STATEMENT FROM BRYAN E. FLANNERY

Congressman Ted Strickland, a candidate for Ohio Governor, said from his early years in the ministry he developed empathy “for neglected and abused children.”

However, Congressman Strickland hired a friend and political protégé on the taxpayer’s payroll who has plead guilty, on at least four occasions, of exposing himself to children in public parks and school grounds in the Athens Ohio area.

Following the admission of guilt by the Congressman’s protégé, Mr. Strickland put this individual on the public payroll in his congressional office, then had him serve as his Campaign Manager in his reelection effort, before returning him to the federal payroll, in his congressional office, as a Special Advisor.

Following that campaign, the Congressman and his protégé, according to sources, reportedly vacationed in Italy.

It would appear the Congressman is a master of “politician talk” or perhaps, he is just confused about where he stands on children’s issues.

In a recent request for the public records of Congressman Strickland’s associate, in the Athens County court system, it was discovered that most of the records have disappeared or are not retrievable.

Today I am sending a letter to the Athens County Prosecutor, Mr. C. David Warren, to see if he might know what happened to the vanished records and who may have had a hand in the disappearance of the records of Congressman Strickland’s associate.

Consistent with this behavior, Congressman Strickland, answered “present, but not voting,” on a House Congressional Resolution #107, in 1999, which stated “Expressing the sense of Congress rejecting the conclusions of a recent article published by the American Psychological Association that suggests the sexual relationship between adults and children might be positive for children.” Days following the vote, Congressman Strickland repudiated 355 of his colleagues for their affirmative vote on this resolution by addressing the House of Representatives and stated, “We ought to have the decency not to vote to condemn something until we know what it is we are voting to condemn.”

No other member of the Ohio congressional delegation supported Congressman Strickland’s position on this vote, in fact, only 12 other members voted as Congressman Strickland did and none condemned their colleagues’ vote as the Congressman did. The record of this vote may be viewed on the flanneryforgovernor.com website.

Then just last week the Congressman told a group, that he had met with privately, he would upon his election as Governor, institute a program to “hire ex-convicts for state government positions” replacing law abiding citizens. The Congressman told the group he was a former prison psychologist.

In a fundraising letter to his fellow psychologists entitled “Ted Strickland as Governor”, the letter stated, “As a profession, psychology has many goals. Imagine what a difference it would make if Ted Strickland were Governor.” We can only “imagine what a difference.” The letter was signed by among others the Congressman’s wife, who was quoted as saying, “The voters are looking for someone who can put warmth back into politics.” The voters of Ohio are looking for leadership, not psychological counseling.

Many psychologists from around the nation have made substantial contributions to the Congressman’s campaign for Governor.

What is Congressman Strickland really about?

At age 65 and with his years of public service the Congressman should have a better understanding of how Ohioans feel about their children and family values.

Today, I call upon Congressman Strickland to explain his behavior and stand on children’s rights and family values given his record which certainly does not support or protect our children and families.

My Lieutenant Governor running mate, Frank Stams and I both are married and have children. Protecting the children and families of Ohio will always be the top priority for a Flannery-Stams administration.

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