Ohio governor candidates release tax returns

Federal tax returns released on Wednesday show that Mike and Fran DeWine reported $634,975 wages, pension and investment income last year and paid $113,801 in taxes.

The Greene County couple donated $57,389 to charities, including Catholic churches, anti-abortion groups and community health organizations.

The DeWine-Husted campaign allowed media outlets to review three years of returns and take notes but not make copies of the documents.

Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, DeWine’s opponent in the May 8 primary, filed individually for 2017 and reported income of $97,197, federal taxes of $13,794, state and local taxes of $5,105 and no charity donations. Her husband Donzell Taylor, who owns dozens of companies, filed his own return, which was not made available to reporters.

The big numbers reveal the extensive wealth of the 71-year-old DeWine. The DeWines receive interest income from companies, trust funds, brokerage accounts and partnerships. Their holdings include partial ownership of the Asheville Tourists, a single A professional baseball team.

In 2016, their total income hit $758,848, the tax bill was $138,129 and charitable giving was $42,726, returns show. In 2015, total income was $645,870, federal taxes paid was $125,642 and charitable giving was $42,569.

Additionally, over three years, the DeWines paid $177,923 in state and local taxes.

In addition, the couple established and funded a charitable foundation, which makes roughly $800,000 in annual contributions to various entities, including Hands Together, which operates the Becky DeWine School in Haiti.

Releasing tax returns is not mandated by law but by and large, candidates for governor have done so voluntarily in the interest of transparency and accountability.

DeWine’s running mate, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, also released three years of federal returns filed jointly with his wife, Tina Husted, a Realtor, professional runner, coach and artist.

In 2017, the Husteds total income was $176,765, total federal taxes were $27,398 and charitable gifts totaled $10,126. In 2016, income was $134,014, federal taxes were $14,450 and charitable giving totaled $8,645, according to the Husted return. Their 2015 return shows income of $159,126, federal taxes $23,316 and charitable giving of $10,005.

Additionally, over three years, the Husteds paid $64,257 in state and local taxes.

State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, D-Boardman, is the only Democrat in the gubernatorial primary to release his returns. Filing jointly with his wife, who is a nurse, Schiavoni reported $207,990 in income and $35,049 in federal taxes in 2017. They paid an additional $12,151 in state, local and real estate taxes and declared $268 in charitable giving that year.

For 2016, their income totaled $235,101, federal taxes were $44,217, state, local and real estate taxes were $12,513 and charitable giving totaled $331.

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