Auditor of State of Ohio
November 2, 2010 · general election · 3 candidates with a page
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by surname. Ohio rotates the order candidates appear in by precinct, so no order on this page is the order on a ballot.
- Worked as an auditor for 28 years, per the Libertarian Party of Ohio (per campaign)
4 of 11 sections researched · 2 sources
- Attorney specializing in commercial litigation at the law firm Blank Rome in Cincinnati.
- Has taught voting rights at the University of Cincinnati College of Law.
- Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, January 2015 to December 2020.
9 of 11 sections researched · 13 sources
- Worked as a journalist for the Columbus Citizen-Journal before entering government.
- Held staff positions in the administration of Columbus Mayor Dana "Buck" Rinehart and Ohio Governor George Voinovich.
- B.A. in journalism, Ohio State University; J.D., Capital University Law School.
10 of 11 sections researched · 32 sources
L. Michael Howard
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Section | State |
|---|---|
| profile | researched |
| ballot | researched |
| positions | not researched |
| claims | not researched |
| record | not researched |
| money | not researched |
| interests | not researched |
| polling | not researched |
| elections | researched |
| endorsements | not researched |
| sources | researched |
David Pepper
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Section | State |
|---|---|
| profile | researched |
| ballot | researched |
| positions | researched |
| claims | none found |
| record | researched |
| money | researched |
| interests | researched |
| polling | researched |
| elections | researched |
| endorsements | not researched |
| sources | researched |
Dave Yost
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Section | State |
|---|---|
| profile | researched |
| ballot | researched |
| positions | researched |
| claims | researched |
| record | researched |
| money | researched |
| interests | researched |
| polling | researched |
| elections | researched |
| endorsements | none found |
| sources | researched |
The race in pictures
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Field date | Candidate | Share | Poll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 3, 2010 | Dave Yost | 42 | Columbus Dispatch Poll, likely voters |
A note on our coverage
Read before the columns: where one candidate has more entries than another, this says which of the two reasons it is.
We have checked 1 claim by Dave Yost, 0 by David Pepper and 0 by L. Michael Howard. The gap is in our research, not in them.
Where they stand: Dave Yost has 7 entries, David Pepper has 3 entries and L. Michael Howard has 0 entries. The difference reflects the length of each public record and the depth of our research; it is not a judgment.
Dave Yost's record in office has 11 entries, David Pepper's has 4 and L. Michael Howard's has 0. The difference reflects the length of each public record and the depth of our research; it is not a judgment.
Sources: Dave Yost has 32 entries, David Pepper has 10 entries and L. Michael Howard has 2 entries. The difference reflects the length of each public record and the depth of our research; it is not a judgment.
Jump to a candidate
- L. Michael Howard: Where they stand · What they have said, checked · Record in office · Money
- David Pepper: Where they stand · What they have said, checked · Record in office · Money
- Dave Yost: Where they stand · What they have said, checked · Record in office · Money
Where they stand
Their own words, by issue, with the date, the venue and the link. A paraphrase is marked as one.
Abortion
L. Michael Howard
Not yet researched
David Pepper
None found in the records checked
Dave Yost
Paraphrase of a linked source, not their words:
Defended and had helped implement Ohio's six-week heartbeat abortion ban and pledged to keep defending Ohio's abortion restrictions in court.
Sources: statenews.org · wosu.org
Criminal justice
L. Michael Howard
Not yet researched
David Pepper
Paraphrase of a linked source, not their words:
Called on the Attorney General's office to expand its Sexual Assault Kit Testing Initiative by enlisting qualified regional crime labs, including one in Hamilton County, rather than relying solely on the state lab, pledging to clear the existing backlog within 150 days of taking office.
Dave Yost
None found in the records checked
Drug sentencing
L. Michael Howard
Not yet researched
David Pepper
None found in the records checked
Dave Yost
Paraphrase of a linked source, not their words:
Opposed State Issue 1, the 2018 ballot measure that would have reclassified low-level drug possession as a misdemeanor and prioritized treatment over incarceration.
Source: ballotpedia.org
Education oversight
L. Michael Howard
Not yet researched
David Pepper
None found in the records checked
Dave Yost
Paraphrase of a linked source, not their words:
Ran on his office's multi-year investigation into Ohio school districts manipulating student-attendance data to inflate state report-card ratings, including a special audit of Columbus City Schools finding "a top-down culture of data manipulation and employee intimidation."
Source: Press Conference: Special Audit Results of Columbus City School District
Government corruption
L. Michael Howard
Not yet researched
David Pepper
None found in the records checked
Dave Yost
Paraphrase of a linked source, not their words:
Made enforcement against official misconduct central, pointing to his civil racketeering-style lawsuit against FirstEnergy and Larry Householder over the House Bill 6 nuclear and coal bailout, which his office said would save Ohio ratepayers close to $2 billion over the life of the law.
Source: fox19.com
Government efficiency
L. Michael Howard
Not yet researched
David Pepper
Paraphrase of a linked source, not their words:
Positioned himself as a reformer who would bring "outsider," business-minded fiscal management to the Auditor's office, emphasizing his record cutting Hamilton County's general fund while balancing budgets for 2009 and 2010 during the recession.
Source: David Pepper
Dave Yost
None found in the records checked
Government ethics
L. Michael Howard
Not yet researched
David Pepper
Paraphrase of a linked source, not their words:
Charged that DeWine's office had steered lucrative state debt-collection work to firms and individuals who made large campaign contributions, including firms that gave shortly before or after applying for panel work.
Dave Yost
None found in the records checked
Government fraud
L. Michael Howard
Not yet researched
David Pepper
None found in the records checked
Dave Yost
Paraphrase of a linked source, not their words:
Launched the "Ohio Stops Fraud" smartphone app, letting the public report suspected fraud in public offices directly from an iPhone, ahead of the 2014 campaign.
Source: Press Conference: Special Audit Results of Columbus City School District
Government waste and fraud
L. Michael Howard
Not yet researched
David Pepper
None found in the records checked
Dave Yost
Paraphrase of a linked source, not their words:
Positioned himself as an experienced, non-partisan financial watchdog, citing his record as Delaware County Auditor and Prosecutor, and campaigned on rooting out government waste, fraud and mismanagement of taxpayer money.
Source: Dave Yost
Public corruption
L. Michael Howard
Not yet researched
David Pepper
None found in the records checked
Dave Yost
Paraphrase of a linked source, not their words:
Pointed to his auditor's-office record referring the ECOT online charter school for criminal investigation as evidence he would aggressively pursue public corruption and fraud as Attorney General.
Source: ballotpedia.org
What they have said, checked
Newest first. Each check is shown in the checker's own rating word, with their name, the date and the link.
L. Michael Howard
Not yet researched
David Pepper
None found in the records checked
Dave Yost
-
laid off cops, and closed jails and let criminals run free in the streets
PolitiFact rated this Barely True, September 3, 2010 · the check
Record in office
Dated actions. Any evaluation of an action is printed with the name of whoever made it and the link.
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Person | Date | Kind | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepper (D) | 2007-01 | office | Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners |
| Pepper (D) | 2001-11 | office | Cincinnati City Council |
| Pepper (D) | 2002 | bill | 2002 (bill): As a Cincinnati city councilman, sponsored legislation directing the city to collect municipal income tax from visiting professional athlete |
| Pepper (D) | 2009 | action | 2009 (action): As Hamilton County Commissioner, led a fiscal turnaround his campaign later cited as roughly $60 million in cuts while balancing county budg |
| Pepper (D) | 2009 | action | 2009 (action): After voters rejected a proposed public-safety tax he backed, the county commission he led unanimously approved a 2009 budget resulting in 1 |
| Pepper (D) | 2010 | action | 2010 (action): As Hamilton County Commissioner, part of a Board that adopted a framework in December 2009 to address a structural deficit in the county's s |
| Yost (R) | 1999 | office | Delaware County Auditor |
| Yost (R) | 2003 | office | Delaware County Prosecutor |
| Yost (R) | 2011 | office | Auditor of State of Ohio |
| Yost (R) | 2019-01 | office | Attorney General of Ohio |
| Yost (R) | 2011-01 | office | Auditor of State of Ohio |
| Yost (R) | 2003 | action | 2003 (action): As Delaware County Prosecutor, won the county's first-ever capital murder case and successfully prosecuted what was described as the largest |
| Yost (R) | 2010-09-03 | statement | 2010-09-03 (statement): His 2010 campaign released a video saying that after Hamilton County's proposed tax increase was voted down, opponent David Pepper "laid off" |
| Yost (R) | 2013-03 | action | 2013-03 (action): Subpoenaed JobsOhio's financial records to audit the roughly $100-228 million a year in liquor profits funding the privatized development ag |
| Yost (R) | 2014-01-28 | action | 2014-01-28 (action): His office's special audit of Columbus City Schools, released January 28, 2014, found a "top-down culture of data manipulation and employee " |
| Yost (R) | 2014-09 | statement | 2014-09 (statement): A Carney campaign TV ad claimed his office spent taxpayer money at a "$7 per cup" rate for roughly 1,000 cups of coffee served at a 2012 fra |
| Yost (R) | 2018 | action | 2018 (action): Accepted at least $29,000 in campaign contributions from ECOT founder Bill Lager and ECOT-affiliated officials while his office had regulato |
| Yost (R) | 2018-05 | action | 2018-05 (action): As Ohio Auditor of State, his office's audit of the online charter school ECOT found it had submitted data inflating student attendance -- o |
| Yost (R) | 2020-08 | action | 2020-08 (action): Negotiated an $808 million settlement with the three largest opioid distributors, Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, structure |
| Yost (R) | 2021-02-19 | action | 2021-02-19 (action): As attorney general, obtained Ohio's $24.7 million share of a $573 million national settlement with consulting firm McKinsey & Co. over its |
| Yost (R) | 2022-07-12 | statement | 2022-07-12 (statement): Before a suspect was arrested, repeatedly and publicly cast doubt on the case of a 10-year-old Ohio rape victim who had to travel to Indiana |
| Yost (R) | 2023-02-03 | ruling | 2023-02-03 (ruling): Text messages introduced at the February 2023 federal racketeering trial of Larry Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges indicated Yost privat |
L. Michael Howard
Not yet researched
David Pepper
-
2010 · action
As Hamilton County Commissioner, part of a Board that adopted a framework in December 2009 to address a structural deficit in the county's stadium sales-tax fund, including dedicating a share of anticipated casino revenue and negotiating lease concessions from the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals.
-
2009 · action
As Hamilton County Commissioner, led a fiscal turnaround his campaign later cited as roughly $60 million in cuts while balancing county budgets for 2009 and 2010 during the recession, and spearheaded a foreclosure-prevention program.
Source: David Pepper (politician)
-
2009 · action
After voters rejected a proposed public-safety tax he backed, the county commission he led unanimously approved a 2009 budget resulting in 165 layoffs, including 24 sheriff's deputies, and the closure of one county jail facility; Yost's 2010 attack singling him out for this was rated Mostly False by PolitiFact.
PolitiFact, September 3, 2010:
Mostly False
· the source -
2002 · bill
As a Cincinnati city councilman, sponsored legislation directing the city to collect municipal income tax from visiting professional athletes and entertainers, Cincinnati's "jock tax."
PolitiFact, September 29, 2010:
kicked off a jock tax, imposing a levy on the sports and entertainment industry
· the sourceSource: GOP auditor candidate Dave Yost says opponent David Pepper kicked off a jock tax
Dave Yost
-
February 3, 2023 · ruling
Text messages introduced at the February 2023 federal racketeering trial of Larry Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges indicated Yost privately viewed the House Bill 6 bailout as a bad bill but did not publicly oppose it because of financial and political support he had received from FirstEnergy and Borges; Yost had accepted $24,208 from FirstEnergy and Borges and donated that amount to charity in October 2020 after federal HB6 arrests were made.
Source: ohiocapitaljournal.com
-
July 12, 2022 · statement
Before a suspect was arrested, repeatedly and publicly cast doubt on the case of a 10-year-old Ohio rape victim who had to travel to Indiana for an abortion because of Ohio's six-week ban; a Columbus man was charged with the rape within about a day of those comments.
Dave Yost, quoted by FOX19:
not a whisper
· the source -
February 19, 2021 · action
As attorney general, obtained Ohio's $24.7 million share of a $573 million national settlement with consulting firm McKinsey & Co. over its role in fueling the opioid epidemic.
Source: irontontribune.com
-
August 2020 · action
Negotiated an $808 million settlement with the three largest opioid distributors, Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen, structured so the companies also paid the state's attorney fees on top of the settlement.
Source: wkyc.com
-
May 2018 · action
As Ohio Auditor of State, his office's audit of the online charter school ECOT found it had submitted data inflating student attendance -- one student was logged with nearly 8,900 instructional hours, more than exist in a year -- and referred the findings to the U.S. Attorney's office and the Franklin County prosecutor for possible criminal charges.
Source: wksu.org
-
2018 · action
Accepted at least $29,000 in campaign contributions from ECOT founder Bill Lager and ECOT-affiliated officials while his office had regulatory and audit responsibility over the school; after his office's May 2018 audit, he donated the ECOT-linked contributions to three Ohio charities.
A Democratic state representative, per the research archive's account of 2017 reporting:
Called for Yost to recuse himself from further ECOT-related audit work
· the sourceSource: wosu.org
-
September 2014 · statement
A Carney campaign TV ad claimed his office spent taxpayer money at a "$7 per cup" rate for roughly 1,000 cups of coffee served at a 2012 fraud-and-waste conference; multiple outlets found the $7,000 figure was Yost's request to the state Controlling Board covering two days of "coffee breaks," not a per-cup price, and that the conference served $3 bottles of soda with the tab covered by registration fees.
Cincinnati CityBeat editorial board, October 29, 2014:
rated false/misleading
· the source -
January 28, 2014 · action
His office's special audit of Columbus City Schools, released January 28, 2014, found a "top-down culture of data manipulation and employee intimidation," including changing failing grades and improperly withdrawing and re-enrolling low-performing students; findings were referred to city, county and federal prosecutors.
Source: Press Conference: Special Audit Results of Columbus City School District
-
March 2013 · action
Subpoenaed JobsOhio's financial records to audit the roughly $100-228 million a year in liquor profits funding the privatized development agency; Kasich and the GOP-controlled General Assembly subsequently passed legislation exempting JobsOhio from future state-auditor review.
Source: National Report Criticizes JobsOhio, Other Privatized Agencies
-
September 3, 2010 · statement
His 2010 campaign released a video saying that after Hamilton County's proposed tax increase was voted down, opponent David Pepper "laid off cops, and closed jails and let criminals run free in the streets," implying Pepper alone was responsible and omitting that the tax was meant to fund public safety.
PolitiFact, September 3, 2010:
Barely True
· the source -
2003 · action
As Delaware County Prosecutor, won the county's first-ever capital murder case and successfully prosecuted what was described as the largest drug-trafficking ring to have operated in the county.
Source: Dave Yost
Money
Totals and donors exactly as filed with the FEC or the Ohio Secretary of State, each figure with its filing link.
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Status |
|---|
| None found in the records checked |
L. Michael Howard
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Status |
|---|
| None found in the records checked |
Totals as filed
Not yet researched
Top donors, as filed
Not yet researched
Outside spending
Not yet researched
In-state share
Not yet researched
David Pepper
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| From | To | Dollars | Share of total | Note |
|---|
Totals as filed
OhioSOS, as of 2010: raised , cash on hand $605,000.
Source: Tea Party test could come in auditor's race
Top donors, as filed
None found in the records checked
Outside spending
None found in the records checked
In-state share
Not yet researched
Dave Yost
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Status |
|---|
| None found in the records checked |
Totals as filed
None found in the records checked
Top donors, as filed
None found in the records checked
Outside spending
None found in the records checked
In-state share
Not yet researched
The result
| Candidate | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Dave Yost | 1,882,010 | 50.2% |
| David Pepper | 1,683,330 | 44.9% |
Source: 2010 Ohio State Auditor election
Sources
Data from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0: 2010 Ohio State Auditor election · David Pepper (politician) · 2014 Ohio Attorney General election · 2022 Ohio Attorney General election · Dave Yost · 2022 Ohio elections · 2018 Ohio Attorney General election · Ohio FirstEnergy bribery scandal · 2014 Ohio State Auditor election
- 2010 Ohio State Auditor election · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-21
- History of the Libertarian Party in Ohio · Libertarian Party of Ohio · accessed 2026-09-24
- David Pepper · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-19
- David Pepper (politician) · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-19
- Ohio Attorney General election, 2014 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-19
- 2014 Ohio Attorney General election · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-19
- Pepper says DeWine rigged bid for friend · Dayton Daily News · 2014-07 · accessed 2026-09-19
- Rape kit testing becoming political debate · Fox19 · 2014 · accessed 2026-09-19
- GOP auditor candidate Dave Yost says opponent David Pepper kicked off a jock tax · PolitiFact · 2010-09-29 · accessed 2026-09-19
- 2010 Budget in Brief, Board of County Commissioners · Hamilton County government · 2010 · accessed 2026-09-19
- Tea Party test could come in auditor's race · Springfield News-Sun · accessed 2026-09-21
- https://www.ohiodcca.org/16742-2/
- Republican Dave Yost attacks Democratic David Pepper on taxes and public safety in race for Ohio auditor · PolitiFact · 2010-09-03 · accessed 2026-09-21
- Dave Yost · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-19
- Ohio Attorney General election, 2022 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-19
- 2022 Ohio Attorney General election · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-19
- Dave Yost · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-19
- 2022 Ohio elections · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-19
- Ohio Election 2022: Dave Yost and Jeff Crossman run for Ohio Attorney General · The Statehouse News Bureau · 2022-10-19 · accessed 2026-09-19
- Abortion and corruption at forefront of Ohio attorney general race · WOSU Public Media · 2022-10-19 · accessed 2026-09-19
- 'Not a whisper' of evidence to show 10-year-old Ohio rape victim got abortion in Indiana: AG Yost tells FOX News · FOX19 Cincinnati · 2022-07-12 · accessed 2026-09-19
- Some media outlets backtrack as authorities confirm story about 10-year-old rape victim who sought abortion · CNN Business · 2022-07-14 · accessed 2026-09-19
- Corruption trial texts: OH AG Yost didn't speak out against bailout because of utility support · Ohio Capital Journal · 2023-02-03 · accessed 2026-09-19
- Attorney general saves Ohioans nearly $2B over life of HB6 · FOX19/AP · 2021-09-24 · accessed 2026-09-19
- Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announces $808 million opioid settlement agreement · WKYC · 2020-08 · accessed 2026-09-19
- AG Yost reaches $24.7M settlement with consultant that fueled opioid epidemic · The Ironton Tribune · 2021-02-19 · accessed 2026-09-19
- Dayton-based payday lender continues to bury customers in debt · Ohio Capital Journal · 2022-10-03 · accessed 2026-09-19
- Nursing homes spent at least $6 million on Ohio politics in five years · Ohio Capital Journal · 2021-04-19 · accessed 2026-09-19
- Ohio Attorney General election, 2018 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-19
- 2018 Ohio Attorney General election · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-19
- Ohio Auditor Turns ECOT Findings over for Criminal Investigation · WKSU · 2018-05-10 · accessed 2026-09-19
- Dave Yost Wants To Remain Part Of ECOT Case. Is That A Conflict Of Interest? · WOSU Public Media · 2018-05-30 · accessed 2026-09-19
- Boggs calls for Yost's recusal from ECOT probes · The Columbus Dispatch · 2017-07-11 · accessed 2026-09-19
- Ohio FirstEnergy bribery scandal · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-19
- Ohio's Attorney General Race All About ECOT And Opioids · WOSU Public Media · 2018-10-31 · accessed 2026-09-19
- 2014 Ohio State Auditor election · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-19
- Press Conference: Special Audit Results of Columbus City School District · Ohio Auditor of State · 2014-01-28 · accessed 2026-09-19
- National Report Criticizes JobsOhio, Other Privatized Agencies · Cincinnati CityBeat · 2013-10-23 · accessed 2026-09-19
- CityBeat: No Endorsement for Ohio Auditor · Cincinnati CityBeat · 2014-10-29 · accessed 2026-09-19
- GOP campaign bankroll dwarfs Democrats in Ohio · The Columbus Dispatch · 2014-10-23 · accessed 2026-09-19
- Ohio down ballot state executive elections, 2014 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-19
- https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2026-05-25/yost-reflects-on-25-years-in-ohio-politics-and-race-for-governor-that-wasnt-meant-to-be
- Audit search · Ohio Auditor of State · accessed 2026-10-15
Quick answers
When was the 2010 Auditor of State of Ohio election?
The election for Auditor of State of Ohio was held on November 2, 2010.
Who ran for Auditor of State of Ohio in 2010?
On the ballot for Auditor of State of Ohio, in surname order: L. Michael Howard (Libertarian), David Pepper (Democratic), Dave Yost (Republican).
Who won the 2010 Auditor of State of Ohio election?
Dave Yost won the election for Auditor of State of Ohio. Results as certified: David Pepper 44.9%, Dave Yost 50.2%.
Cite and data
Cite this page as:
Cracked Buckeye, "Auditor of State of Ohio, 2010", https://crackedbuckeye.com/election/2010/auditor/, built 2026-10-31, accessed [date].
How to cite · Report a correction · Built 2026-10-31