Garrison Lines Up 35 Legislator Endorsements

Submitted by Anthony Fossaceca on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 12:13pm.

Any doubt about Jennifer Garrison's political strength within the Ohio Democratic Party should be immediately laid to rest. The question now is can the party avoid an all out civil war over her candidacy?

Garrison today announced a staggering list of 35 endorsements in her bid to become the Democratic nominee for Ohio Secretary of State. Among the endorsements (full list to follow) are Speaker Pro Tempore Matt Szollosi, Asst. Majority Whip Alan Sayre, Congressional hopeful Todd Book, State Rep. Tyrone Yates, State Rep Peter Ujvagi, Senate Minority Leader Capri Cafaro.

For all the discussion, both publicly and privately, about a pro-choice and LGBT revolt against the Democratic party in Ohio should Garrison's star continue to rise, today's announcement should provide Garrison opponents with a new list of targets to boycott. But one has to wonder, will they?

Here is the complete list of today's endorsements.

Ohio House of Representative endorsements include:
Speaker Tempore Matt Szollosi (Oregon), Assistant Majority Whip Alan Sayre (Dover), Rep. Lorraine Fende (Willowick), Rep. Ron Gerberry (Austintown), Rep. Denise Driehaus (Cincinnati), Rep. Connie Pillich (Montgomery), Rep. Clayton Luckie (Dayton), Rep. Matt Lundy (Elyria), Rep. Joe Koziura (Lorain), Rep. Todd Book (McDermott), Rep. Tyrone Yates (Cincinnati), Rep. Mark Okey (Carrollton), Rep. Debbie Newcomb (Conneaut), Rep. Dennis Murray (Sandusky), Rep. Kathleen Chandler (Kent), Rep. John Domenick (Smithfield), Rep. Debbie Phillips (Athens), Rep. Stephen Slesnick (Canton), Rep. Peter Ujvagi (Toledo), Rep. Brian Williams (Akron), Rep. Ray Pryor (Chillicothe),Rep. Sandra Harwood (Niles), Rep. Linda Bolon (Columbiana), Rep. Tom Letson (Warren), Rep. Stephen Dyer (Green), and Rep. Roland Winburn (Dayton)

Ohio Senate endorsements include: Capri Cafaro (Hubbard), Jason Wilson (Columbiana), Sue Morano (Lorain), Tom Sawyer (Akron), Eric Kearney (Cincinnati), and Fred Strahorn (Dayton).

Wow- they may have endorsed themselves into a minority again

Submitted by Anastasia Pantsios on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 9:34pm.

With control of the house as tighht as it is, I hate to think what might happen if some of these districts have close races and the lack of enthusiasm among the LGBT base and gay-friendly Democrats causes them to lose. This was a bad, bad, bad, bad move unless Garrison is currently preparing her speech, making a very public and humble apology for stomping on gay rights to win an election. If she does, great. If she doesn't, I'm very uncomfortable with this. This may be the moment we ceded control of the house back to the Republicans.