News and Notes: General Assembly Races

I've been consumed by the presidential contest, but here are three items of interest in state legislative races that have come across my screen during the last few days:

OH House-20: Endorsements for Garland and Campbell - Attorney and Ohio Physical Therapy Ass'n director Nancy Garland (D-New Albany) has sent around a list of endorsements by area elected officials and others, including County Commissioner Paula Brooks, her cousin's spouse State Rep. Ted Celeste, and County Clerk of Courts and commissioner candidate John O’Grady. "My knowledge of her as a professional, a mother, and a community volunteer move me to enthusiastically endorse Nancy," wrote Brooks. "She is ready to serve as state representative with no learning curve and with high integrity." The campaign site of Garland's primary opponent, financial advisor Bev Campbell (D-Gahanna), lists endorsements from U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE), UAW Local 969, and UFCW Local 1059. [UPDATE: A reader suggested that I call Mark Sweazy of UAW 969 to check on the status of their endorsement of Campbell. He told me that the local did endorse her in 2006 and he expected that it would do so again, but that the CAP meeting to confer that endorsement had not yet taken place. Bev Campbell has since told me that the endorsement has taken place and the CAP vote relates only to whether a contribution will be made. I have been unable to reach Mr. Sweazy yet to resolve the discrepancy.]

OH House-30: Another English Language Bill - Appointee State Rep. Robert Mecklenborg (R) is trotting out a right wing stand-by in his effort to fend off a challenge from the right by political consultant Dick Hammersmith (R) - another bill to make English the state's official language, similar to a measure that died last year without a hearing.

OH House-50: No-Name Attorney Endorsed Over Incumbent's Daughter - The Akron Beacon Journal endorsed Todd Snitchler (R-Uniontown), a lawyer with a solo practice in business and estate law, over Christine Hagan (R-Alliance), the 19-year old college sophomore who is the daughter of term-limited incumbent State Rep. Bob Hagan (R-Alliance). He's got the real-life experience, she's got the gold-plated political surname. This will be interesting.