Ohio names stimulus watchdog to oversee spending, prevent waste

4/16/2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio Ohio's new stimulus watchdog says he'd like to prevent wasteful spending before it happens, instead of just exposing it after the fact.

Winston Ford began work this week as a deputy inspector general. He says in his watchdog role he must balance the needs of getting federal stimulus money out quickly and making sure it's done properly.

Ford is an attorney who has spent 13 years in state government. He's putting together a watchdog team of about five auditors and investigators.

Ohio is getting $8.2 billion in stimulus money. Gov. Ted Strickland wants to spend about $5.8 billion to help balance the state's budget. The rest is being spread out across state agencies, including $774 million to build, repair and resurface roads and bridges.