By the Democratic Governor of Ohio refuses to fire her.

“Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is standing by an agency director who OK’d improper computer checks for confidential information on “Joe the Plumber” and used state e-mails for political fundraising.

Strickland announced today that Helen Jones-Kelley, director of the Department of Job and Family Services, will be placed on unpaid leave for one month in response to an inspector general’s investigation.

The investigation found Jones-Kelley had no legitimate reasons to check on Toledo-area resident Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, who was popularized as “Joe the Plumber” by Republican presidential candidate John McCain. It also confirmed she improperly used her state e-mail account to raise campaign money for President-elect Barack Obama.

Some Republican leaders, who cited the report’s findings to call on Democrat Strickland to fire Jones-Kelley, were stunned that she will remain on the job.

“The actions described in this report cross the line of what you can do and lead a state agency. She violated the public trust,” said House Speaker Jon Husted, R-Kettering.

“The governor’s lack of firm action here sends a message he is going to be tolerant of a state government that acts in inappropriate ways. He promised a higher standard and this is a lower standard.”

State Auditor Mary Taylor also called for stronger action. “I urge Gov. Strickland, who campaigned on the promise of running an ethical administration, to ask for the resignation or terminate Ms. Jones-Kelley immediately,” she said today after the report was released.

Strickland said that while he accepts the inspector general’s findings, he values Jones-Kelley’s contributions over her career and decided on what he called a “fairly severe” but fair penalty.”

That’s bathtub water. Once again we have a Democrat caught breaking the law and her Democrat boss covering for her.

What Wurzelberger should do at this point is file suit for damages. What the people of Ohio should do is be outraged that a public employee used their taxpayer resources for political purposes to spy on a fellow citizen.