"[Bryan Flannery] is not a significant person to me," said [Ted Strickland], who faces former state Rep. Flannery in the May primary. "It's just kind of sad that someone would want to be governor so badly that they would do what I think Mr. Flannery has done."

Strickland said Thursday he was unaware of the man's record when he hired him, and he accused Flannery of implying Strickland had something to do with the missing court documents. "I have not had anything to do with the records, have no knowledge of the records," he said.

Strickland said campaign workers planned to treat themselves to the trip if Strickland won, but as it turned out only Strickland and the man were able to go.

Hard-hitting comments by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bryan Flannery have U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland responding with strong language of his own in what had been a quiet race.

"Bryan Flannery is not a significant person to me," said Strickland, who faces former state Rep. Flannery in the May primary. "It's just kind of sad that someone would want to be governor so badly that they would do what I think Mr. Flannery has done."

Flannery issued a statement Wednesday criticizing Strickland for hiring a man who had been convicted of exposing himself to children.

The man worked for Strickland from 1997 to 1999, as a congressional and campaign staffer.

According to Athens police, the man's case stems from 1994, when he was arrested for public indecency after several children reported he'd exposed himself. Police records show he was found guilty, although the exact charge is unclear.

Flannery said court records of the case are missing, and he called on the Athens County prosecutor to investigate.

But Jesse Lipcius, the man's attorney, said the records are gone because they've been expunged.

Strickland said Thursday he was unaware of the man's record when he hired him, and he accused Flannery of implying Strickland had something to do with the missing court documents. "I have not had anything to do with the records, have no knowledge of the records," he said.

Strickland said he was "disappointed and sad" to hear of the man's record.

He said that late in the 1998 campaign, an anonymous letter arrived accusing the man of sexual misconduct.

"At that point I asked him about it and he denied that these accusations are true," Strickland said.

In retrospect, Strickland said he "perhaps" should have pursued the matter more aggressively, but that he tends to give little credibility to anonymous tips.

The man left Strickland's office in 1999 of his own accord.

Strickland also questioned Flannery's motives for saying Strickland and the man traveled to Italy after the 1998 campaign.

Strickland said campaign workers planned to treat themselves to the trip if Strickland won, but as it turned out only Strickland and the man were able to go.

Political bloggers accused Flannery of questioning Strickland's sexual orientation.

Flannery spokesman Anthony Fossaceca denied it: "That was not the intent. That has no place in this campaign at all, period."

He said Flannery was just trying to show that Strickland knew the staffer well.

The dispute has the Ohio Democratic Party calling for Flannery to stick to the issues.

Strickland said, "I do think that anyone who seeks the governor's office should conduct himself and his campaign in a manner that is worthy of the people of our state and I find this disappointing."

Fossaceca said Flannery agrees with Strickland.

"Candidates seeking the highest elected office in the state should be held to a higher standard," he said.