By Leo Shane III
Enquirer Columbus Bureau

COLUMBUS - Betty Montgomery has been Ohio's attorney general for the last eight years, has been one of the GOP's top fund-raisers and has one of the most recognizable names among this year's statewide candidates.

Her election opponent, Helen Knipe Smith, admits that few voters outside of northeast Ohio have even heard her name.

"As a non-incumbent it's tough running for state office," Ms. Smith said. "She has a record, so I have to talk about her record, but I have to talk about who I am, too. We've had a lot of activity all around the state, and it's exhausting."

But despite their differences, both women insist their experience makes them perfect for the next auditor.

Ms. Montgomery, 54, was a state senator for seven years and was the Wood County prosecutor for eight years before that. She is Ohio's first female attorney general and said her work there will easily translate into the auditor's post.

"The attorney general represents the auditor's office, so I have been involved with (current auditor Jim) Petro and have a familiarity with the office," she said. "I think the post combines my experience of working with local governments and statewide issues. Having that statewide experience gives me an enormous advantage transitioning into it."

She points to her work with the legislature, both as a member and as attorney general, on drafting public safety measures as proof that a working knowledge of the statehouse makes for better government.

Ms. Smith, 60, isn't a stranger to public office, having served in Cleveland council for 18 years. Now an administrator with the Cuyahoga Board of Revision, Ms. Smith says she is more in touch with what local governments' concerns and needs are.

"We need a more proactive auditor's office," she said. "Wherever one dollar of taxpayer money goes, the auditor has a right to look into it. But there are hundreds of contracts that no one is watching."

Ms. Smith points to the Ohio Turnpike Commission and the Ohio School Facilities Commission - both agencies saw administrators dismissed this summer as a result of improprieties - as instances where the current auditor was caught not paying attention.

"We need to pay attention to what is happening throughout the public sector, make sure things are being done properly," she said. "I will put together a sort of strike force team to quickly respond to reports of problems, get in there and see what needs to be done."

Ms. Montgomery disputes that Mr. Petro's office has been lax in its work, but said a top priority for her will be improving oversight of "entities outside the mainstream" like the turnpike and schools commissions.

"Those are the cases where if there's not a lot of oversight, things can go afoul easily," she said. "We need to continue to expand our training with local governments, work on explaining to them public records and open meetings."

Ms. Montgomery said she sees some internal reorganization that can make the auditor's office run more efficiently, even if citizens don't necessarily notice the changes.

"A lot of times the real impact of these important changes doesn't get seen by the average voter," she said. "But I hope the public does see us as a more responsive office ... working more efficiently and effectively."

Ms. Smith said her top priority will be to make sure all contracts through the auditor's office are publicly bid, to ensure fairness and openness. She said both Ms. Montgomery and Mr. Petro have been poor watchdogs for the state, because their loyalty lies with the GOP.

"When taxpayer money is being wasted, the auditor ought to be saying something," Ms. Smith said. "But nobody is screaming about the Ohio Turnpike problems. No one is screaming about the pension board buying Enron stock instead of selling it.

"(Ms. Montgomery) has not used her bully pulpit. The one thing as a statewide officeholder you always have is the ability to hold a press conference and say, `This is what's happening, this is what's wrong.' This attorney general has done nothing."

But Ms. Montgomery said the Republican officeholders haven't abandoned citizens' interests.

"It's a legitimate argument when one party is in control, but you have to look at the individual officeholders," she said. "I've taken a stand. I've disagreed with the party. And I have 25 years of experience to back that up.

"The reason I want this job is because it is a critical function of government to have an effective watchdog. And I have a track record of being a watchdog."