NEWS

Congressional candidate says he was blackmailed

Keith BieryGolick
kbierygolick@enquirer.com

It sounds like something out of a movie -- something that could ruin a congressional campaign.

Someone recently left a blank manila envelope at the office of one of Jim Spurlino's campaign workers, according to a YouTube video posted by the congressional candidate Tuesday night.

The envelope, Spurlino alleges, contained embarrassing information about a previous marriage and divorce.

Spurlino, 52, is one of 17 candidates running for Ohio's 8th Congressional District.

The Washington Township, Montgomery County, Republican claims the incident was an attempt by one his opponents to blackmail him and force him out of the race.

Sitting beside his current wife, Tricia Spurlino, he indicated in the video he has no plans to do that, saying he won't be bullied. He then repeated a pledge to create jobs and change Congress.

"These professional politicians must fear me," Spurlino said. "I'm not perfect, but I'll be honest with the voters."

Spurlino, the owner of Spurlino Materials in Middletown, did not elaborate on what details could have ruined his reputation. He did say it stemmed from the end of a previous marriage.

Spurlino has been divorced twice, according to court records. His most recent divorce came in 2013.

"I would hope that this campaign and my opponents would stick to the issues," he said. "That's what I know the voters want to hear about."

Spurlino called the tactics "cloak and dagger crazy stuff," before alleging one of his opponents also has stalked his 16-year-old daughter on social media.

"I really can't believe that kind of stuff happens," he said.

Spurlino says in his campaign website he and his current wife have raised eight children together.

Neither Spurlino nor anyone on his campaign staff was immediately available for comment.