By Jim Siegel
Gannett Columbus Bureau

COLUMBUS - One day after media reports revealed his hidden connection to a pair of controversial GOP consultants, Sen. Jeff Jacobson, R-Dayton, announced he will no longer seek the Senate presidency in 2005.

The announcement presumably opened the door for Sen. Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green, to take the top post. Senate President Doug White, R-Manchester, is leaving the Senate because of term limits.

Gardner for a few months pursued the seat before bowing out in December.

"I am open to serving as president," Gardner said Thursday, about an hour after Jacobson announced his intentions.

Before this week, most considered Jacobson a shoo-in for the top post. Gardner, who met for two hours with Jacobson on Wednesday, said he was surprised by his colleague's decision.

"I thought it was possible this day might come, but certainly I didn't expect it - not this week," he said.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer Wednesday revealed that Jacobson used money from the Montgomery County GOP's secret operating account money to indirectly pay consultants Brett Buerck and Kyle Sisk.

Buerck and Sisk - top aides to Speaker Larry Householder - are under state and federal investigation for their campaigning and fund-raising tactics.

"In seeking the Senate presidency, I allowed myself to become associated with persons whose practices were antithetical to the reforms I sought and the standards I believed in," Jacobson said.

Reporter Leo Shane III contributed to this story.