Thursday, September 16, 1999
Candidate told to drop 'CPA'
Democrats questioned credentials
BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ALEXANDRIA — State officials are questioning the credentials and campaign tactics of Kevin Gordon, a Republican candidate for Campbell County property value administrator.
It was Democrats who first claimed Mr. Gordon was misleading voters by telling them he is qualified as a certified public accountant, or CPA.
A complaint against Mr. Gordon was filed last month with the Kentucky State Board of Accountancy, which last week sent a “cease and desist” letter instructing Mr. Gordon to no longer use the phrase “certified public accountant” in his campaign materials.
Debby Abell, an administrative assistant at the state board of accountancy, would not say Wednesday who filed the complaint against Mr. Gordon. But she provided a copy of the letter sent to Mr. Gordon after the Enquirer submit ted a request under Kentucky's open records law.
It is against the law to falsely claim to be a CPA.
Mr. Gordon said Wednesday that he stands by his campaign materials, which say he is qualified as a CPA.
Mr. Gordon holds an accounting degree, has worked as an accountant and has passed the CPA exam in Ohio. He has not taken the CPA exam in Kentucky, but the exams are identical.
His campaign material reads “qualified as Certified Public Accountant.”
Mr. Gordon said the Democrats are attacking him because they are worried about losing the election.
“Better than any poll I could have commissioned, I have a clear indication as to how well my campaign is doing,” he said. “I am the most qualified candidate ... and I will continue to campaign hard so that I may have the honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Campbell County.”
Mr. Gordon, of Alexandria, is running in the November election against PVA Mariann Guidugli Dunn, a Democrat from Alexandria appointed to the office in June by Gov. Paul Patton.
The office was vacant because former PVA Bill Kaiser — a Southgate Democrat who beat Mr. Gordon last year — resigned after admitting to taking nearly $50,000 in public funds.
Mr. Kaiser repaid the money and received a five-year probated sentence, with one year of jail that includes work release.
“The last person we need as a PVA is somebody who misleads the voters about his qualifications,” said Crestview Hills lawyer David Kramer, a Campbell County native and a member of the Kenton County Democratic Executive Committee.
Mr. Kramer, who issued a press release Wednesday questioning Mr. Gordon's background and tactics, said he became involved in the race to help Mrs. Dunn and because he still has close ties to Campbell County, where friends and family live.
Mr. Kramer said he has been told that Mr. Gordon described himself as a CPA while campaigning at a senior citizens meeting at St. Therese Church in Southgate.
“I have all the qualifications and despite what somebody says they heard at an event in Southgate, I have not told people I am a CPA, but that I am qualified to do the work,” Mr. Gordon said.
Mr. Gordon has also said he has not received the state's letter, which is dated Sept. 7.
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