News and Notes: Ohio Congressional Races

What's going on in those races for the People's House:

OH-02: Yard Sign Party for Wulsin - Pizza and refreshments will be served at a yard sign-assembling party this Saturday, January 5th, at 3:00 p.m. at 7390 Ridgepoint Drive, Apt 11, in Anderson. RSVP to volunteers-at-wulsinforcongress-dot-com.

OH-03: Esrati Petition Signatures Verified - Activist David Esrati (D-Dayton) reports on his campaign blog that the signatures on his nominating petitions have been certified. He also reports hearing that Dr. Mark MacNealy has decided not to enter the race. The other announced opponent to Rep. Mike Turner (R-Centerville) is 2004 candidate Jane Mitakides (D).

OH-04: Jordan Seeks Re-Election to Government He Despises - When Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) filed to run for re-election, he reportedly said of the federal government that "with the exception of the military, [it's] a big, bureaucratic mess," and about the home foreclosure crisis, "I don't think the federal government stepping in will do anything but make things worse." Tom Spayde of Butler responded with an excellent letter to the editor of the Mansfield News Journal, asking "Why is he in Congress if he isn't going to help ordinary citizens in need?" and concluding that "in the ongoing guns-versus-butter struggle, Jordan clearly believes guns are more important. Next year, isn't it time we elect someone to Congress who has their head screwed on straight and their priorities in line with the people they supposedly serve?" The announced Democratic candidate is Mike Carroll.

OH-05: Hartman Is Not Running - I wrote yesterday that Prof. John Hartman (D) of Bowling Green is circulating petitions, but he has contacted me to say that this is not correct and that he supports Robin Weirauch (D-Napoleon). I apologize for the error.

OH-06: Stobbs Was Sheriff And 2006 Primary Candidate - It seems that the opponent to Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-St. Clairsville) is not a political novice. Richard "Dick" Stobbs (R-Dillonvale), a Vietnam veteran, was elected Belmont County Sheriff in 1980 and ran in the 2006 GOP Congressional primary, placing fourth behind Rep. Chuck Blasdel, Tim Ginter, and Danny Harmon with 11.02% of the vote.

OH-07: What About Hood and Neuhardt? - Still no official word on whether former state legislator Ron Hood (R) and Dayton attorney Sharen Neuhardt (D) will file, although both have given every appearance of being serious about running. If they both join the race, it will bring the total of candidates (counting both sides) to at least ten, easily the biggest field in any Ohio congressional race.

OH-08: Only Race Without a Democrat - In 2006 the Democratic candidate was then-73-year-old former Republican retired stock broker Morton Meier (D-Hamilton), but his former campaign site is down. However, Rep. John Boehner (R-West Chester) reportedly has a GOP challenger in press operator Edward Meer (R-Hamilton).

OH-12: Goodwin Announces Run - A press release from the campaign of Navy veteran and former president of the Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio Russ Goodwin (D-Columbus) today announced that he has filed to run. The candidate's statement:

"I am tired of electing career politicians who have no real understanding of what it means to serve this country. The United States needs a change. We need to put people in office who believe in American Values -- people who are not afraid to fight for what is right.

"Tiberi is completely immersed in Washington politics. I want a system of government that focuses on providing for the citizens of the 12th Congressional District, not a political system that revolves around dollars and cents."

Meanwhile, political newcomer Aaron Dagres (D) earns big points for dedication to the cause. He writes on his My Space blog about campaigning in Utica on December 30th and in St. Louisville on New Years Day, both in Licking County, and meeting the mayors of both communities.

OH-15: Stivers Names Campaign Manager - It's Michael Hartley, who has worked for incumbent Deborah Pryce and was Betty Montgomery's political director in her 2002 and 2006 campaigns. He was also the Ohio political director for Bush in 2004. As expected since Stivers got in, the GOP is bringing in the heavy artillery and this is going to be a very hard-fought race.

OH-16: Three-Way GOP Primary - Talk show host and former Marine Paul Schiffer (R-Canton) has joined State Sen. Kirk Schuring (R-North Canton) and County Commissioner Matt Miller (R-Ashland) to make it a trio in the GOP preliminaries. State Sen. John Boccieri (D-New Middletown) appears to be unopposed on the Democratic side. The story describes Shiffer this way:

He's never before held office, but has worked as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., and talks politics on his show, the Schiffer Report, broadcast on the conservative Web site http://www.rightalk.com.

"I feel I know the issues more than anyone in the race," said Schiffer, who often discusses defense and national security on his show.

On his campaign web site, Schiffer takes credit for "getting published" the book "Unfit for Command," a smear job against John Kerry by John O'Neill and Jerome Corsi.

OH-18: Space Awarded "Legislator of the Year" - The Ohio Association of State and County Office Employees gave its “Legislator of the Year” award to Rep. Zack Space (D-Dover), citing his efforts to help membership improve the agriculture industry, working conditions and farm programs. Space incorporated several provisions requested by farmers in the House version of the 2007 Farm Bill. OASCOE represents state and county-level Farm Service Agency employees of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

On the GOP side, it looks like county endorsements are breaking according to the home territory of the three contenders. Jeannette Moll (R-Zanesville) won the Muskingum County GOP endorsement, Paul Phillips (R-Chillicothe) got the Ross County GOP nod, and Fred Dailey (R-Mount Vernon) was anointed by the Knox County GOP.