Republican John Kasich filed papers this afternoon so that he can begin raising money for the 2010 race for governor.

In a filing with the Ohio secretary of state, the former congressman from Westerville designated Bradley K. Sinnott, chairman of the Franklin County GOP Central Committee, as treasurer of Kasich for Ohio, Kasich's gubernatorial campaign. The move will permit Kasich to raise cash and hire staff for his anticipated campaign against Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland.

"We're off and running," said a source who has been helping Kasich prepare for a gubernatorial bid.

Kasich, a former 18-year congressman and a Fox News on-air personality, is expected to formally declare his candidacy by early June.

For two years, he has been ubiquitous at GOP county Lincoln Day dinners, drawing big crowds and exciting the party base with fiery speeches. By designating a treasurer, Kasich can now move forward with a full-scale campaign and begin raising the expected $15 million needed for the governor's race.

"We've all been hoping for this day," said Franklin County GOP Chairman Doug Preisse. "Now that it's happening, there's a great amount of excitement. It's fair to say that not only Republicans but Ohioans have been looking for a strong leader and now it looks like we're finding one."

Until its collapse last September, Kasich spent six years as a managing director of Lehman Brothers' investment banking division, a position Democrats have sought to exploit. They also are questioning Kasich's call for the gradual elimination of Ohio's income tax.

In a statement issued this afternoon, Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern said, "Ohio doesn't need a governor from Lehman Brothers, a governor whose only concern is the wealthy and the well-connected and who has spent the last several years making money in the same financial sector that led to the economic collapse we are facing."

Noting that the income tax raises 34 percent of the state's revenue, Redfern questioned whether Kasich plans to replace that revenue with "a massive tax increase on working families or by completely eviscerating Ohio's investment in education and health care?"

Kasich is scheduled this afternoon to join GOP legislative leaders -- Senate President Bill Harris and House Minority Leader William G. Batchelder on a conference call with Republican lawmakers to discuss the future of the state.

Once Kasich officially enters the race, it is likely that state Sen. Kevin Coughlin of Cuyahoga Falls, who filed his designation of treasurer for governor on Feb. 2, will get out. Coughlin has said he does not plan to challenge Kasich in a primary.

Meanwhile, Strickland has begun touting his education-reform plan across the state. On Monday, he will discuss the future of education in Ohio at the Columbus Metropolitan Club luncheon. The education reform is included in the budget passed this week by the House.
 
  jhallett@dispatch.com