Cong OH-2nd: Jacobs (D) Endorsed By Cranley, Thomas

The Cincinnati Enquirer blog-like thing "Politics Extra" reports that political newcomer Thor Jacobs (D) has been endorsed by Cincinnati City Council members John Cranley (D) and Lewis Thomas (D). Cranley, who is running against incumbent Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Westwood) in the 1st Congressional District, said "We need intelligent, independent advocates like Thor in Congress. I look forward to serving alongside him in Washington."

Jacobs, co-founder of a construction business, is one of five candidates in the 2nd District primary. The others are 2005 campaign veterans Jim Parker (D-Waverly), a health care administrator, transporation engineer Jeff Sinnard (D), and physician Victoria Wells Wulsin (D-Indian Hill), and first-timer Gabrielle Downey (D-Milford), a basketball star in school who is now a teacher. If any reader knows of any polling data on this primary, I'd love to hear about it!

The winner of the Democratic primary will face either incumbent Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland), who according to the Politics Extra item has fundraising events coming up in Washingon, DC with Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman, Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Reynolds (R-NY), and Majority Leader Rep. John Boehner (R-West Chester), or one of her primary foes, former Rep. Bob McEwen (R-Hillsboro) or political newcomers Deborah Kraus (R-Union Township) or James E. Constable (R-Fayetteville).

UPDATE: Audio of an interview of Thor Jacobs by Drinking Liberally in Cincinnati is here. Jean Schmidt recently pulled out of a debate with McEwen, as reported in the Cincinnati Enquirer and noted by OH-2 Blog here.

Gov: Petro (R) and Blackwell (R) Load Up for Massive TV Blitz

The Columbus Dispatch reports here that Republican gubernatorial candidates Attorney General Jim Petro (R-Rocky River) and Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R-Cincinnati) have made enormous broadcast and cable television advertising buys, focused on the two weeks between April 17 and the primary on May 2. Each is reportedly spending more than $1 million, meaning it's "probably the most that’s ever been spent in a gubernatorial primary" according to the senior vice president of a political-media consulting firm.

How will this affect their bottom line? The campaign cash numbers are a little dated at this point, but at the end of 2005 Petro had $2 million on hand and Blackwell had $1.5 million. Strickland, who has been running TV ads of his own, had $2.1 million at that time.

Petro has an 11 point deficit to make up, according to the recent Columbus Dispatch poll, so look for him to pull out all the stops. I expect his ads will contain very sharp attacks on the front-runner, especially so because Blackwell's campaign against Petro has been very negative from the outset.

Ohio Sen 21st: Smith (D) Wins Plain Dealer Endorsement

One day after I posted a profile of three Ohio Senate races including the 21st District, the Plain Dealer has published its endorsement of front-runner Rep. Shirley Smith. The editorial board notes that Smith "has focused in recent years on the issue of capital punishment" and "has been the House's leading advocate for a moratorium on the death penalty and for studies to determine whether there are racial disparities in its application." They laud her as "active in issues affecting poor constituents in the inner-city portions of her district."

As to primary opponent Rep. Annie Key, the endorsement praises her as "a diligent legislator" who has "shown over time her willingness to educate herself on issues of importance" and "to advocate for her constituents," and as "a reliable voice for the underprivileged" whose "earnestness has never been questioned." The board describes attorney and retired U.S. Postal Service employee Gaines as "intelligent, familiar with state issues" and speaking "with conviction of his desire to serve." The final Democrat in the field, self-described community activist Lewis Britt, is "to be admired for his commitment to the community."

Cong. OH-17: Manning (R) to Run as Write-In Candidate

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports today (sorr- could not find a link in the online edition) that "D. Manning" of Cortland has filed as a Republican write-in candidate for the Congressional 17th District seat of incumbent Rep. Tim Ryan. I believe that this may be Don Manning, who ran unsuccessfully for Trumbull County Commissioner in 2003, but I am trying to confirm this. Rep. Ryan is otherwise unopposed in his bid for re-election.

Ohio House 13th & 16th: Write-In Candidates File for Primary

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports today (sorry - could not find a link in the online edition) that John P. Hildebrand (R-Lakewood) has filed as a write-in candidate in the Ohio House 13th District race. Hildebrand is the only Republican candidate in that contest. The Democrats are incumbent State Rep. Michael Skindell (D-Lakewood), Ben Perry (D-Lakewood), and Ernest M. Phillips (D-Lakewood). Skindell won re-election in 2004 without opposition.

In addition, Michael J. O'Shea (D-Rocky River) has filed as a write-in candidate for the Ohio House 16th District seat of term-limited incumbent State Rep. Sally Conway Kilbane (R-Rocky River). O'Shea, an attorney with a practice in downtown Cleveland, was formerly President of the Rocky River Democratic Club and is now the City Prosecutor for Rocky River. He joins Lanene Marie Meslat (D-Westlake) in the Democratic primary. Edward F. Herman (R-Rocky River) is the only Republican candidate. The last Democratic general election candidate in the 16th District, Kevin Kennedy, got 38.26% of the vote in 2004, against 58.73% for Conway and 3.02% for independent candidate Chris Glassburn.

UPDATE: In a telephone call this evening, O'Shea declined to outline specific positions on campaign issues at this time but remarked that "Republicans have given us [Democrats] a laundry list of issues on which to campaign," and referred to his Republican opponent Edward F. Herman as "Little Blackwell." I hope to receive more information for a future posting about his campaign.

Ohio House 6th: Bretz (D) Website Up; Will Hold Fund Raiser April 8th

Thanks to ODP Regional Coordinator Steve Chaffin for alerting me that Ohio House 6th District candidate Jeff Bretz (D-North Baltimore) has his campaign website up and that he will be holding a fundraising event on Saturday April 8, 2006 at 4:30 PM at the North Baltimore Fraternal Order of Eagles, 2633140 North Main Street, North Baltimore, OH 45872. A donation of $8.00 is requested.

Bretz, who has received the endorsement of the Wood County Democratic Party, is a longtime Woods County resident who has worked in engineering, human resources and sales in the rubber industry for over 30 years. He was a member of the North Baltimore Village Council for 11 years and a volunteer on the North Baltimore EMS for 20 years, including 4 years as chief of the squad. In 2002 he received the Al Newlove Wood County Democratic Party Man of the Year Award. He is a member of the Wood County Democratic Party Central Committee, Wood County Citizens Opposed To Factory Farms, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #2633 in North Baltimore. During the Kerry campaign he was the Woods County special events coordinator.

On his website, Bretz stresses education, stating that "the current state legislature just doesn’t get the link between education and good paying jobs. We must improve our education system from preschool to grad school." About ethical government, Bretz says: "I believe that every level of government must promote ethical behavior. The current 'pay to play' schemes in our state government have left Ohio in financial ruin. The [Republican] Party has brought disgrace to our state government."

Bretz is opposed in the Democratic primary by James Neu (D-Perrysburg), and the winner there will face incumbent State Rep. Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) in November.

Ohio House 8th: Budish (D) Gains Plain Dealer Endorsement

In a big boost for Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) in his campaign to succeed Ohio Senate candidate Lance Mason (D-Shaker Heights) as State Representative for the 8th District, the Cleveland Plain Dealer endorsed Budish today. Budish is a partner in the Beachwood law firm of Budish & Solomon and is the author of several law books for general readers, as well as a free-lance column in the Plain Dealer called "You and the Law." The editorial board praises Budish as "a veteran attorney" with "a solid understanding of every key issue facing state government" and "unquestioned knowledge of areas relating to Medicare, Medicaid and nursing homes," making him "an expert on issues relating to how government policies impact the lives of senior citizens" who would be a "significant asset to the legislature."

The editors also state that the other three Democratic candidates "have the potential to serve adequately in the legislature." Thaddeus Jackson (D-Bedford Heights) "is a veteran political insider and a teacher at Rhodes High School in Cleveland." Marcia McCoy (D-Cleveland) is "a former political director for the Cleveland AFL-CIO who is now devoting full time to her campaign." Isaac Powell (D-Shaker Heights) is "an employee of the Orange School District and the Shaker Heights library who has run for elected office three times."

There are no Republican candidates in the race. The 8th District includes Beachwood, Bedford, Bedford Heights, Highland Hills, North Randall, Orange, Shaker Heights, Warrensville Heights, Woodmere, and parts of Cleveland's southeast side.