Schwarzenegger to return $10,000 after all

June 11, 2005

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has decided it's better, on second thought, not to keep $10,000 donated to his campaign by Maumee rare-coin dealer Tom Noe.

Last week, Mr. Schwarzenegger's chief fund-raiser said the governor planned to keep the donation but yesterday, a campaign adviser to the governor reversed course, saying he has ordered the money be returned.

The actor-turned-governor joins President Bush, the Republican National Committee, and at least 17 Ohio officials returning contributions, including U.S. Sens. George Voinovich and Mike DeWine as well as all three GOP candidates for governor: Attorney General Jim Petro, Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, and Auditor Betty Montgomery, who have given back a total of $17,100.

Gov. Bob Taft has returned the most, $22,190, while Mr. Bush returned $4,000 and the RNC $2,000. Five GOP justices on the Ohio Supreme Court said they, too, will identify and set aside campaign contributions from the Noes.

Mr. Noe and his wife, Bernadette, have contributed more than $200,000 to candidates, political parties, and political action committees in the past 15 years.

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