The Ohio Green Party has endorsed Donald Lesiak for Ohio state auditor. Lesiak, 75, of Parma, is hoping to collect 5,000 valid signatures in order to get on the Ohio ballot for the upcoming November general election. The signatures must come from registered voters in Ohio.

The state auditor serves a four-year term and is responsible for auditing all public offices. The auditor also ensures that all public funds are spent appropriately and lawfully, said Courtney Whetstone, a spokeswoman for the Office of Auditor of State in Columbus. The current salary is $105,202.

The Ohio Green Party, which met in Columbus in late February to endorse candidates and various positions, seeks to get candidates on the ballot.

Russell Buckbee, media relations for the Ohio Green Party, said the party started in 1996 but gained popularity during the 2000 Presidential race.

At first, the party existed as a state-wide organization but gradually became a coalition of local parties, Buckbee said.

Lesiak is currently sending out e-mails to all party members, Cleveland unions and numerous organizations throughout the state.

Despite his efforts, Lesiak has collected fewer than 1,000 signatures. He admits it will be a “moon shot” if his name appears in the November general election.

But Lesiak could bring many years of experience to the Ohio state auditor position.

Lesiak, who divides his weekly time by being a senior guest student at Kent State, Cleveland State and the western branch of Cuyahoga Community College, has gained a multitude of engineering experience throughout the Cleveland and Boston areas.

He began taking engineering classes at the Cleveland Engineering Institute in 1954. Following these classes, Lesiak began working at Swartwout Company, a Cleveland-based company, designing and manufacturing factory roof top ventilators.

Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Lesiak worked for Reliance Electric Company later renamed Rockwell Automation in the early 1970s, Lincoln Electric, Brush Development Company and Raytheon Company in Boston.

Lesiak later became auditor at Cleveland City Hall and auditor of Northeast Ohio colleges and universities, including Lorain County Community College, Case Western Reserve University dental and medical schools and Lakeland County Community College.

His other qualifications include chapter president of the Institute of Management Accounts, chapter president of the Massachusetts and National Society of Professional Engineers and former adjunct instructor of technology at Kent State.

Contact public affairs reporter Sara Macho at [email protected].