Would You Buy a Used Car from Joe Deters?

Imagine my surprise recently when, while driving to do an errand, I heard Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters speaking on my car radio to extol the virtues of Ford motor vehicles.

"Why is an elected official shilling for a for-profit company, and mentioning the title of his public office to do so?" I wondered to myself. "Is this even legal for an elected official, particularly a lawyer who is held to a different standard than many other politicians?"

As it turns out, it’s legal but it’s uncommon — and somewhat tacky.

The Ohio Supreme Court oversees standards for lawyers and judges in the state through its Rules of Professional Conduct, which were most recently updated Feb. 1. Although court personnel cannot answer questions about specific issues or lawyers, they can respond to questions about general situations and guidelines.

Asked if there are any rules regulating whether lawyers who hold elective office can do radio or TV commercials, an Ohio Supreme Court spokesman replied that only judges are specifically barred from lending the credibility of his or her office to endorse a commercial product or service.

“There is no explicit provision in the rules of professional responsibility that prohibits an elected official, other than a judge,” said spokesman Chris Davey.

In his experience with the court, Davey added, he’s unaware of any Ohio county prosecutor making a commercial for a private firm and hadn’t been asked the question before.

Area lawyers contacted by CityBeat said they weren’t aware of the Deters ad and called it unseemly. They didn’t want their names used for fear of professional reprisal, they added.

Deters probably doesn’t need any extra cash outside of his prosecutor’s salary. He is paid $120,085 annually, according to county budget officials.

Whether Deters got paid for the commercial or was doing it as some form of public service or favor isn’t clear. Deters declined comment to CityBeat about the matter when the newspaper sent an e-mail and — after getting no response — made a follow-up telephone call.

“Mr. Deters has no comment,” said Bill Ranaghan, spokesman for the prosecutor’s office, in a voice mail message. “Hopefully, that responds to your question. Thanks.”

In the most literal sense, it is a response but it offers no new information.

Deters isn’t alone when it comes to public figures taking to the airwaves on behalf of automobile dealers. Cincinnati Police Officer Keith Fangman, when he was president of the local Fraternal Order of Police, used to do similar commercials — but his were written in the context of a tribute to local police officers. More importantly, Fangman wasn’t elected to a public office and didn’t have to comply with any professional rules overseen by an independent agency.

Regardless, Deters’ stint as a car pitchman might not affect his popularity among local Republicans.

Deters was Hamilton County prosecutor from 1992-1999 before being elected Ohio Treasurer. After Mike Allen, Deters’ successor as prosecutor, was sued for sexual harassment for having an extramarital affair with an assistant prosecutor, party leaders persuaded Allen not to seek re-election and lured Deters back home.

Reeling from an investigation into the treasurer’s office, Deters agreed to run as the GOP’s write-in candidate to replace Allen in November 2004. The move occurred after two of Deters’ associates pleaded guilty to misdemeanors in an investigation into whether the Ohio Treasurer’s Office accepted money from companies looking to nab contracts for investing the state’s money. Despite the scandal, Deters won against Democratic write-in candidate Fanon Rucker, getting 52 percent of the vote.

— Kevin Osborne
(Photo: Businessweek.com)

Comments

[Kevin P]

Wow... I guess Kevin O. must have missed all the commercials that Dusty Rhodes does for John Nolan Ford. I guess since Rhodes is a Democrat it is perfectly acceptable to the gang at City Beat.

[Political Junkie]

All of these folks are cheesy as hell. Why do they need to be doing commercials in the first place? Stick to "crime fighting," Joe.

[Kevin Osborne]

Actually, Kevin P., I don't listen to radio very often so I wasn't aware of the Dusty Rhodes commercials.

Personally, I don't think any elected official should be hawking products while mentioning their elective office. Does Rhodes mention that he's the county auditor in the ad? Most people probably just recognize Dusty as a radio DJ from the 1960s. I still think Dusty should refrain from doing them.

Regardless, Dusty also isn't a lawyer and bound by the Rules of Professional Conduct. As I mention above, restrictionos on lawyers and judges usually are stricter than for the rest of society or even other politicians.

[kevin p]

So I guess it's an amazing coincidence that Kevin O who "doesn't listen to the radio all that much" just happened to catch Joe Deters doing this commercial and hasn't ever caught Dusty over the past 3 years he's been hawking John Nolan Ford?

And is Deters actually violating lawyers' codes of conduct, or is this speculation on your part? Are you a lawyer yourself well-versed in the bar association's standards for professional conduct?

This is looking like Kevin O was duped by a Democrat or anti-Deters person who thought he could get his liberal buddy at the liberal rag to score some cheap political points. Or Kevin himself let his partisanship get in the way.

Hook. Line. Sinker.

Of course, Kevin O believes everything Scott Gehring tells him, too, so he can't be that bright. I knew Gehring in college, and most people saw him for the phony he was in the first 5 minutes. I guess since he used to work for the Democrats' Favorite Republican Leslie Ghiz, he speaks the Gospel truth in Kevin O's mind.

[lasallemom]

Gosh, I have heard these radio spots over the years and never thought of them as commercials for Ford. They are spots acknowledging a specific Cincinnati Police Officer and the spot is SPONOSORED by Ford. Does Deters get paid, don't know, why don't you find out. A commercial...hardly. Why don't you make sure you get the facts straight before you go making accusations?
Oh brother, this is all "reporters" have to do with their time nowadays??

[Kevin Osborne]

Wow, I seem to have touched a nerve. Where to begin?

First, for Kevin P. No one pitched me this idea. I heard the radio spot one day while driving back downtown from the Kenwood area. It was either on 94.1 or 94.9, if I recall correctly, because those are about the only commercial stations I tune into. If I listen to radio at all, it's usually NPR.

I don't know about Dusty's spots but, given his demographic profile, I would bet those are on the AM dial. And I don't listen to AM. Sorry.

Kevin P., you seem to have some strange obsession with Scott Gehring, based on your posts on other blogs. I only know Scott from when he worked for Ghiz at City Hall. In fact, after I wrote on this blog first about his bipartisan romance and later about his troubles with the Blue Chips ... well, let's just say Scott doesn't seem to care for me. No biggie. This isn't a popularity contest but he most definitely is not a source of mine.

Now, onto lasallemom. As my post made clear, I tried to "get the facts." Deters didn't want to talk about it. Read the piece again. Regardless, who says police officers feel "honored" by being schlepped on commercials for car dealers? Seems like a lousy honor, to me, one that exploits cops to sell a few cars.

I want to thank my readers for being so passionate. It warms my heart, truly.

[Not the Mamma Cass!]

well, since the Ford Crown Victoria is the goto car of choice for CPD it would be Ford sponsoring the award.

May be worth asking the officer(s) so "honored" if they feel so.

Question: Since it was the FOP Prez before why not now? Did you ask Capt. Harrell why she isn't doing the spots?

What next? Politicians pimping Graeters or Skyline? Oh, wait.

Bigger problems than this to write about, Kevin.