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Letter to the Editor
October 5, 2008
Along with perks comes heavy baggage
Right or wrong, like it or not, Steve and Eileen Austria have hooked their political and financial futures to Dave Hobson and Dave Hobson’s legacy. Steve Austria would not be the Republican nominee for the 7th District House seat without Hobson’s blessing, not to mention his “good-old-boy” campaign contribution network. That connection also extends to Hobson’s position on the issues including free trade, foreign policy, earmarks and illegal immigration, to name a few. For example, the Austria campaign recently accused his Democrat opponent of harboring an illegal immigrant, but then had to back-peddle when they learned a judge granted a stay pending appeal.
It’s important we recall that in the mid-90’s Dave Hobson had an illegal immigration scandal of his own with Eileen Austria holding a front row seat as Hobson’s District Director. A Hobson campaign contributor from Springfield illegally aided and abetted the immigration of more than a dozen teenage boys from Fiji, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. He was fined $1500 with no probation, where the maximum penalty could have been a $250,000 fine and five years in prison. There’s credible evidence that Mr. Hobson weighed in on behalf of the defendant, and may even have had a part in expunging serious allegations from the plea bargain agreement.
Steve and Eileen Austria chose to exploit their relationship with Dave Hobson for political and financial gain, but that includes the heavy baggage as well as the perks. Steve and Eileen Austria can’t have it both ways for no other reason than if they want to stay in Washington for more than one term, the Austria’s are inextricably tied to those that finance Mr. Austria’s campaign, who for the most part are the same folks that kept Dave Hobson in Washington for almost two decades.
John Mitchel
Beavercreek, Ohio
937 427-8442
Paid for by Americans for John Mitchel
