A win either way

Now knowing both choices Ohio voters have as their next attorney general, the winners already seem clear. Whether Allen County native and Republican D. Michael Crites or current state Treasurer Rich Cordray receives the most votes in November, Ohioans come out ahead.

The Ohio Republican Party on Wednesday nominated Crites to run in the special election. The Democrats last month chose Cordray as their candidate. Both candidates come qualified. More importantly, both candidates seem like grownups. That cannot be overstated, given the fraternity party former Attorney General Marc Dann hosted during his 16 months in office.

Dann resigned in May following sexual harassment claims made against a senior staff member and Dann's mismanagement of the Ohio Attorney General's Office. The first-term Democrat planned to try to ride out the storm - until his own party started talking about impeachment. Gov. Ted Strickland appointed Ohio State University law school Dean Nancy Hardin Rogers to fill in as interim attorney general, with November's election deciding who will serve the remaining two years of the term.

Crites is a private practice attorney in Columbus. He served as assistant Allen County prosecutor and as a U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. Cordray served a term in the Ohio House, served as state solicitor under then-Attorney General Lee Fisher and also was in private practice. Cordray has been state treasurer since January 2007.

With a short campaign season, Cordray has the clear advantage. He has name recognition and a statewide office to keep in front of voters. The presidential race is going to get most of the attention, so the attorney general candidates will have trouble getting air time for their commercials, which will hurt Crites more than it will Cordray. How Ohio votes in the presidential election could be a factor. And, of course, both parties have the other's recent political fumbles (Dann for the Democrats, former Gov. Bob Taft for the Republicans) with which to have fun.

But, both parties will have grownups on the ballot to be Ohio attorney general. As long as neither one decides to start holding all-nighters with 20-somethings, hiring their buddies instead of qualified help or trading juvenile e-mails, Ohio should be better off with its next attorney general.