By Gregory Korte
Enquirer staff writer

Ohio Republicans already have at least three candidates to replace state Treasurer Joe Deters should he win a write-in bid to take back his old job as Hamilton County prosecutor.

Lt. Gov. Jennette Bradley, Ohio Department of Insurance director Ann Womer Benjamin and Canton Mayor Janet Weir Creighton are on the short list, said Ohio GOP chairman Bob Bennett.He was a key player in the deal that forced Prosecutor Mike Allen to drop his re-election bid in favor of Deters.

MORE COVERAGE Mike Allen at his press conference. Enquirer photo/GARY LANDERS

• Scandal-struck Allen makes way for Deters • Disgusted by Allen, voters cheer his decision to quit • Treasurer returns to the base of his power • Lt. Gov. Bradley called favorite to replace Deters • EDITORIAL: Allen's leaving good for county • Borgman editorial cartoon • Special section: Mike Allen coverage

Gov. Bob Taft would not comment on the appointment Monday.

But his spokesman said Taft would speak to Allen today about his future on the University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees - a position Taft appointed him to for a nine-year term in 1998. Allen has admitted to an affair with assistant county prosecutor Rebecca Collins, starting when she was a student at UC's law school.

"We have a call in to Mike Allen. We want to discuss the matter with him privately," said spokesman Orest Holubec. The governor can't remove a trustee without a formal impeachment hearing - but can ask a trustee to resign.

Under the state Constitution, the governor would appoint Deters' successor as treasurer if Deters steps down after Sept. 23. Deters said he would remain as treasurer until being sworn in as prosecutor.

Brian Hicks, Taft's former chief of staff and now a private political adviser to the governor, said Bradley would have to lead the list of replacements.

Bradley, who also runs the Ohio Department of Commerce, had been a vice president of Huntington Bank before Taft picked her as his running mate. The state treasurer manages $140 billion in state funds.

Bradley made her desire for the treasurer's office known to Ohio delegates at the Republican National Convention last month. A spokesman said she would not comment on her interest in an appointment.

Taft would have to replace Bradley with a candidate acceptable to both houses of the Ohio General Assembly. Add state Rep. Kevin DeWine, R-Fairborn - son of U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine and brother of Cincinnati Councilman Pat DeWine - to the mix of possible lieutenant governor candidates, Hicks said.

State Sen. Mark Mallory, co-chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party, said Deters' candidacy would give Democrats an opportunity to bring up the campaign finance scandals that plagued the state treasurer's office. Two former employees of the treasurer's office pleaded guilty to election law violations.

"It's typical Republican musical chairs," Mallory said. "It just shows how the entire Republican Party - from the county level to state level - is in complete disarray."

Deters isn't ruling himself out as a candidate for Ohio attorney general in 2006. In fact, he has a fund-raiser scheduled in Columbus next week.

"It's an office that's always interested me," Deters said Monday. "But I know a lot of football teams that were looking to the next week and lost the game in front of them. I'm not going to do that. A year is a long time in politics."

And what of Allen, who had himself been a possible candidate for attorney general in 2006? The state GOP chairman said Allen's political career may not yet be over.

"This is a very difficult time for Mike Allen,'' Bennett said. "He wants to put his family back together and put this behind him. Once he's done that, he's young and he's smart and opportunities are open to him.''

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E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com