Saturday, May 06, 2000
Free OSU tickets longtime tradition
Ex-governors don't see it as an ethics issue
By Andrew Welsh-Huggins
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Former Gov. John Gilligan, a Democrat, buys his Ohio State University football tickets these days, but doesn't have a problem with sitting governors — including Republican Bob Taft — receiving free tickets.
“It's a big civic celebration, like having the mayor at a civic function of some kind,” he said Friday. “I don't see it as anything beyond that.”
The Ohio Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Ohio Ethics Commission last week over Mr. Taft's acceptance of $2,688 worth of tickets for Ohio State football games in 1999.
The university offers the current and former governors eight free tickets to each home game per season, said university spokesman William Napier. He said the tradition goes back decades.
The university also provides free tickets to current trustees and guests of the OSU president. State lawmakers and members of the governor's cabinet are offered the chance to buy tickets.
Former governors James Rhodes and George Voinovich, both Republicans, and Richard Celeste, a Democrat, attend as many games as possible with family members and friends, said spokesmen for the former governors and Ohio State University.
Mr. Gilligan, 79, who was governor from 1971 to 1975, said he is given the chance to buy two tickets a year. He said his son, Columbus attorney John P. Gilligan, usually uses the tickets.
Mr. Napier said Mr. Gilligan apparently gave up his option on the free tickets in the past. He's still welcome to them.
Mr. Gilligan said he doesn't remember being offered free tickets and wouldn't take them now.
“I'd just as soon buy them. I'm just more comfortable that way,” he said.
Mr. Gilligan is now living in Cincinnati and in November was elected to the city school board.
Former governor Nancy Hollister, who completed the final 11 days of Mr. Voinovich's term in January 1999, does not receive free tickets. She is offered the chance to buy tickets because she is a state representative.
Mr. Voinovich attends as many games as possible himself and offers remaining tickets to family, friends and some state lawmakers, his spokesman Mike Dawson said.
Mr. Celeste, now U.S. ambassador to India, did not take the tickets last year because he was out of the country, Mr. Napier said. Mr. Celeste, who was governor from 1981 to 1989, was appointed ambassador in November 1997.
When Mr. Celeste attends games, he usually invites friends and family, said Brian Usher, his former press secretary.
Mr. Rhodes, 90, attends as many games as possible. Mr. Rhodes, who was governor from 1963 to 1971 and again from 1975 to 1983, said he pays for his tickets.
Taking free tickets would “be very unkindly to the other 108,000 that's paying,” he said. The stadium's capacity, including standees, is about 90,000.
Mr. Leland's complaint says the ethics commission has held in previous opinions that the acceptance of “something of value” from a party with an interest before a public official or agency could impair the recipient's “independence of judgment.”
The complaint said Mr. Taft accepted the tickets even though, as governor, he has veto power over bills in the general fund budget and the construction budget that could affect the university.
Taft spokesman Scott Milburn has said he's confident Mr. Taft will be cleared of any wrongdoing.
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