In the midst of the water pollution crisis in Toledo, during which 500,000 residents couldn't use their tap water for 2 days, Ohio Governor John Kasich decided to catch up on appointments to the Ohio Department of Health.
Some might say its a good thing, since the office of the Director of ODH had been vacant since last February, when Dr. Ted Wymyslo left.
Does anyone recall why Dr. Wymyslo left? Well, it was at the urging of feminist groups who criticized his decision to order the closing of a Cinicinnati area abortion clinic.
Shortly after the resignation was announced, NARAL Pro-ChoiceOhio urged supporters in a tweet to “call Kasich NOW and tell him new dir must put health over politics.”
Typically, Kasich left the position unfilled until the Toledo water crisis unfolded. Because everyone knows, government is bad...
So who has Kasich chosen to replace Dr. Wymyslo? Richard Hodges, a politician, former GOP member of the Ohio House of Representatives and current head of the Ohio Turnpike Commission, of course.
What does a conservative GOP pol know about public health? Well not much, really, but he is good at revising his resume to make it seem as if he does. See, Ohio requires that Directors of Public Health be medical doctors or have significant experience in public health.
According to Plunderbund, Hodges resume, on LinkedIn and elsewhere, doesn't show any experience in a medical or public health profession.
Until yesterday afternoon, anyway, according to Plunderbund.
Then, suddenly, out of the blue, Third Base Politics “obtained” a copy of Hodges resume this afternoon that happened to contain a new position not listed on any of his other resumes: “Director of Planning and Marketing” for the Fulton County Health Center, a small hospital in Wauseon, Ohio. His time at this newly added job overlaps with his time as a state representative and his time serving as Executive Vice President of the Mechanical Contractors Assoc. It’s unclear where this resume came from, who provided it, or when it was created.
Hodges' career at the Ohio Turnpike Commission wasn't without note, however, as
Plunderbund reported on a nepotism investigation a year ago. Seems he appointed some of Kasich's campaign staffers to high paying jobs at the Turnpike Commission, long known for GOP nepotism and corrupt leaders.
To cover his bases, Kasich also appointed Dr. Mary Applegate as "interim medical director". Applegate currently serves as director of Ohio Medicaid. She will assist Dr., I mean, Mr. Hodges in selecting a team of clinicians to help him at ODH, most likely the kind who meet the approval of Ohio's anti-abortion community.
Because we all know that preventing family planning is more important than fresh water for millions of Ohioans living along Lake Erie.