FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2006

FOR MORE INFORMATION: James P. Urling, (513) 518-7675; urling@gocoast.org

JEAN SCHMIDT FALSELY CLAIMS COLLEGE DEGREE

-- COAST files second complaint at Ohio Elections Commission for false statements --

Consistently during her political career, Jean Schmidt has claimed two bachelors degrees from the University of Cincinnati, including one from 1986 in (variously) “Secondary Education, or “Social Studies, Secondary Education.” This claimed degree is a complete fabrication by Ms. Schmidt. It simply does not exist.

It is a violation of Ohio Elections Law in Ohio to make a false statement in the course of an elections campaign (O.R.C. §3517.21 (B) (10)) , and it specifically is a violation of elections law to claim a college degree one does not have O.R.C. §3517.21 (B) (2). As a result, James P. Urling, COAST Chairman, today filed a Complaint before the Ohio Elections Commission against Ms. Schmidt. A copy of that Complaint and the attendant exhibits is attached to this e-mail. The various publications (presently known to COAST) in which Ms. Schmidt has claimed this second college degree are in Exhibits A through G.

This is the second false statements complaint that COAST has filed against Ms. Schmidt. The prior complaint addressed claimed false endorsements by Ms. Schmidt from Congressmen Steve Chabot and Tom Tancredo, and from the Family Research Council. Neither Mr. Chabot nor Mr. Tancredo have endorsed any candidate in this race; similarly Family Research Council has not endorsed in this race, and in fact cannot because it is a 501-C-3 organization. On Wednesday, March 29, 2006, the Ohio Elections Commission voted 4-0 to find probable cause that Ms. Schmidt made a false statement in violation of the elections statute, and will hold a formal hearing on the matter on April 27, 2006.
(Contact Phil Richter at (614-466-3205 to confirm.)

Complaint; click here             Exhibits: click here

The fact that Ms. Schmidt does not have this claimed degree can be confirmed by calling Dr. Douglas Burgess, University of Cincinnati Registrar at (513) 556-9900.

Jean Schmidt has had a consistent gap between her statements and the truth. in addition to the three false endorsements and the false claim of a college degree, she also has these notable prevarications:

1) Claiming that Danny Bubp asked her to "convey a message to Congressman Murtha," which Mr. Bubp denies: http://www.wkrc.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=775E7920-7E8A-4147-A748-3E818D63D815

2) Claiming she was not the source for a quote calling young Republican activists "little Hitlers." She said her twin sister was the source of the quote: http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/030906/schmidt.html

NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE