Ohio Sen 30th & 32nd: BREAKING - Cafaro (D) and Wilson (D) Selected
Gongwer News Service is reporting that the Ohio Senate Democrats for the next legislative session have voted to appoint shopping mall heiress Capri Cafaro (D) and Jason Wilson (D) to replace Attorney General-elect Marc Dann and Congressman-elect Charlie Wilson, respectively.
Cafaro has run for Congress twice, spending millions of dollars from her family fortune. She lost to Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-Concord Township) in the 14th Congressional District in 2004, after a campaign marred by her exaggeration of her experience as a legislative aide and her clumsy attacks on LaTourette over his extra-marital affair with a lobbyist, and she finished second to Congresswoman-elect Betty Sutton (D-Copley Township) in the 2006 primary in the 13th Congressional District. Cafaro has enjoyed support from labor groups and had the endorsement of Dann for the Ohio Senate seat.
Wilson is the son of the incumbent and is perhaps best known for mishandling his father's election petitions in advance of the 2006 primary in the 6th Congressional District, with the result that the petitions were invalidated for not having 50 valid signatures from within the district. The younger Wilson was fired as campaign manager, but the senior Wilson won the primary handily as a write-in candidate and cruised to an easy victory over State Rep. Charles Blasdel (R-East Liverpool).
UPDATE: From press releases issued by the Senate Democratic Caucus:
Cafaro, 29, graduated from Stanford University with a BA in American Studies at age 19 and from Georgetown University with a MALS in International Studies. She serves on the Trumbull County Senior Services Advisory Council and is a State Policy Liaison for Ohio with the National Patient Advocate Foundation. She was also a State Advocate Representative for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. Cafaro serves as a Councilor for the Medicare Rights Center. As a participant in the Clinton Global Initiative task force, she developed a project on Anti-Corruption efforts in emerging democracies. She is a current member of the American Public Health Association and the International Federation on Aging. “My experience in health care and aging policy will aid me in my work as a State Senator,” Cafaro said. “These two issues impact the well-being of all Ohioans and as a Senator I will strive to enact legislation that deals with both health care and aging needs. I will also work to be a strong voice for economic development for Trumbull and Ashtabula counties. I will be a strong voice for working men and women by helping small business growth and developing our resources as part of alternative and renewable energies. I am excited to begin my work as Senator and I look forward to working with and learning from the current Democratic Caucus members.”
Jason Wilson, 38, graduated from The Ohio State University in 1992 with a BA in Political Science and from Wheeling Jesuit University in 1996 with a MBA. Wilson brings to the Ohio Senate extensive business experience along with serving on numerous boards and associations such as the Bridgeport Area Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Funeral Director’s Association and the American Heart Association. “I look forward to working with the next Democratic Leader and the Democratic Caucus to help the residents of the 30th district and the entire state of Ohio. I am honored to become a member of the Ohio Senate and I thank my wife Leah, friends and family for their support."
Cross-posted at Ohio Daily Blog
posted by Jeff @ 11:49 AM
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14 Comments:
Personally, I'm not super happy about the Cafaro appointment, and I suspect that I am not alone. Sigh.
You're damned right I'm not happy about this.
"Lotta Money Honey" and "Mr. Magoo"???
What the fuck were these chuckleheads thinking?!?
Take it easy guys. Capri will bring her energy to the senate. I am not her fan either but let us give her a chance. If she fails to perform then the voters will kick her out.
How sad and embarrasing for Ohio!
All that talk about electing Democrats who would focus on the issues that really matter seems to have gone out the window as the Cafaro dollars - made on the backs on low-pay or non-union workers - poured in.
What a slap in the face this appointment is to all those who believed that getting rid of the GOP in our State government would set a more positive and ethical standard. So, I guess Ohio will continue to be the laughing stock of America. We get rid of Ney and Noe and put an inexperienced twit in office because her daddy and her family have lots of money.
I am now ashamed that I voted for Marc Dann. He has lost my trust and support and he has not yet taken office. And, trust me,I will never vote for the twit he recommended.
The people of the 13th and 14th congressional districts sent a clear message to Capri Cafaro that she can't buy an elected position. Too bad the Ohio Senate Democrats weren't listening. Fedor is more of the same.
Must be nice to have a super rich daddy and Congressman Dad. I thought democrats were suppose to be of the people and earn something?
Words can't express how sad I am by this. She has hurt my family as well as many others who have worked for her or have had family work for her. Unless you know firsthand what that is like, you'll never understand what an evil and psychologically unstable woman she is. In all reality, JJ just got elected and it is his abuse over the years which has made her the crazy mess she is.
I'm sorry but it's unpersuasive when someone who is anonymous expresses the opinion that Cafaro os "evil and psychologically unstable," which strike me as wreckless, over-the-top charges that dilute actual criticisms that could be made of her.
I also find it hard to agree that her appointment is somehow reneging on the Dems' promise to focus on issues. As those bios make clear, Cafaro HAS focused on issues. She has spent the last two years since her first congressional run educating herself and serving a constituency, and developing issues she has made her own — particularly issues relating to senior citizens. I think she's done well for a young'un and acquitted herself well. I'm willing to withhold judgement. Also, to say that the voters "rejected" her is a little harsh. The voters in Oh-14 also "rejected" Lew Katz but I don't consider that a reflection on him, just on the Republicanness of the district. And she ran in a crowded field in Oh-13. Many candidates run several times before winning.
On the other hand, it does appear Jason Wilson's credentials are a bit skimpy. Cafaro seems to have done more public policy related work in two years than he's done ever.
Oh OK "Anastasia."
The Cafaro appointment cannot be dressed up. It's a blunder. It's hypocrasy. It's dirty, and its a sellout.
Marc Dann told us he would END the corruption. So much for that.
Tactically for our party, Capri's "millions" will have to be spent saving her own ass. She's still never been elected to anything.
I think many Capri haters here are simply rethug plants.
You can question some of the things about Capri but you can't question her stand on the issues. During both of her pervious campaigns she expressed her opinions on issues very clearly. She may not be a perfect candidate but she definitely deserves a shot at serving people just like many others do.
By 2008, "J.J. Cafaro" will be to "Democrats" what "Tom Noe" is to "Republicans."
Some of the comments to this post are way over the top. The sky has not fallen on the Ohio Democratic Party. I would say that I am concerned about the negative appearance generated by the appointments, but they don't spell certain doom and may yet turn out very well. That's it. I don't agree with the doomsday talk or the accusations of corruption.
The appointment of Jason WIlson by his father, no doubt, will hurt the Sr Wilson in the long run, watch and see. Several people are cutting off funding !!
Hey, screw up a campaign and get appointed.
It was a plan to get him out of Dodge !!
He owes everyone in town !!
Too pompous for public service. This guy is self centered and in a few months it will come across to the other senators and to the public, who he has never served and will never sincerely serve.
From a true democrat in Belmont County.
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