Bill O'Neill will be on primary ballot
Submitted by Anastasia Pantsios on Wed, 01/18/2012 - 9:49am.
Word from Supreme Court candidate Bill O'Neill this morning:
BREAKING NEWS. I am told this morning that Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted has issued a directive to all 88 county Boards of Elections to place the name of JUDGE WILLAM MICHAEL O'NEILL on the ballot for Supreme Court of Ohio. Congratulations to Attorney Jennifer Brunner and Attorney Patrick Quinn. You two are awesome!
O'Neill turned in his petitions by the deadline and was told about two weeks ago by Husted's office that although he had turned in 20% more signatures than needed, just over 20% were deemed invalid — seven short of what he needed. O'Neill believed many signatures were being invalidated that were indeed legitimate — and he and his lawyers set about identifying such signatures (They included Jennifer Brunner's husband Rick's.)
This means that O'Neill and Hamilton County municipal judge Fanon Rucker will face each other in the Democratic primary for the chance to meet sitting justice, Republican Robert Cupp, in the general election in November. With greater name recognition from two previous statewide races – and the name being an Irish one — O'Neill has to be seen as the favored candidate to win the primary.
Question
"O'Neill has to be seen as the favored candidate to win the primary."
Seen by whom?
I like Judge O'Neill, and he's been very friendly to the blogging community and engaged with us, but I haven't heard anyone say that he's the favored candidate to win the primary, especially since ODP just endorsed Rucker, who's ran very competitive races in Cincinnati, which is where GOP statewide candidates typically do quite well (though that is slowly eroding.)
I support Judge Rucker
"Modern" is correct that former Judge O'Neill has been very involved with the 'sphere.
However, Judge Rucker spoke to our Party meeting last month and was EXTREMELY impressive. His presentation was effective, cogent and moving. We enthusiastically voted to endorse him. HOWEVER,it's true that former Judge O'Neill was not present and, at that time, was not on the ballot. But even if we revisit our endorsement, I think Judge Rucker will prevail.
He will continue to have my support and also, I think, the majority of the Democratic faithful in our county.
Judge Rucker has real gravitas and I hope lots of people get to meet him. For once, I agree with an ODP endorsement... (How often does THAT happen?)
http://ruckerforjustice.com/
The Vote In Trumbull County was Oneill: 135, Rucker: 15
Sorry to rain on everybody's parade here, but last night was THE FIRST EVENT in the primary race since I was placed on the ballot. And the vote by the Trumbull County Democratic Party was 135 for O'Neill and 15 for Rucker. Let's look at some numbers here folks. Judge Rucker seems to be a very nice guy, and there is no question the Hamilton County Democratic Party arranged for him to be APPOINTED a Judge in traffic court. Since then the local party has seen to it that he has had no opponents, so his electability, even in Hamilton County, is very much in question. There is no question about qualifications. I have served a decade on the Court of Appeals, where I was elected and re-elected in a five county area, and I have sat on the Supreme Court of Ohio by assignment. I even have more judicial experience than the incumbent Justice Cupp! So let the race begin. But please, my friends, don't delude yourself. I am the favorite in this primary and I am going to win. Peace. Judge William Michael O'Neill