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AFL-CIO,
OTHERS CHALLENGE NEW CAMPAIGN FINANCE RULES
Just before Christmas last year, Ohio lawmakers passed the most comprehensive
piece of state campaign finance reform legislation since 1995. The major
impetus for reform was a desire to bring more transparency to the campaign
finance system, and disclosure was the buzzword heard most frequently.
To derail the law from taking effect, the Ohio AFL-CIO spearheaded an
effort to place repeal of the legislation before the voters this November.
However, they abandoned this attempt earlier this week after reportedly
falling well short of collecting the more than 193,000 signatures necessary.
The AFL-CIO and other unions are upset with a change in the bill that
helps level the political playing field for business in relation to
labor. The bill extends the ban – in place in Ohio since 1908 –
on corporations using their money or property for political purposes
to labor organizations. This change also means that Ohio’s rank-and-file
union members will no longer be forced to pay for political activities
undertaken by union bosses with which they disagree.
While they failed on this front, they have met with some initial success
on another. In mid-March the AFL-CIO, UAW, and Ohio Education Association
filed a lawsuit in Franklin County Common Pleas Court asking the judge
to find the ban on the use of union dues for political purposes unconstitutional.
Just this week, Judge John Bender issued an injunction blocking these
portions of the bill from going into effect until the case can be heard
and a decision on the merits rendered.
Additionally, Citizens for Tax Reform, an organization closely identified
with Secretary of State Ken Blackwell that was originally created to
repeal the state’s temporary one-cent sales tax increase passed
in 2003, recently filed a lawsuit in federal court asking that the provisions
contained in the campaign finance reform package related to paid petition
circulators be overturned. In particular, Citizens for Tax Reform claims
the legislation’s requirement that compensation for circulating
election-related petitions must be paid solely on the basis of time
worked and not on a fee-per-signature of fee-per-volume basis “unjustifiably
restricts core political speech rights.”
PORTMAN DEPARTURE
SENDS SHOCKWAVES
THROUGH SOUTHWESTERN OHIO POLITICAL SCENE
In our November 23, 2004 issue of The Political Edge, we discussed the
hot rumor at the time that had Gov. Bob Taft appointing U.S. Rep. Rob
Portman as his next lieutenant governor and then leaving for Washington
to accept a post in the Bush administration, thus paving the way for
Portman to become our next governor. Though this turned out to be nothing
more than wild speculation, it appeared to make some sense at the time
given, among other things, Portman’s presumed interest in one day
becoming governor, U.S. senator, or even president.
That’s one reason why Portman’s decision to leave Congress
to accept Pres. Bush’s offer to become the next U.S. trade representative
sent shockwaves through Ohio political circles: it’s hard to see
how becoming trade rep. furthers Portman’s political ambition.
Another reason is because of the fallout his departure from Congress
creates.
Once he is confirmed by the U.S. Senate – which will reportedly
occur sometime in April – Portman will resign his House seat. A
special election will then be held to fill the vacancy, the date for
which will be set by Gov. Taft. The election could take place this summer.
Portman has held the seat since he was elected (also in a special election)
in May 1993. The 2nd congressional district includes all of Adams, Brown,
Clermont, and Pike Counties, the eastern third of Hamilton County, the
western half of Scioto County, and the southern half of Warren County.
The seat leans heavily Republican – Portman won seven elections
and never received less than 70% of the vote – and the list of
potential GOP candidates is lengthy. Roughly 40% of the votes in the
GOP primary will likely come from Hamilton County, so a Hamilton County
candidate starts out with an advantage, though the presence of numerous
candidates from Hamilton could diminish this benefit. The approximate
percentage of votes likely to be cast in a GOP primary from each of
the seven counties comprising the 2nd congressional district:
|
County
|
%
of Votes
|
|
Hamilton
|
40%
|
|
Clermont
|
30%
|
|
Warren
|
14%
|
|
Adams
|
5%
|
|
Brown
|
5%
|
|
Scioto
|
4%
|
|
Pike
|
2%
|
Here are brief
profiles of the many rumored candidates:
Already announced candidates
Tom Brinkman – Brinkman is a third-term state representative whose
entire southeastern Hamilton County legislative district falls within
the 2nd congressional district. His professional background is in the
printing industry. The state legislative district he represents includes
between one-third and one-half of the Hamilton County Republicans in
the congressional district. Brinkman is a staunch conservative who
often finds himself at odds with the GOP establishment. In fact, when
he won his first term in 2000, he ran against a party-backed candidate
in the Republican primary. He has already received the endorsement
of the Ohio Taxpayers Association and has strong support within southwestern
Ohio’s powerful network of pro-family organizations and individuals.
Pat DeWine – DeWine is the son of U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine and a
first-term Hamilton County Commissioner. He officially announced his
candidacy for Congress earlier this week. He defeated fellow Republican
and then-incumbent Commissioner John Dowlin in a bitter primary last
year and subsequently won the general election. In the primary, Dowlin’s
campaign ran ads accusing DeWine of leaving his wife for a lobbyist,
an allegation likely to be revisited in the congressional race. DeWine
served five years on Cincinnati City Council also practices law with
the Cincinnati firm Keating, Muething & Klekamp. Because he is
a Hamilton County elected official, has excellent name recognition,
and presumably will receive fundraising help from his father, DeWine
probably starts off as the favorite.
Potential candidates
Bill Cunningham – The conservative Cunningham is the host of a
popular talk radio program on Cincinnati’s powerful WLW station.
He is also an attorney and considered running for Congress in 1993
before deciding against it. Cunningham reportedly has a clause in his
contract that expressly permits him to take a leave of absence from
his radio show in order to run for Congress. He is certainly well-known
as a result of his daily broadcasts, but there is little doubt opponents
would also use his program against him and force him to explain his
frequently provocative statements. This would be his first run for
public office.
Rob Goering – Goering is an attorney and the current Hamilton
County Treasurer. He was appointed Treasuer in 1991 and has subsequently
won re-election to four full terms. He won his ’04 contest with
59% of the vote and was the leading vote-getter among Republicans running
opposed for county office.
Joe Hagin – Hagin is currently in Washington, serving as Pres.
Bush’s Deputy Chief of Staff, but he is an Indian Hill (Hamilton
County) native. He is a close friend of the President and was a deputy
campaign manager for Bush’s 2000 campaign. Hagin was also in charge
of presidential scheduling for Pres. George H.W. Bush. Between serving
in the two Bush administrations, he was vice president of corporate
affairs at Chiquita in Cincinnati.
Greg Hartmann – Presently the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts,
Hartmann is also considering a run for the GOP nomination for Secretary
of State next year. He was appointed to his current position in 2002
and was elected to a full term last year, carrying 56% of the vote.
Prior to taking over as clerk he practiced law and was an assistant
Hamilton County prosecutor.
Bill Keating, Jr. – Keating is a partner at the Cincinnati law
firm Keating, Muething & Klekamp, practicing corporate and business
law. His father was elected to two terms in Congress in the early 1970’s
and is a former publisher of the Cincinnati Enquirer. This would be
his first run for office.
Bob McEwen – McEwen is a Highland County native and former congressman.
He served in the U.S. House from 1981-1992, when he was narrowly defeated
for re-election in a redrawn district by Ted Strickland. Being implicated
in the infamous House bank scandal contributed to his defeat. The district
he represented included nearly all of the current 2nd congressional
district, with the exception of Hamilton County. He also ran against
Portman in 1993’s special election, finishing second – behind
Portman – in the seven-candidate GOP primary field. McEwen is
currently a partner in a Washington-based business and governmental
affairs counseling firm.
Tom Raga – Like Brinkman, Raga is currently serving his third
term in the Ohio House. His state legislative district – roughly
the western half of Warren County – has little overlap with the
2nd congressional district. However, he did represent the entire county
during his first term, prior to the 2002 redistricting. Before being
elected to the House, Raga was a Deerfield Township Trustee. The Cincinnati
native is vice chair of the House Finance & Appropriations Committee.
Jean Schmidt – Schmidt served two terms in the Ohio House before
running for an open Senate seat last year – a race she lost by
just 24 votes to fellow Rep. Tom Niehaus. She represented northwestern
Clermont County in the House and will also have some name recognition
in Adams, Brown and Scioto Counties from her Senate bid. Prior to serving
in the House she was a Miami Township (Clermont County) Trustee for
11 years. Schmidt is staunchly pro-life and earlier this month she
was elected president of Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati.
The following individuals have all been mentioned as possible candidates,
but have indicated they don’t intend to run:
Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters,
Hamilton County Commissioner Phil Heimlich, former Cincinnati Bengals
star Anthony Munoz, Clermont County Commissioner Bob Proud, State Sen.
Bob Schuler, Ohio Commerce Department Director Doug White.
Though the district is heavily Republican, a few Democrats are said
to have some interest in running to succeed Portman:
Todd Book – Book is a second-term state representative from McDermott,
in Scioto County. A practicing attorney and small business owner, he
won an open seat in 2002 by capturing 59% of the vote and was not seriously
challenged last year. His House district includes the eastern half
of Adams County and all of Scioto County. He is young and articulate
and the Democratic nomination appears to be his if he wants it.
Charles Sanders – Sanders has been Portman’s opponent in
each of the last four elections, never capturing more than 28% of the
vote. The former mayor of Waynesville (Warren County) is retired from
General Motors in Dayton.
Tyrone Yates – Yates has said he’ll consider running only
if Book opts not to. Yates is an attorney who served four terms on
Cincinnati City Council and is currently serving his second term in
the Ohio House. He has already made one unsuccessful run for Congress
in the 2nd congressional district, losing 64%-36% in 1990 to Portman’s
predecessor in the House, former U.S. Rep. Willis Gradison.
PETRO
DECLARES FOR GOVERNOR;
FIRST TO NAME A RUNNING MATE
Last week, Auditor Jim Petro hastily announced his intention to run
next year for the GOP nomination for governor. In addition, he also
introduced Hamilton County Commissioner Phil Heimlich as his running
mate.
Perhaps Heimlich was Petro’s first choice all along, but there’s
almost no doubt that the timetable for such an announcement – and
the need to officially declare himself a candidate, as well – was
accelerated given Heimlich’s obvious interest in running in the
2nd congressional district contest to succeed outgoing U.S. Rep. Rob
Portman. (See previous story.)
Petro is the first of the presumptive big three Republican gubernatorial
candidates – the others being Attorney General Betty Montgomery
and Secretary of State Ken Blackwell – to officially declare his
candidacy. The former state representative and Cuyahoga County commissioner
is halfway through his first term as auditor, following two full terms
as attorney general. His ’06 run will be his fifth statewide campaign.
Heimlich is halfway through his first term as commissioner after serving
on Cincinnati City Council for four terms. The former assistant Hamilton
County prosecutor is known as an exceptional fundraiser and a favorite
of many in Cincinnati’s active pro-family network – though
some of his erstwhile supporters in this community are upset with Heimlich
for allying himself with Petro, whom they consider too liberal on abortion
and homosexual-rights issues.
Heimlich would have been a frontrunner for the congressional seat, and
Petro may have needed to act quickly to prevent him from pursuing that
opportunity instead of joining his ticket. Petro’s choice –
and its timing – may also help his gubernatorial campaign be more
effective fundraisers in Cincinnati. Many of Cincinnati’s wealthiest
political donors were concerned about the prospect of two strong Hamilton
County candidates, Heimlich and Hamilton County Commissioner Pat DeWine,
running against one another in the congressional primary.
MONTGOMERY,
BLACKWELL TOUT ENDORSEMENTS
FROM TOP CONSERVATIVES
They may or may not be in response to Petro’s selection and announcement
of Heimlich as his running mate, but his likely GOP primary opponents
also recently announced endorsements from prominent conservatives.
Betty Montgomery announced the appointment of Hamilton County Sheriff
Simon Leis as her campaign chairman in Hamilton County. Leis has been
sheriff since 1987 and is a well-known anti-pornography crusader, having
helped run Larry Flynt out of Cincinnati and shutting down the infamous
Robert Mapplethorpe exhibits at Cincinnati’s Contemporary Arts
Center.
Not to be outdone, Blackwell this week unveiled an impressive host committee
for a Washington, D.C.-based fundraiser. Many of the names are Reagan-era
GOP stars, including former Attorney General Ed Meese, former Congressman
and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Jack Kemp, and former
Secretary of Education Bill Bennett. Others are still active in Beltway
politics, including Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform and
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council.
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