Did John Kasich’s political connections help him land a sweetheart real estate deal?

Bill Sloat at the Daily Bellweather suggests yes.

Here’s the operative paragraphs:

John Kasich acquired 10 acres of land in one of Ohio’s fastest growing counties in April 1996 for less than courthouse property tax records show the land was worth. Delaware County appraised the property at an average of $17,250 per acre, but after Kasich bought it the land value dropped to $10,500 per acre. In other words, the tax value of the 10 acres fell from $172,500 to $105,000.

…

Other records in the courthouse seem to indicate that Kasich purchased the property out of an estate. The estate may have been controlled or administered by a campaign aide or partner. That suggests the land transaction may not have been an arm’s length deal. Or it may be that Kasich heard about a good buy on the real estate market and pounced. Either way, there is a possibility of insider trading.

I ask Bill for some clarification on the part about the estate sale may have involved close associates of Kasich.? This could play out to be innocuous, then again it could? not.?

Still it’s weird to see the assessed value of property that was supposed to be in one of the hottest property markets in the County, during one of the hottest real estate markets ever, suddenly dip in value just when Kasich purchased it.