campaign to become Ohio Treasurer
