Independent candidate for Ohio Attorney General Robert Owens praised voluntary programs to help homeowners being foreclosed upon in a press release today. He mentioned his experience as a pro bono prosecutor and attacked the Democrat for proposing excessive government intervention.
The press release is posted below:
COLUMBUS, OHIO – Attorney General candidate Robert Owens released a statement today supporting the Franklin County Homeowner Helpline as a leading program to assist Ohioans facing foreclosure. Owens also praised the mediation program initiated by Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Moyer. "This is exactly the kind of voluntary assistance that should be available to help so many Ohio homeowners that are struggling," said Owens. Former prosecutor Robert Owens, speaking after a press conference about the Helpline on Tuesday, said the ready answers and encouragement would be the kind of programs an Attorney General Owens' administration would initiate to avoid expensive litigation and protect consumers. "As Attorney General, we would keep a pool of in-house attorneys who have specific expertise to assist county prosecutors with fraud prosecution, ensuring business complies with Ohio law," Owens declared. "With more than 7,000 foreclosures in Franklin County this year alone, this problem requires the care and attention of public officials." Owens is a leader among Delaware County private practice attorneys in pro bono defense of foreclosure victims. In his current race for Attorney General, Owens has supported grassroots assistance, public leadership, and local counseling programs. He stated that mortgage holders and banks should be required to send a representative to mediation who is authorized to make payment, interest rate, and loan balance modifications. Owens took issue, though, with his opponent Richard Cordray's July 17 mis-characterization of mortgage premium rebates. "The Democratic Party representative in my race is wrong in his peddling of increased regulation of yield-spread premiums," said Owens. "We need common sense in office - and to crush law-abiding small business is not the answer to our current crisis. Such unnecessary intrusions go far beyond legitimate oversight and prosecuting fraud. These are misguided and reckless statements that, if enacted, will cause even fewer Ohioans to enjoy stable home ownership." Owens will participate in a debate of the attorney general candidates on Wednesday at the Metropolitan Club of Columbus.