CLEVELAND -- A video tribute to two late Ohio Republican Party standard bearers was supposed to be a significant nod to the host state party and Cleveland, home to both former Ohio Gov. George Voinovich and state party chairman Bob Bennett.
But Ohio Auditor Dave Yost and other state party delegates were upset convention organizers chose Larry Householder, a former Ohio House speaker who wasn't close to either Voinovich or Bennett, to introduce the video tribute.
Yost, a delegate, expressed his irritation Tuesday in a cleveland.com op-ed about how presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump has yet to gain the support of Ohio Republicans.
Yost said he was floored by the choice of Householder, who was speaker from 1997 to 2004 and is running for another House term in November. Yost said national committeewoman Jo Ann Davison, Ohio's first female House speaker and a contemporary of both men, should have been bestowed that honor.
"She engineered the GOP takeover of the House that gave Voinovich the legislative allies he needed to succeed. The honor of introducing the video was a no-brainer," Yost wrote. "But she's also from Ohio, which voted Kasich, and is a close ally of the governor. The snub was deliberate and brutal, and not the sort of thing that builds party unity."
Yost's feelings were shared by many. Mention of the tribute at Tuesday morning's delegate breakfast were met with eye rolls and sighs.
Ohio GOP Chairman Matt Borges said the party was not asked for recommendations for someone to introduce the video. He declined to comment on the choice of Householder.
"It was a special moment for our delegation, and for all of Ohio to have that tribute to two of Cleveland's favorite sons," Borges said in a text message. "They loved our party and I'd rather not trivialize it."
Bennett died in December 2014 and Voinovich died in June 2016. Both were native Clevelanders who championed the city's bid to host the convention.