Ohio's Attorney General is now reviewing the sale proposal of Forum from Community Health Services, but just how much of a role does the AG really play?
Attorney General Richard Cordray's staff received formal notice of Community Health's bid proposal late in the day Friday. State law suggests the Attorney General's duty is to ensure that "fair market value" is paid for Forum's assets and that the sale would not violate any other non-bankruptcy laws.
One local expert wonders if Cordray's promise to look after the community's best interests may be something he really has no authority to keep.
"You have to be very careful, I think, of the expectations that you create on the part of potential voters," said Paul Sracic, political science department chair at Youngstown State University. "Particularly for Democratic candidates. This fall's election, the Democrats are going to be unusually dependent upon the labor unions."
Cordray, who is up for re-election this year, said the unions are just one of a number of stakeholders in the Forum sale process. Sracic said if voters believe Cordray didn't live up to his promises they could punish him for it at the ballot box this November.
