OH-16: Amstutz (R) to Run if Regula (R) Retires?

The Dispatch political blog Daily Briefing thinks it could happen, and suggests that this could be the explanation for why term-limited State Sen. Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster) was the only one not to co-sponsor a bill introduced by State Sen. John Boccieri (D-New Middleton) to ban job discrimination against veterans and those still serving in the military. Boccieri has already announced his intention to run for the seat. Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Navarre) is 82 and has served since 1974.

Meanwhile, township trustee and state party committee member Michael Todd (D-Medina) is preparing to run for the Ohio Senate seat that Amstutz will vacate. (Todd previously announced a bid for Rep. Regula's seat, later withdrawn). The GOP candidate could well be term-limited State Rep. Jim Carmichael (R-Wooster), one of just a few (three? four?) Republican incumbents to run unopposed for the Ohio House of Representatives in 2006.