News and Notes: Ohio House Races

Items of interest:

OH House-28 - Challenger Connie Pillich (D-Montgomery) got some nice press in a City Beat article about Hillary Clinton and the challenges that face women candidates:

"In some circles it's difficult to break into the political network," says Connie Pillich of Montgomery ...

Pillich, a first-time candidate when she narrowly lost to Raussen in 2004, used her existing network of friends and group affiliations to find volunteers for her race. Local Democratic clubs were also a big source of support, she says.

But Pillich, an attorney, said one of the biggest barriers for women is family life. Women in general still are responsible for the majority of childrearing and housework. It takes a supportive spouse, family and friends to help them become successful in office.

"I was away a lot, going out to meetings, appearances or door to door," she says. "I didn't get to have dinner with (my family) and I didn't get to make dinner for them."

Her husband, Paul Forshey, took over most of the family care responsibilities, and a friend helped with laundry.

Pillich, an energetic campaigner, tells me that she was very busy late last week: she was recognized at the Ohio Association for Justice Leadership Breakfast in Columbus last Thursday morning, attended the "Celebrate as One" multicultural music festival in Cincinnati that afternoon, spoke at the Springfield Township Democratic Club about the leadership and vision of Harry S Truman and John F. Kennedy (whose birthdays are this month) that evening, and attended the Veterans Caucus lunch before the Ohio Democratic Party Convention on Saturday.

OH House-31 - Scott Gehring (R-Westwood) is dropping out of the race due to an unforeseen family illness. Denise Driehaus (D-Price Hill) is running to replace her brother in this slightly GOP-leaning district (R+2.8) and will be very difficult to beat. Gehring says that the county party has been looking for someone to replace him for about a month already.

OH House-58 - Brad Dicken reports in the Chronicle Telegram that seven people submitted applications to replace Matt Barrett (D-Amherst) but only three live in the district: former Huron County Juvenile and Probate Judge Thomas Heydinger (D-Norwalk), Assistant Lorain County Prosecutor Frank Janik (D-Amherst), and "senior caretaker" (?) Mary Fleure (D-Attica). Conspicuously absent from the list are Norwalk Mayor Sue Lesch and Huron County Auditor Roland Tkach, widely discussed as possibilities. The deadline for applying has been extended to Thursday (5/15) and applications can be mailed to House Democratic Chief of Staff Andy DiPalma at 77 S. High St., Columbus 43215, or e-mailed to andy-dot-dipalma-at-ohr-dot-state-dot-oh-dot-us. Meanwhile, Matt Barrett is no longer employed by the Lorain law firm of Miraldi & Barrett, founded by his father.