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SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION RECAP ISSUE **
A
LATE NIGHT, AND SOME NAILBITERS
Voters across the state on Tuesday cast their ballots on new voting
equipment, and did so without incident most everywhere. Most being the
operative word. At one precinct in Cleveland, there were so many problems
with the new voting machines that the polls didn’t open until after
noon, and a judge ruled that the polls in this precinct must stay open
until 9:00 p.m. As a result, all election results were embargoed by
Secretary of State Ken Blackwell’s office until 9:30 p.m.
Also in Cuyahoga County, the new machines that were supposed to count
the county’s 16,000-plus absentee ballots failed to operate properly,
and the counting of these votes – votes that normally are counted
first – didn’t even begin until midnight and had to be hand
counted. As a result, all of the absentee ballots in Cuyahoga County
likely won’t be completed until sometime on Wednesday, leaving
the outcomes of several races still in doubt.
Despite these problems, unofficial results for the races of interest
to most readers of The Political Edge were available.
There were few surprises, but numerous close contests in the outcomes
for statewide, congressional, and General Assembly contests. All but
one of the candidates endorsed by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Political
Action Committee (not including the results of two races in Cuyahoga
County) prevailed. OCCPaC-endorsed winners were: Dan White (R-Norwalk),
Brant Luther (R-Alliance), Cliff Hite (R-Findlay), and Sen. Lynn Wachtmann
(R-Napoleon).
STATEWIDE
PRIMARY RESULTS
Governor (Democrats) – U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland (D-Lisbon), as
expected, cruised to the Democratic gubernatorial nomination by beating
Bryan Flannery (D-Lakewood) 80%-20%, amid carrying all 88 counties.
Strickland and his $1.1 million campaign fund await the cash-depleted
GOP nominee.
Governor (Republicans) – Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R-Cincinnati),
buoyed by huge margins in southwestern Ohio, wrapped up the GOP nomination
with a 56%-44% victory over Attorney General Jim Petro (R-Rocky River).
Petro carried a total of 17 counties, including Cuyahoga County and
Franklin County, but they weren’t enough.
Attorney General (Democrats) – Subodh Chandra (D-Cleveland) may
have been the more dynamic speaker and had the support of the progressive
blogosphere, but he also had an uncommon name, no TV presence, and no
endorsement from the state party. The party endorsement went to Sen.
Marc Dann (D-Youngstown) – and so did the nomination. Dann bested
Chandra 73%-27%.
Attorney General (Republicans) – Auditor Betty Montgomery (R-Perrysburg)
coasted to a 73%-27% win over Sen. Tim Grendell (R-Chesterland). Grendell
managed to capture a majority only in Geauga County, where he resides.
Treasurer (Republicans) – Big vote margins in Franklin County and
the counties that border it kept appointed Treasurer Jeannette Bradley
(R-Columbus) close, but Ashtabula County Auditor Sandy O’Brien
(R-Rome) pulled the upset anyway. O’Brien, who was making her first
statewide bid, had little to no party support and, through April 12,
had spent a total of less than $32,000. But she was able to capitalize
on dissatisfaction with Gov. Taft and with Bradley’s liberal leanings
on social issues. If the party doesn’t rally around O’Brien
now that she’s the candidate, Democrat Richard Cordray may have
a much easier race than anticipated.
Ohio Supreme Court (Democrats) term commencing 1/1/2007 – The official
endorsement of the Ohio Democratic Party didn’t help Montgomery
County Common Pleas Judge A.J. Wagner (D-Dayton). Despite not spending
a single dime on his campaign, 11th District Court of Appeals Judge
William O’Neill (D-South Russell) still won handily. He defeated
Wagner 58%-42%, setting up a rematch with incumbent Justice Terrence
O’Donnell (R-Rocky River). O’Donnell beat O’Neill 60%-40%
in 2004.
Ohio Supreme Court (Democrats) term commencing 1/1/2007 – It didn’t
deliver a victory for Wagner, but the Ohio Democratic Party endorsement
may have been the difference for Ben Espy (D-Columbus). He squeaked
by Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court Judge Peter Sikora (D-Cleveland),
53%-47%. Two former state senators – Espy and 3rd District Court
of Appeals Judge Bob Cupp (R-Lima) – will do battle in November
for the seat currently held by retiring Justice Alice Robie Resnick.
CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY RESULTS
U.S. Senate (Democrats) – U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Avon) had
a successful re-entry into statewide politics, dispatching trucking
company owner Merrill “Sam” Keiser (D-Fremont), 77%-23%.
U.S. Senate (Republicans) – National pundits felt that if incumbent
Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Cedarville) didn’t secure at least 70% of the
vote against his two primary challengers, it would indicate a level
of discontent among conservatives worrisome enough to spell serious
trouble for DeWine in November. DeWine exceeded the 70% threshold, but
only slightly, garnering 71%. David Smith of Mason finished second with
15% and Bill Pierce of Maineville third with 14%. The DeWine/Brown General
Election race will be watched with interest all around the country.
Congressional District 2 (Democrats) – Indian Hill doctor Victoria
Wells Wulsin rode the strength of a 2,875-vote margin in Hamilton County
to a victory in this six-way contest, winning 37% of the vote overall.
Construction business owner Thor Jacobs of Cincinnati was second, Waverly
health care administrator Jim Parker third, Cincinnati teacher Gaby
Downey fourth, and Cincinnati civil engineer Jeff Sinnard a distant
fifth.
Congressional District 2 (Republicans) – In our March 30, 2006
edition of The Political Edge, we wrote that the key to this
primary would be Hamilton County. We were wrong. The real key to victory
for incumbent Cong. Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) over former Cong. Bob
McEwen (R-Cincinnati) was Schmidt’s ability to cut significantly
into McEwen’s base in the eastern end of the district: Adams, Brown,
Pike, and Scioto Counties. McEwen won all four counties, but by a combined
total of just 1,401 votes – not nearly enough to compensate for
Schmidt’s 4,183-vote margin in Clermont County, her home county.
For good measure – and an overall 48%-42% win – Schmidt also
won Hamilton and Warren Counties.
Congressional District 3 (Democrats) – Strong support from organized
labor helped veterinarian and first-time candidate Stephanie Studebaker
(D-Centerville) win an outright majority over two other candidates.
Former Waynesville Mayor Charles Sanders (D-Waynesville) was second,
more than 7,100 votes behind Studebaker. Attorney David Fierst (D-Centerville)
was third. By capturing the Democratic nomination, Studebaker earns
the right to take on sitting Cong. Mike Turner (R-Dayton) in November.
Congressional District 4 (Republicans) – The conventional wisdom
– backed by late polls and the tenor of Sen. Jim Jordan’s
(R-Urbana) final TV commercials – was that Frank Guglielmi’s
(R-Findlay) heavy spending had made this race a dead heat. Not quite.
Jordan won all but three of the districts 11 counties, routed his opponents
in the four counties that overlap with his current Senate district,
and posted a solid win with 51% of the vote. Guglielmi was second with
30%, while Kevin Nestor (R-Mansfield), the president of the Mansfield-Richland
Area Chamber of Commerce, was third with 11%. Jordan is now the clear
favorite to succeed outgoing Cong. Mike Oxley (R-Findlay) in this strong
Republican district.
Congressional District 6 (Democrats) – The petition signature snafu
that cost Sen. Charlie Wilson (D-St. Clairsville) a spot on the ballot
and forced him to wage a write-in campaign may have been costly financially
for his campaign, but he still won the nomination in convincing fashion.
Almost 44,000 voters wrote in his name. Despite a heavy barrage of TV
ads financed by the Republican National Committee that attempted to
provide voters a reason not to support Wilson or, alternatively, to
support Bob Carr (D-Wellsville), Wilson still received more than 66%
of the votes cast. Carr was second with 22%. The petition mistake story
is now put to rest, and the new story becomes the showdown with Rep.
Chuck Blasdel (R-East Liverpool).
Congressional District 6 (Republicans) – Rep. Chuck Blasdel (R-East
Liverpool) fell just short of capturing an outright majority of the
votes over three opponents. He finished second in three counties and
won the other nine, securing 49% overall. Noble County Commissioner
Danny Harmon (R-Quaker City) was second, Pastor Tim Ginter (R-East Liverpool),
and former Belmont County Sheriff Richard Stobbs (R-Dillonville) fourth.
Congressional District 9 (Republicans) – Bradley Leavitt (R-Toledo)
beat Ed Emery (R-Sylvania) and Dirk Kubala (R-Toledo) to win the GOP
nomination. It’ll be an uphill battle for Leavitt against Cong.
Marcy Kaptur (DToledo). Leavitt got 40% of the vote.
Congressional District 10 (Democrats) – She couldn’t do it
in the general election as an independent candidate, and today Barbara
Ferris (D-Parma) was unable to unseat Cong. Dennis Kucinich (D-Cleveland)
in the primary. Kucinich romped over Ferris, winning 76% of the vote.
Congressional District 10 (Republicans) – Former Bush administration
appointee Mike Dovilla (R-Middleburg Heights) beat Jason Werner (R-North
Olmsted), 65%-35%. Dovilla has little chance of knocking off Kucinich.
Congressional District 12 (Democrats) – The last Democrat to represent
this district now has a chance to be the next Democrat to represent
it. Bob Shamansky (D-Columbus), who represented the district for one
term after unseating then-incumbent Republican Cong. Sam Devine in 1980,
prevailed over three other candidates. He won by more than 4,600 votes.
Art teacher Paddy Shaffer (D-Dublin) was second.
Congressional District 13 (Democrats) – Wins in Medina County and
Lorain County (and, it appears, Cuyahoga County, too) and a strong second
in Summit County catapulted former State Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Chardon)
to victory in this eight-candidate free-for-all. Shopping mall heiress
Capri Cafaro (D-Sheffield) spent freely but only managed to come in
second. Former Cong. Tom Sawyer (D-Akron) won Summit County by nearly
3,000 votes, but got trounced elsewhere.
Congressional District 13 (Republicans) – Just like Sutton did
in the Democratic primary, Lorain Mayor Craig Foltin used wins in Medina
and Lorain Counties and a second in Summit County to score the win in
this five-way contest. Foltin got 37% of the vote. Marketing consultant
David McGrew (R-Akron) won Summit County to take second place.
Congressional District 14 (Democrats) – Case Western Reserve Law
School professor Lewis Katz (D-Pepper Pike) secured the Democratic nomination
and will face incumbent Cong. Steve LaTourette (R-Painesville). Katz
got 42% of the vote to 32% for perennial candidate Dale Blanchard (D-Solon)
and 27% for meteorologist Palmer Peterson (D-Aurora).
Congressional District 16 (Democrats) – The closest race of the
night. Pending the results of an automatic recount, Thomas Shaw (D-Wooster)
beat attorney Tom Mason (D-Ashland) by 558 votes – out of nearly
40,000 cast. Don’t expect the General Election contest against
incumbent Cong. Ralph Regula (R-Navarre) to be anywhere near this close.
Congressional District 16 (Republicans) – Cong. Ralph Regula (R-Navarre)
must have been overlooking his sole primary opponent, Ashland County
Commissioner Matt Miller (R-Ashland). Though he won the nomination,
it was closer than anyone would have guessed. The under-funded Miller
got 42% against the 81-year old Regula, whose used an 9,869 vote margin
in Stark County to offset Miller’s 3,473 vote margin in Ashland
County. Regula should have less difficulty in November.
Congressional District 18 (Democrats) – This three-way primary
provided two surprises. First was the victory margin for attorney Zach
Space (D-Dover), who won by more than 6,000 votes. The second was that
Chillicothe Mayor Joe Sulzer, a former state representative – who
was believed to be Space’s closest competitor – didn’t
even finish in second place. Second went to state board of education
member Jennifer Stewart (D-Zanesville); Sulzer was third. Space will
meet Cong. Bob Ney (R-Heath) in November.
Congressional District 18 (Republicans) – James Brodbelt Harris’
(R-Zanesville) press release campaign wasn’t enough to oust incumbent
Cong. Bob Ney (R-Heath). Ney carried every county en route to a 68%-32%
victory over Harris. GOP voters rallied around Ney and continued to
support him despite the Abramoff investigation. How will the rest of
the voters react this fall?
OHIO SENATE PRIMARY RESULTS
Senate District 1 (Republicans) – It wasn’t even close. Rep.
Jim Hoops (R-Napoleon) won only his home county, Henry County, and Putnam
County – by seven votes. Rep. Steve Buehrer (R-Delta) won everything
else, including the other two counties in Hoops’ House district.
Buehrer also racked up a 2,619-vote margin in Hancock County, considered
the swing county in the district. Buehrer will face Democrat Ben Nienberg
of Glandorf in the General Election, but is the odds-on favorite to
succeed term-limited Sen. Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon) in this heavily
Republican district.
Senate District 13 (Democrats) – Registered nurse and union activist
Sue Morano (D-Lorain), who lost a challenge to Sen. Jeff Armbruster
(R-North Ridgeville) by just 372 votes four years ago, will get another
shot to represent the 13th district. Morano crushed Sheffield Lake Councilwoman
Diana Huska, 71%-29%. She’ll face state school board member Martha
Wise (R-Avon Lake) in what should be one of the year’s most competitive
Senate races.
Senate District 19 (Democrats) – Thomas Burkhart (D-Danville),
a former union representative who three times previously ran unsuccessfully
for Congress, beat Jason Griffith (D-Howard), a teacher at Kenyon College
and Mt. Vernon Nazarene University and a Howard Township trustee, 64%-36%.
Burkhart will be a decided underdog against Senate President Bill Harris
(R-Ashland) in November.
Senate District 21 (Democrats) – Rep. Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland),
helped by endorsements from Cong. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, the Cuyahoga
County Democratic Party, and the AFL-CIO, beat fellow Rep. Annie Key
(D-Cleveland) and two others. Smith captured 47% of the vote, and is
a virtual lock to succeed term-limited Senate Minority Leader C.J. Prentiss
(D-Cleveland) in this overwhelmingly Democratic district.
Senate District 21 (Republicans) – It’s hard to believe a
candidate can win a contested Senate primary with less than 400 votes.
But that’s just what Richard Norris (R-Cleveland) did, defeating
real estate consultant Burrell Jackson (R-Cleveland), 377 votes to 186
votes (pending the reporting of additional returns in Cuyahoga County.)
Clearly, there aren’t many Republicans in this Senate district.
Senate District 23 (Democrats) – As anticipated, appointed incumbent
Sen. Dale Miller (D-Cleveland) had little trouble defeating activist
Jennifer Frigolette (D-Lakewood), his only challenger. He won 71%-29%.
Senate District 27 (Democrats) – Judy Hanna (D-Akron), an election
reform advocate and history professor at the University of Akron, beat
former Peace Corps volunteer Kevin Griffith (D-Cuyahoga Falls), 57%-43%.
The win by the liberal Hanna sets up a stark ideological contrast in
the General Election against Sen. Kevin Coughlin (R-Cuyahoga Falls),
a strong conservative. The district is competitive on paper, but Coughlin
is the favorite.
Senate District 31 (Democrats) – Running up big margins in the
district’s two biggest counties, Fairfield and Licking, vaulted
Dennis Lupher (D-Lancaster) to a 59%-41% win over Circleville Councilman
Bob Bensonhaver. The victory by Lupher, an economics professor at Ohio
University-Lancaster, sets up a rematch, as he ran in the 5th House
district (Fairfield County) against Rep. Tim Schaffer in 2004. Lupher
lost that race, 60%-40%, and this year’s contest won’t be
any easier.
Senate District 31 (Republicans) – Rep. Ron Hood (R-Ashville) won
Licking County, but turnout wasn’t as high there as expected, and
it was higher than expected in Fairfield County – home to Rep.
Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster). As a result, Schaffer prevailed 49%-43%.
The third candidate, Johnstown councilman Jeff Furr, was a distant third.
Schaffer also managed to capture Perry County, one of the counties in
Hood’s House district.
OHIO HOUSE PRIMARY RESULTS
House District 4 (Democrats) – Former radio talk show host Dennis
Shreefer (D-Lima) bested Bluffton University senior Simeon Talley (D-Bluffton).
As expected, Shreefer won comfortably, 62%-38%.
House District 5 (Republicans) – Trial attorney Jerry Stebelton
(R-Lancaster) scored a victory in this three-way primary over OCCPaC-endorsed
candidate Kyle Farmer (R-North Balitmore) and Doug Leith (R-Pleasantville).
Stebelton’s base in Lancaster, coupled with his financial advantage,
were enough to deliver him 42% of the vote. Farmer was second with 33%.
While Leith was expected to finish last – which he did – he
still managed 25% of the vote, an unexpectedly high level of support.
Stebelton will face Robert Kirk (D-Stoutsville) in the fall and is the
heavy favorite to replace Rep. Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster) in this strong
GOP district.
House District 6 (Democrats) – Jeff Bretz (D-North Baltimore) beat
James Neu (D-Perrysburg), 72%-28%, and will oppose Rep. Bob Latta (R-Bowling
Green) in November.
House District 8 (Democrats) – Elder law attorney Armond Budish’s
(D-Beachwood) fundraising advantage propelled him to a victory over
three opponents, high school teacher Thaddeus Jackson (D-Bedford Heights),
Marcia McCoy (D-Cleveland), and Isaac Powell (D-Shaker Heights). Budish
just missed winning an outright majority. He’s well-positioned
to replace outgoing Rep. Lance Mason (D-Cleveland) in this heavily Democratic
district.
House District 9 (Democrats) – Back for More, Part I. Former Rep.
Barbara Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights), who was forced out of office due
to term limits six years ago, trounced first-time candidate Julian Rogers
(D-Cleveland Heights). Rogers had a fundraising advantage and the backing
of numerous prominent Cleveland-area Democrats, but it wasn’t enough
to overcome Boyd’s name recognition in the district. She beat Rogers
69%-31%.
House District 10 (Democrats) – Garnering a plurality in a seven-member
field in the race to replace term-limited Rep. Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland)
was Nelson Cintron (D-Cleveland). Cintron took 30% of the vote. Marilyn
Bagley (D-Cleveland) was second with 22%. The 10th district is more
solid Democratic territory.
House District 11 (Democrats) – OCCPaC-endorsed candidate Sandra
Williams (D-Cleveland) scored the victory in this six-way contest. Williams,
a former legislative aide to outgoing Rep. Annie Key (D-Cleveland),
captured 33% of the vote. T.J. Dow (D-Cleveland), an assistant Cuyahoga
County prosecutor, was second with 25% and the Rev. Stephen Sullivan
(D-Cleveland) placed third with 22%.
House District 13 (Democrats) – Rep. Mike Skindell (D-Lakewood)
defeated homemaker Ben Perry (D-Lakewood) nearly 4-to-1. A third term
is a near-certainty for Skindell.
House District 14 (Democrats) – Bill Ritter (D-Cleveland), a public
school history teacher who was endorsed by the Ohio Federation of Teachers,
pulled a bit of an upset in knocking off both attorney Mike Foley (D-Cleveland)
and former Rep. Erin Sullivan Lally (D-Cleveland). Foley and Sullivan
Lally were considered the co-favorites. Ritter edged out Foley by just
83 votes. Sullivan Lally was a ways back in third. This seat has been
vacant since Dale Miller (D-Cleveland) was appointed to the Senate in
late February, and the House is now expected to appoint Ritter to fill
the vacancy next week.
House District 18 (Democrats) – Maybe it was the name, maybe it
was the candidate, or maybe it was both. In any event, John Celebrezze
(D-North Royalton) defeated former Congressman and State Rep. Ron Mottl
(D-North Royalton) 56%-44%. Celerezze will now face incumbent Rep. Tom
Patton (R-Strongsville) in the General Election in this swing district.
House District 20 (Democrats) – Beverly Campbell (D-Gahanna), a
retired trial attorney currently working as a financial advisor, easily
beat Ed Nyhan (D-Bexley) to win the Democratic nomination and the right
to oppose Rep. Jim McGregor (R-Gahanna) in November. Campbell won 69%-31%.
House District 21 (Democrats) – In one of the night’s closest
finishes, Dean Hernandez (D-Westerville) squeaked by public school teacher
Jean Herendeen-Ackerman (D-Powell) by 59 votes. Hernandez, the director
of investment operations for a Dublin financial firm, will meet Blendon
Township Trustee Kevin Bacon (R-Columbus), an executive with Farmers
Insurance. This matchup should be a very competitive contest.
House District 22 (Democrats) – As a result of the victory by attorney
John Carney (D-Columbus) over three others in the Democratic primary,
Rep. Jim Hughes (R-Columbus) may face his most difficult re-election
campaign yet. Carney secured the Democratic nomination with 44% of the
vote. Jan Fleming (D-Columbus) was second with 25%.
House District 24 (Democrats) – Real estate broker Ted Celeste
(D-Columbus) easily garnered the Democratic nomination, taking 66% of
the vote in a four-way primary. He’ll provide a very stiff challenge
for incumbent Rep. Geoff Smith (R-Upper Arlington).
House District 26 (Democrats) – It’s one-and-done for freshman
Rep. Mike Mitchell (D-Columbus). Two years after knocking off then-Rep.
Larry Price (D-Columbus) in the primary, Mitchell got a dose of his
own medicine. Tracy Heard (D-Columbus), who runs her own public relations/political
strategy firm and is the daughter-in-law of former Columbus School Board
member Loretta Heard, got 51% of the vote – to just 29% for Mitchell.
Clarence Glover (D-Columbus) finished third with the remaining 19%.
House District 32 (Democrats) – What was supposed to be an easy
victory for Dale Mallory (D-Cincinnati) wasn’t easy – though
he won, nonetheless. The brother of Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory got
past former Hamilton County Recorder Eve Bolton (D-Cincinnati) by 160
votes. The district is solid Democratic turf, so expect Mallory to succeed
term-limited Rep. Catherine Barrett (D-Cincinnati).
House District 41 (Republicans) – Former Ohio State and NFL linebacker
Tom Cousineau (R-Akron) sacked Twinsburg Councilman Steve Murphy (R-Twinsburg),
68%-32%. Cousineau’s win sets up an interesting and likely very
competitive General Election campaign in this swing district against
freshman Rep. Brian Williams (D-Akron).
House District 42 (Democrats) – Paul Colavecchio (D-Cuyahoga Falls)
nearly doubled-up first-time candidate Adam Van Ho (D-Hudson). Colavecchio
prevailed, 62%-38% and will face Rep. John Widowfield (R-Cuyahoga Falls)
in the General Election. He’ll be looking, perhaps, to avenge his
wife, who lost to Widowfield in 2004.
House District 43 (Democrats) – Former Akron Beacon Journal reporter
Steve Dyer (D-Tallmadge) rolled to an easy victory over Iraq war veteran
Chris Stoll (D-Akron), 72%-28%. Dyer will face Christine Croce (R-Green)
as Democrats look to take back a seat Republicans have held since 1994.
Rep. Mary Taylor (R-Green) is not seeking re-election.
House District 44 (Democrats) – Back for More, Part II. Former
Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) beat Patrick Bravo (D-Akron), 78%-22%, and
should succeed his wife, incumbent Rep. Barbara Sykes (D-Akron), who
succeeded him when he was forced out by term limits in 2000.
House District 57 (Democrats) –Matt Lundy (D-Elyria), assistant
safety service director for the city of Elyria, defeated small business
owner Alan Caruso (D-North Ridgeville), 69%-31%. Lundy will face Rep.
Earl Martin (R-Avon Lake) in November in a race that should be very
interesting.
House District 58 (Republicans) – Dan White (R-Norwalk), a retired
business owner, easily handled Amherst Councilman Nick Brusky (R-Amherst),
72%-28%. White will face another Amherst councilman, Democrat Matt Barrett,
in November in an open seat race to replace Rep. Kathy Reed (R-Norwalk).
House District 60 (Democrats) – Sen. Bob Hagan (D-Youngstown) defeated
five other candidates and, with no Republican on the General Election
ballot, will succeed term-limited Rep. Sylvester Patton (D-Youngstown).
Hagan received 38% of the vote. Struthers Councilman Dan Yemma was second
with 24%, followed by Youngstown Councilman Rufus Hudson with 20%.
House District 61 (Republicans) – The closest race of the night
saw former Stark County Auditor Brant Luther (R-Alliance) come from
behind to capture the GOP nomination by just 10 votes over Randy Pope
(R-Alliance). Luther’s 521 vote margin in Stark County was the
difference, as Pope carried Carroll, Mahoning, and Tuscarawas Counties.
Luther, who was endorsed by OCCPaC, trailed until the very last precinct
was reported in Stark County. The fall campaign pitting Luther against
plaintiffs’ attorney Mark Okey (D-Carrollton) should be one of
the year’s most competitive.
House District 62 (Republicans) – Greg Schmidt (R-Willoughby),
who failed to capture the GOP nomination two years ago, succeeded this
time. The HR consultant beat Jason Andrzejewski (R-Eastlake), the son
of the mayor of Eastlake, 65%-35%. Freshman Rep. Lorraine Fende (D-Willowick)
should be considered the favorite against Schmidt.
House District 67 (Republicans) – Yet another tight campaign. Shannon
Jones (R-Springboro) emerged victorious in this three-way contest, garnering
44%. Attorney Keith Nixon (R-Lebanon), grandson of the late former House
Minority Leader Corwin Nixon, was a close second with 43%, just 203
votes back. John Meyer (R-Mason), a small business owner, finished way
back. In one of the most Republican House districts in the state, Jones
is now the prohibitive favorite to succeed outgoing Rep. Tom Raga (R-Mason).
House District 72 (Democrats) – Dale Henry (D-Springfield), a former
Springfield mayor and city commission member, beat Kevin O’Neill,
a Springfield commissioner, and Richard Spangler (D-Springfield) to
win the nomination. He fell just 22 votes short of an outright majority.
Henry, who has twice run unsuccessfully for the Ohio General Assembly,
will now have perhaps his best shot at winning. He faces appointed Rep.
Ross McGregor (R-Springfield) in this swing district in November.
House District 73 (Democrats) – Jay Goyal (D-Mansfield), the vice
president of a family-owned manufacturer, will carry the Democratic
banner in November in this swing district currently held by term-limited
Rep. Bill Hartnett (D-Mansfield). Goyal breezed to a 61%-39% victory
over Ellen Haring (D-Mansfield). He will square off against Phil Holloway
(R-Mansfield) in the General Election.
House District 74 (Republicans) – Without winning any of the three
counties in the district, educator Bruce Goodwin (R-Defiance) was still
able to win this tight, four-way race. He finished a strong second in
two counties and just 212 votes out of second in the other. Former newspaper
editor Marcus Bowling (R-Wauseon) scored a solid win in Fulton County
but got crushed in Defiance County, while business owner David Swanson
(R-Bryan) won Williams County but finished last in Fulton. Jim Volkert
(R-Hicksville), won Defiance, but by just 103 votes over Goodwin. In
the end, Goodwin finished with 29% of the vote, Volkert 26%, Bowling
24%, and Swanson 21%.
House District 75 (Republicans) – Paulding County Commissioner
Tony Burkley (R-Paulding) beat Sen. Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon) in Paulding
County, but still lost 64%-36% overall. After two terms in the Senate,
Wachtmann will return to the House to replace term-limited Rep. Jim
Hoops (R-Napoleon) if he can get by Democrat Angie Byrne of Van Wert
in November in this solid Republican district.
House District 76 (Republicans) – Former Findlay High School football
coach Cliff Hite (R-Findlay) lost Auglaize County to Jeremy Swartz (R-Findlay),
won Hardin County by less than 100 votes, but, because he nearly tripled
Swartz’s vote total in Hancock County, prevailed 66%-34%. The GOP
nominee is a safe bet in the General Election in this heavily Republican
district where Rep. Mike Gilb (R-Findlay) is not seeking re-election.
House District 78 (Democrats) – With the primary victory by Adam
Ward (D-Urbana) over two opponents, Democrats got the matchup they want
in the fall. Ward, an employee of Citizens National Bank and a former
legislative aide the Rep. Derrick Seaver (R-Minster), finished first
in all three counties in the district and received 54% overall. Jason
Dorsey (D-Sidney) finished second and restaurant manager Thomas Matthew
(D-Wapakoneta) third.
House District 78 (Republicans) – Retail furniture store owner
and former Navy SEAL John Adams (R-Sidney) earned another chance to
win a seat in the Ohio House by posting a 50%-38% victory over Champaign
County Commissioner Steve Hess (R-St. Paris). Adams was just too strong
in both Auglaize and Shelby Counties. He lost the 2002 General Election
to Rep. Derrick Seaver (R-Minster) and will now face Seaver’s former
aide.
House District 79 (Republicans) – Rep. Diana Fessler (R-New Carlisle)
coasted to victory over her lone challenger, Joe Hartzell (R-Piqua),
68%-32%. She will face a rematch with her 2004 opponent Dave Fisher
(D-Tipp City) in November. She won that race easily, 66%-34%.
House District 83 (Republicans) – Rep. Tony Core (R-Rushylvania)
defeated his primary challenger, Michael King (R-Caledonia), 74%-26%.
King is a student at the University of Cincinnati. Democrat Shawn Allen
of Belle Center awaits Core in November in this heavily GOP district.
House District 88 (Republicans) – Inexplicably, insurance agent
Paul Hall (R-Williamsburg) failed to carry Brown County, where he is
a former county Republican Party chairman, in his primary challenge
to freshman Rep. Danny Bubp (R-West Union). Bubp also beat Hall in Adams
and Clermont Counties and won 58%-42% overall. Hall somehow managed
to do better in Clermont County – where he took 47% of the vote
– than he did in Brown County. Bubp is unopposed in the General
Election.
House District 91 (Republicans) – By winning 73% in his home county,
Pickaway County, Chuck Wellman (R-Circleville) nearly won this three-way
primary. Nearly, but not quite. Attorney Bill Hayes (R-Pataskala) won
the three other counties, and Wellman couldn’t overcome a third
place finish and a 1,148 vote deficit to Hayes in Licking County. Overall,
Hayes got 37% to 35% for Wellman. Gary Burkholder (R-Pataskala) was
third with the remaining 27%. Hayes will be a slight favorite over another
attorney, Dan Dodd (D-Millersport) in the General Election.
House District 92 (Democrats) – 60% of the votes in this primary
were cast in Athens County, and Athens City Councilwoman Debbie Phillips
(D-Athens) got 82% of them. That was by far enough to defeat Mike Struble
(D-Syracuse) of Meigs County. She got 72% of the vote overall. Though
the district leans Democrat, incumbent Rep. Jimmy Stewart (R-Albany)
should still be considered the favorite over Phillips.
House District 99 (Republicans) – Bill Pikor (R-Thompson) bested
Donald Rogers (R-Kinsman), 59%-41%, to earn the right to a rematch versus
Rep. George Distel (D-Conneaut) in November. Pikor, a self-employed
manufacturer’s representative, lost to Distel 67%-33% in ’04
and his chances this year probably aren’t any better.
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