The Columbus Dispatch reported Saturday on the results of an important poll of 600 Ohio registered voters commissioned by the non-profit group Environment Ohio:

* About eight in 10 support setting a renewable energy standard, a finding that applies almost equally to Democrats and Republicans;

* About three-quarters agreed that building new coal-fired or nuclear power plants "ought to be a last resort;"

* About nine in 10 said their legislator's support of a renewable energy standard would be a positive in their vote decision;

* More than 90 percent said they would be willing to pay more for green energy, with more than a third saying they would be willing to pay an extra $10 per month.

Environment Ohio presented the findings to an Ohio Senate committee that is considering Gov. Ted Strickland's comprehensive electric energy bill, which includes a provision to require the state's utilities to generate twelve and a half percent of their power with wind turbines, solar panels, and other renewable technologies by 2020. Environment Ohio wants to raise that target to 20%.

The group also presented a map from the U.S. Department of Energy showing that "at 300 feet above ground, the height of the latest and largest wind turbines, Ohio has enough sustained wind to create 66,000 megawatts of electricity - more than one and a half times the total production of all of the state's utilities at present."

I caught this amazing statement by U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (R-West Chester) on Fox News yesterday, as quoted on the blog MyDD today:

BRIT HUME: What is your plan to restore your party to the majority?

JOHN BOEHNER: I think we've got to be the party of solutions. The American people don't care who's in charge of congress. I think they're tired of all the partisan bickering and all the noise here and they want solutions. And I think you'll see our party come forward with solutions on healthcare, and how do we get high quality health insurance to all Americans, how do we insure that they have good access to healthcare, what's our answer to global climate change, how do we get to energy independence? I think we as a political party need to provide solutions to those concerns that Americans have, but solutions built on Republican principles.

Huh ... what? Not the Republican issues like scary terrorists, scary illegal immigrants, and scary taxes? Instead, the issues on which the public trusts Democrat, and over which the GOP has fought tooth and nail -- access to health care, global climate change (climate change?!?!?!), and energy independence?

The GOP has not lifted a finger to tackle any of these issues since well before George W. Bush won election in the Supreme Court. Just a few days ago they mocked Al Gore for his campaign to awaken the world about global climate change, and now that's how they're going to reclaim the House of Representatives?

Apparently I have no political instincts at all, because this strategy looks DOA to me. The people who make up the Republican base are all going to get a case of whiplash if they try it.

According to this story at The Cincinnati Enquirer, Rep. Jean Schmidt (R) improved her fund-raising to $127,600, up from $95,900 the quarter before. Primary challenger Phil Heimlich (R) raised less than Schmidt and less than before (dropping to $109,400 this quarter from $166,400 previously).

However, Heimlich leads Schimdt in cash-on-hand, $218,300 to $108,300. So Schmidt is burning through her campaign treasury, while Heimlich is keeping his powder dry. Is Schmidt more confident than Heimlich of her continued fund-raising success ahead, or just less disciplined?

Buckeye 2010 at BSB links to this story today in the Washington Post, reporting that 7th Congressional District heir apparent State Sen. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) will announce his candidacy some time today, and quoting him as follows:

"My plans are to run and to continue to get Dave's advice and continue his projects," Austria said. "Dave has been a mentor to me through my service in public office. He'll be missed."

WHIOTV.com confirms the news, as well as that retiring Rep. Dave Hobson (R-Springfield) is fully backing his mentee.

The Post story also reveals that the Ohio Democratic Party is hunting around for someone to join the race, presumably someone with a higher political profile than repeat challenger John Conner (D-Beavercreek) or pizza business owner Dave Woolever (D-Stoutsville):

The district could be competitive in 2008, and the Ohio Democratic Party is talking to several potential candidates, state party spokesman Randy Borntrager said.

In the Columbus Dispatch article I mentioned in an earlier post, Ohio Republican Party Chair Robert Bennett is quoted as saying, "That's a good, solid Republican district, and I imagine we'll have a vigorous primary for his successor." I take that to mean that additional GOP candidates will be jumping in, joining Austria and announced candidate William Mitchel (R-Beavercreek).

On the occasion of the appearance by long-shot presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucnich (D-Cleveland) on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and forty days since Palmer issued her debate challenge that the incumbent has ignored, the campaign of primary challenger Rosemary Palmer (D-Cleveland) has released this stingingly hilarious video set to "No Time" by the Guess Who:

This excellent article in today's Toledo Blade is really kind of amusing in light of the overheated, simplistic fusillade of tax accusations marking the increasingly nasty contest between State Sen. Steve Buehrer (R-Delta) and State Rep. Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green). Reporter Joshua Boak notes that both candidates are anti-tax and both have strong anti-tax voting records, but both voted to support an increase in the state gasoline tax in 2003. Buehrer actually sponsored the increase, at the request of Gov. Bob Taft (R), citing the need to maintain a strong highway infrastructure.

Several major highways cross the 5th Congressional District and are in fact critical to the area economy. However, this has not stopped the two candidates from attacking each other over this vote:

In northwest Ohio specifically, access to I-75 played a fundamental role in Rossford getting a Bass Pro store.

As a state legislator, Mr. Latta (R., Bowling Green) labored eight years to catch Bass Pro. The company anticipates its project will create the equivalent of 250 full-time jobs.

Given that background, Mr. Buehrer said it was hypocritical for Mr. Latta to run a TV ad attacking him for proposing the gas-tax increase. However, a separate Buehrer ad circulating on the Web criticizes Mr. Latta for helping to pass the gas-tax increase.

It is pretty funny to read each candidate's rationalization of the 2003 vote, given their ardently anti-tax campaign themes.

Ironically, inflation wiped out most of the benefit of the temporary gasoline sales tax increase because the cost of maintenance materials rose. Asked if they would support another increase to address the problem, each candidate answered "No!"

Special guests: Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, members of the State House and Senate, community leaders, members of partner organizations, and grassroots activists. Refreshments provided.

Progress Ohio office, at 251 S. 3rd St., Columbus, OH 43215. Park on the street or in the City Center Mall parking garage.

Coverage in the Columbus Dispatch today of the retirement announcement by Rep. Dave Hobson (R-Springfield) contains this interesting comment by Ohio Republican Party Chair Robert Bennett:

[Hobson's] decision also might have been influenced by the likelihood that Republicans will have a difficult time taking back the House next year.

"I think if he thought there was a better than even chance of taking the House, Dave would have stayed around," Bennett said.

Bennett attributes the sentiment to Hobson, but I think it is pretty clear that Bennett agrees. If he did not, I think he would have said it differently, and also would mention trying to persuade Hobson not to retire for that reason.

National political prognosticators like Robert Novak, Stuart Rothenberg, and CQPolitics have been saying that the climate is very unfavorable to the GOP and their prospects of retaking the House are slim. However, those pronouncements are generally accompanied by the caveat that the election is still far away and conditions can change quickly. Also, the GOP faithful are hoping that a potential presidential bid by Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) will resuscitate their party's fortunes by energizing the Republican base in districts all across the country. Accordingly, it comes as a surprise to hear such a bleak assessment from the very heart of the Ohio Republican Party.

State Sen. Steve Buehrer (R-Delta) has written a letter to Ohio Republican Party Chair Robert Bennett, responding to yesterday's letter by State Rep. Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) calling for an armistice regarding the negativity that has dominated the GOP special primary in the 5th Congressional District. (The letter is reproduced in full below.) In the letter Buehrer chastises Latta for his votes relating to taxes and accuses him of making Buehrer out to be a criminal by bringing up the issue of contributions from Tom Noe. He also argues that the Tom Noe affair is "in the past," so that Latta's reference to Noe is bad for the Republican Party. He basically calls Latta a hypocrite, as well, on the grounds that Latta also accepted money form Noe.

Buehrer doesn't apologize for seeking records relating to Latta's wife Marcia from Bowling Green State University (confirming along the way that the request concerns Latta's wife seeking contribution to BGSU from Noe), but does concede that it may have been "indelicate." Buehrer refuses to sign Latta's pledge, but offers one of his own, which to my reading does not in fact pledge to avoid negative campaigning, only to continue his fight (as he sees it) for positive improvements for Ohioans. He characterizes Latta's letter to Bennett as, in essence, an insincere political ploy.

On the whole, Buehrer's letter is a flat rejection of Latta's overture and a continuation of his prior charges against Latta. I am very curious how Bennett will respond. However, I do not expect that response to occur in public, so we may never know!

Dear Chairman,

Any time a Republican legislator votes for a massive tax increase to pay for a massive state spending increase, I believe he ought to be compelled to explain that vote to Republican voters.

That's not negative. It's accountability.

Tim Kettler (G-Columbus), who ran as the Green party candidate for Secretary of State in 2006, will run for the 20th Ohio Senate District seat in 2008.

The 20th District is in Coschocton, Muskingum, Guernsey, Morgan, Noble, Monroe, Washington, Athens and Meigs counties in southestern Ohio. It leans slightly Republican (PVI R+2). The district includes the 92nd, 93rd, and 94th House Districts, two of which are held by Republicans and one (the 93rd) by a Democrat. Incumbent Joy Padgett defeated former Hezbollah hostage Terry Anderson by 53.71% to 46.29% in 2004. Having lost her bid to replace disgraced Rep. Bob Ney (R-Heath) following his resignation, and with the burden of bankruptcy proceedings hanging over her, Padgett announced in September 2007 that she would not seek re-election. State Rep. Jimmy Stewart (R-Athens) is an announced candidate in this district.

There will be a fund-raiser for State Sen. Dale Miller on Thursday, October 18th, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Massimo da Milano's Restaurant, West 25th & Detroit in Cleveland, Ohio. The requested donation is $25.00, which may be paid at the door or sent to Friends of Dale Miller, 4300 W. 143rd, Cleveland, OH 44135.

The sharply negative turn of the struggle between GOP front-runners State Sen. Steve Buehrer (R-Delta) and State Rep. Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) in the 5th Congressional District special primary is provoking a distinctly cool reception from the far-flung, largely rural community. This report from Toledo's ABC affiliate is facially impassive but drips with disapproval between the lines:

Two men running for the open fifth district congressional seat have a disagreement over campaign tactics. One is charging the other with going after his family. The tactic in this case involves looking into the work records of your opponent's wife. It is just another incident in a tough campaign.

Latta believes his wife is under attack because she works on his campaign. Latta insists his wife Marcia takes time off from the university to work on the campaign. But he also believes Buehrer is out of bounds here.

Bob Latta says, "A family member, a spouse and your kids are out of bounds when it comes to campaigns."

Steve Buehrer says, "The fact of the matter is, this week he has launched an automated negative phone call that called me a liar. He has also filed a lawsuit against me and has launched a negative TV campaign."

UT political science professor Dr. David Davis says Buehrer's campaign isn't really doing anything wrong by looking into Marcia Latta's work records. But he says the real target may not be Latta's wife.

Buehrer's campaign says it will not use the information it gets on Latta's wife. Marcia Latta is the development director at BGSU and helps the university raise money.

Seeking to rise above the fray, the Latta campaign today sent an open letter to Robert Bennett, chair of the Ohio Republican Party, proposing a truce:

October 14, 2007

Chairman Robert T. Bennett

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will make a "Countdown to Change in Ohio" presidential campaign appearance in Columbus on Friday, October 26th, at 11:00 a.m. at the Columbus Convention Center. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. General admission is $25.00, students admitted for $15.00. Sign up to attend here.

Obama is an inspiring speaker, as I can attest from personal experience. This is a critical juncture in his presidential campaign, as he attempts to put a dent in the front-runner status of Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY). I would not miss this event if you can possibly attend.

The Dayton Daily News is reporting that Rep. Dave Hobson (R-Springfield) has announced he is retiring at the end of his term:

Hobson, R-Springfield, a nine-term lawmaker, is one of the senior members of the area's congressional delegation, and has used his spot on the House Appropriations Committee to garner millions of dollars for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and other economic development projects for the region. He made his announcement at a birthday party surrounded by staff, former staff and community leaders.

His retirement makes him the 12th Republican House member to retire after this term and the third Ohioan to do so. Rep. Ralph Regula, R-Navarre, announced his retirement on Thursday. Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Upper Arlington, announced she would retire earlier this summer.

There have been rumors of Hobson retiring for some time. Also, it has been suggested that the untimely death of Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-Tiffin) may have been an influence on Hobson's decision. This event has created an an astonishing four open seats in the 12-member Ohio delegation, all of them Repubican-held.

Term-limited State Sen. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek) is widely regarded as Hobson's heir apparent. Frequent candidate John Mitchel (R-Beavercreek) is also an announced entrant in this district. On the Democratic side, the announced candidates are William Conner (D-Beavercreek), a U.S. Air Force veteran and engineer who garnered 39% of the vote in 2006, and small businessman Dave Woolever (D-Stoutsville).

The Dayton Daily news reports today that 19-year-old Melissa Stanley, a student at The Ohio State University, announced her candidacy for the open 79th Ohio House District seat of term-limited Rep. Diana Fessler (R-New Carlisle). Former Miami County Commissioner and former Miami County Board of Elections member Richard Adams (R-Troy) has already entered the contest.

Stanley says she was inspired to enter the race by her $8 per hour temp job this summer:

"There were a hundred other women working there, some of them supporting three kids on $8 an hour. And I thought, 'This is the only kind of job available?' "

Stanley, to graduate next summer [sic], said she would work to improve education, increase graduation rates and make college more affordable.

Stanley notes that when she graduates, she'll be $10,000 in debt for her education. The 2006 Piqua High School graduate has been an intern at the Ohio House and U.S. Senate.

The 79th District is in Darke and Miami counties in western Ohio. It leans strongly Republican (PVI R +10.9). Rep. Fessler defeated Dave Fisher (D-Bethel Township) by 60.74% to 39.26% in 2006 and won with 66.15% of the vote in 2004.

Seizing on the news that Rep. Dave Hobson (R-Springfield) told the Columbus Dispatch on Thursday that President George Bush is "out of touch" regarding his veto of the bipartisan bill to provide health insurance to more children by expanding the SCHIP program, challenger Dave Woolever (D-Stoutsville) issued this zinger of a press release:

"After six and a half years of this administration, it is well past time for Representative Hobson to realize that President Bush is out of touch," said Woolever. "Hobson is apparently just realizing that during six years of control of both the White House and the House of Representatives, the Republican Party has left its reputation for fiscal responsibility in tatters."

Hobson went on to decry President Bush's signing of the 2002 Farm Bill, which was H.R. 2646 in the 1st session of the 107th Congress. However, Representative Hobson voted "aye" on final passage of that bill on October 5, 2001.

Representative Hobson also was quoted as saying "… he wants $190 billion more for the war, but he's picking a fight over $23 billion?" However, Representative Hobson has never voted against any funding for George Bush's Iraqi War. Most recently he voted for H.R. 2206 which funneled $100 billion into the war with no strings or conditions.

I am promoting this comment to the front page because it is consistent with what I have heard from my friend in Wood County regarding the nasty primary fight between State Sen. Steve Buehrer (R-Delta) and State Rep. Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green):

How about some basic facts in all of this mess: 1. BOTH Buehrer and Latta have voted for big tax increases. 2. BOTH have voted against big tax cuts. 3. BOTH have received donations from Tom Noe (before anything was known about him and BOTH promptly gave the money back). 4. BOTH are strong Pro-Life legislators. ANALYSIS: If Buehrer does not outspend Latta by %150,000 to $200,000, then Latta will win. Buehrer thinks he has the edge on issues, but there is not nearly enough traction to win. If the primary were today, he loses by double-digits. Regardless, if the contest gets even more negative, for the first time, I believe Weirauch could actually pull off a major upset in this district, especially if Buehrer wins the primary.

Buehrer is playing a dangerous game. Don't count Robin Weirauch (D-Napoleon) out, especially if the GOP primary continues to be this ugly.

Denise Driehaus (D-Price Hill), the sister of 1st District Congressional candidate State Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-Price Hill), has filed paperwork with the Ohio Secretary of State to run for her brother's 31st Ohio House District seat.

Driehaus, age 44, is president of the Cincinnati Recreation Commission and is also co-owner of the Front Porch Coffeehouse in Price Hill. She is married to Mark "Zeek" Childers and attended Price Hill schools (St. Antoninus Elementary and Seton High School). The couple are members of the Price Hill Civic Club.

Scott Gehring (R), currently a campaign aide to city council candidate Melanie Bates, is also a candidate in the 31st District, which is in Cincinnati's western suburbs in Hamilton County. It leans slightly Republican (PVI R +2.8). Steve Driehaus defeated Sheryl Ross (R) by 67.33% to 32.67% in 2006, and won with 69.36% of the vote in 2004.

This item is speculative, but Karen L. Gillmor, Ph.D. (R-Dublin), who is Vice Chairman of the State Employment Relations Board and the widow of the late Rep. Paul Gillmor (R), has $26,112.46 in her campaign treasury according to records on file with the Ohio Secretary of State. For what purpose?

Gillmor was an Ohio Senator previously and the 26th Ohio Senate District, where she now lives, is an open seat because incumbent State Sen. Larry Mumper (R-Marion) is term-limited.

ADDENDUM: I should have mentioned, the 26th District is in Union, Logan, Marion, Wyandot, Crawford, Seneca, Sandusky and Ottawa Counties, stretching from north-central to northern and northwestern Ohio. It leans strongly Republican (PVI R+8). The district includes the 81st, 82nd, and 83rd Ohio House Districts, all held by Republicans. Incumbent Larry Mumper was unopposed in 2004.

Roland Winburn (D-Dayton) has filed paperwork with the Ohio Secretary of State to run for the 40th Ohio House District seat of term-limited State Rep. Fred Strahorn (D-Dayton). Winburn is Fund Development Director for the Dayton Region of the National Conference for Community and Justice, a human relations organization dedicated to fighting bias, bigotry and racism in America. He is also a Trustee of Harrison Township.

The 40th District is heavily Democratic (D+18.8). Strahorn defeated Martin Arbagi (R-Dayton) by 74.17% to 25.83% in 2006, and won with 70.17% of the vote in 2004.

Paul Kiel has an interesting post at TPMmuckraker about how John Tanner, the Bush-appointed chief of the Department of Justice Voting Rights Section, wrote a lengthy letter to Franklin County Elections Officials in 2005 absolving them of any wrongdoing in the matter of voters in predominantly black precincts having to wait in long lines to vote. "It really looked like the Civil Rights Division was used to run interference for Republican election officials in Ohio," a former deputy chief told Kiel. The letter is suspicious because:

* Letters about closing investigations are generally short and devoid of detail so as not to interfere with private litigation or later investigations; this one was long and detailed, written like a defense brief;

* Tanner handled the investigation entirely by himself, unlike all other investigations;

* Tanner explained away the fact that the precincts which had to stay open hours late were in black precincts with the unsupported and prejudiced generalization that black voters vote late in the day; veterans of the voting rights section say that they're not familiar with any such tendency;

* "Tanner bent over backwards to rule that black voters did not have a right to the same number of machines as white registered voters, and then went out of his way to make that ruling public," according to a former attorney in the section.

One of Kiel's insider sources says he thinks county elections officials were probably incompetent rather than venal, but: "On the other hand, was it all because of different voting patterns? Or did black precincts get neglected? I know we didn’t try very hard to find out."

Ashtabula County Commissioner Deborah Newcomb (D-Conneaut) announced last month that she is running for the 99th Ohio House District seat of term-limited State Rep. George Distel (D-Conneaut), who is supporting her campaign. Newcomb was appointed to her current office in 1999 to replace Distel and has been re-elected twice since then. A working mom and former small business owner, Newcomb says that she "wants local constituents to continue to have a strong voice in Columbus" and she supports Gov. Ted Strickland's Turnaround Ohio Plan. Among her top issues are improving public schools and developing a funding formula not wholly dependent on property taxes; promoting alternative energy sources; improving services for senior citizens; streamlining service delivery for families and dependent children; and stabilizing health care costs for government and business.

Newcomb, who is 53, spent nine years on Conneaut City Council and was Council President. She has been President of the County Board of Commissioners during her three terms and serves on the 911 Board, Family & Children First Council, Ashtabula County Port Authority, and Homeland Security Advisory Board. She is also Chief Elected Official for the Workforce Investment Board for Geauga, Ashtabula and Portage Counties. Newcomb graduated from Conneaut High School and has an Associate Degree from KSU-Ashtabula. She is married to Jim Newcomb and they have two sons.

My source in Ashtabula County has heard that Newcomb may be opposed by Ashtabula County Auditor Sandra O'Brien (R-Ashtabula), who defeated pro-choice Ohio Treasurer Jeannette Bradley (R) in an ideology-driven GOP primary in 2006 but lost in the general election to then-County Treasurer Rich Cordray (D-Grove City) by 57% to 42%.

Rep. Steve Chabot (R-West Wood) is taking a beating on his vote against the SCHIP expansion bill. The latest is this radio ad which will run on Christian and talk radio stations from Monday to Wednesday (the House is expected to vote on overriding Bush's veto on Thursday):

http://www.catholics-united.org/files/CUR101107cha.mp3

The ad features a mother urging Chabot to support SCHIP, saying in part:

"I'm the mother of three children, and I'm pro-life. I believe that protecting the lives our children must be our nation’s number one moral priority. That’s why I’m concerned that Congressman Chabot says he’s pro-life but votes against health care for poor children. That’s not pro-life. That’s not pro-family."

The sponsor is Catholics United, a group that describes itself as "a national online community of Catholics who believe strongly in our faith's call to build a society for justice and the common good." From the press release:

“Building a true culture of life requires public policies that promote the welfare of the most vulnerable,” said Chris Korzen, executive director of Catholics United. “At the heart of the Christian faith is a deep and abiding concern for the need of others. Pro-life Christians who serve in Congress should honor this commitment by supporting health care for poor children.”

The group is also targeting nine other House members around the country.

Today is a day for honoring and celebrating a great man whose tenacious activism in a good and important cause has finally been recognized and rewarded -- with the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize:

"I am deeply honored to receive the Nobel Peace Prize," Gore said in a statement. "We face a true planetary emergency. The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity."

This is from the official Nobel Prize Committee press release:

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 is to be shared, in two equal parts, between the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Albert Arnold (Al) Gore Jr. for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change.

Indications of changes in the earth's future climate must be treated with the utmost seriousness, and with the precautionary principle uppermost in our minds. Extensive climate changes may alter and threaten the living conditions of much of mankind. They may induce large-scale migration and lead to greater competition for the earth's resources. Such changes will place particularly heavy burdens on the world's most vulnerable countries. There may be increased danger of violent conflicts and wars, within and between states.

Sign a congratulations card sponsored by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee by clicking here.

On behalf of the DSCC, Chair Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) writes:

While serving in the U.S. House of Representativs in the 1980s, I remember a young, gutsy Congressman who criticized the Reagan administration for ignoring the effects of greenhouse gases. ...

Confirming earlier reports, seven-term Clark County Commissioner Roger Tackett (D-Springfield) announced a few weeks ago that he is running for the 10th Ohio Senate District seat of term-limited State Sen. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek):

Tackett, a Democrat, was elected to his seventh term as commissioner last year.

He will remain in the position throughout the campaign next year. His seat is up for election in 2010. ...

Tackett, 61, was awarded a Purple Heart after being wounded in Vietnam and is chairman of the Governor's Office of Veterans' Affairs Advisory Committee.

He is currently commission president.

"I would just like to have a fresh challenge with the state of Ohio," he said.

Tackett ran unsuccessfully for the Ohio Senate in 1984, 1992 and 2000.

The 10th District is composed of Clark, Greene, and Madison counties in southeast-central Ohio. It includes the 70th, 72nd, and 84th Ohio House Districts, all held by Republicans. It leans Republican (PVI R+5) and Austria won 64.51% of the vote in 2004. Former Greene County Commissioner Reid Madden (R) and State Rep. Chris Widener (R-Springfield) have said they will run for the seat.

It has been rumored that Austria will run for Congress if 7th District incumbent Dave Hobson (R-Springfield) retires.