News and Notes: Ohio Congressional Races

Some items of interest while we await the New Hampshire primary with bated breath (yes, it's "bated," not "baited" - I checked):

OH-01: Third Candidate - There is a third candidate in the mix along with Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Westwood) and opponent State Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-Price Hill). His name is Rich Stevenson and he's running as a non-partisan independent, attacking career politicians and pledging to serve only two terms. If it is a close race as expected an independent could affect the outcome, although it is hard to say at this point what impact Stevenson would have.

OH-02: Debate Challenge Issued - Steve Black (D-Indian Hill) is challenging repeat candidate Victoria Wulsin (D-Indian Hill) to "a minimum of seven" debates before the March 4th primary. "Unfortunately, we now live in a world where politicians rely on 30 second sound-bites and slick slogans to communicate with voters," Black wrote to Wulsin in a letter. "Voters deserve better. The time has come for a substantive discussion about the issues that affect people's daily lives." By the way, a Democrat named Willaim R. Smith filed in this race, along with independent Nathan W. Bailey.

OH-05: Latta's Two Challengers - Scott Radcliffe (R-Perrysburg) was serving in Iraq during the special election. "“The people of northwest Ohio have always been so great while I was over there,” Radcliffe says. “I just wanted to give back to them. Service was just the best way to give back to them. I’d like to go to Washington and serve them well. That’s just a continuation of my service.” The other challenger, retiree Michael Reynolds (R-Columbus Grove), filed for the special election GOP primary but his petitions were disqualified. Better luck this time?

OH-06: Race Previewed - A piece in the Athens Messenger gives a quick preview of this race. Richard "Dick" Stobbs (R-Dillonvale) is a Viet Nam and one-term sheriff who placed fourth in the 2006 GOP primary behind then-Ohio House Speaker Chuck Blasdel, Danny Harmon, and Tim Ginter (now running for Ohio Senate against Charlie Wilson's son Jason). Wilson will campaign on his credentials as a state legislator and congressman, the latter now including sponsoring legislation to amend the National Housing Act to promote fair appraisals in connection with mortgages insured under the FHA single-family mortgage insurance program and co-sponsoring bills to increase in the federal minimum wage and reduce interest rates for education loans.

OH-07: Wide Open Primaries - This should be fun -- four Republicans, six Democrats. On the Democratic side, I see from Dr. Richard Wyderski's LinkedIn profile that he is Associate Program Director of Internal Medicine Residency and Chair of Continuing Medical Education at Miami Valley Hospital. Sharen Neuhardt is a partner at Thompson Hines and leader of the firm's Corporate Transactions and Securities practice group. These are a couple of high-power professionals.

OH-08: Two Oppose Boehner - The House Speaker draws not one but two potential Democratic opponents, Nicholas Vonstein (D) and 2006 candidate Mort Meier (D-Hamilton). I don't know anything about Vonstein yet, but Meier is a scrappy retired stock broker who was a Republican until George W. Bush was elected president.

OH-09: Familiar Names in GOP Primary - Bradley Leavitt (R-Toledo) and Ed Emery (R-Sylvania) also duked it out in 2006, with Leavitt prevailing and losing to Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo) in the general election.

OH-12: What The World Needs Now - Columbus-area attorney Marc Fagin, one of four Democrats hoping to oust Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Westerville), told the Newark Advocate that if he could narrow his message down to one word, it would be "kindness." Interesting. From a lawyer, no less. I love it!

OH-13: Sutton's Opponent Thinks State Sen. Kevin Coughlin (R) is "Squirelly" - That's what Joseph reported on Plunderbund in August about Frances L. Kalapodis (R), who filed to oppose Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Copley Twp) along with restaurant owner Frank Chestney (R-New Brunswick) and David Potter (R).

OH-17: Sen. Ryan? - The Plain Dealer has a profile of Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Niles) today, written by Sabrina Eaton, in which she portrays him as the future of the Democratic party and probably our next U.S. Senator. (I'm okay with that.) The funny part of the article is GOP shills trying to find ways to disparage him. A reader emailed me to point out that there are other terrific Democratic prospects for the U.S. Senate, with Treasurer Rich Cordray (D) as a case in point. Fine. I have no problem with that scenario, either!