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SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION RECAP **
CUPP,
O’DONNELL VICTORIES PROVIDE SILVER LINING
On a night when State Issue 2 passed, five of the six Chamber Choice
candidates and eight other Ohio Chamber PAC-endorsed candidates lost,
victories by Chamber-backed candidates Judge Robert Cupp and Justice
Terrence O’Donnell in races for the Ohio Supreme Court provided
some consolation for the business community.
O’Donnell won a full-term by scoring a solid 59%-41% win over challenger
Judge William O’Neill, nearly equaling his margin of victory from
when the two squared off in 2004 – even though the political landscape
was much different this year. By capturing a full, six-year term, O’Donnell
– who had run races for the Supreme Court in 2000, 2004, and again
this year – will finally get a breather from campaigning.
The victory by Judge Cupp over Ben Espy for the spot on the bench left
open due to Justice Alice Resnick’s retirement completes a significant
restructuring of the Court’s makeup. It was just four years ago
that the seven-member Ohio Supreme Court featured an activist majority
that often acted as a super-legislature and rendered numerous decisions
that adversely impacted Ohio’s economic climate. Now, the only
remaining member of the “Gang of Four” is Justice Paul Pfeifer.
Cupp scored a narrower victory than O’Donnell, but still managed
a to defeat Espy, 54%-46%. While Cupp won in more than 70 of Ohio’s
88 counties, his overall success can be attributed in large measure
to voters in both Cuyahoga and Lucas Counties. He posted a solid win
in Democrat leaning Lucas County and kept Espy’s victory margin
in Cuyahoga County to about 54,000 votes – no easy task. Clearly,
Cupp did measure up.
The victories by Cupp and O’Donnell will solidify the new Court
majority for the foreseeable future, and may mean that in 2008, the
business community can make other offices the focus of its political
efforts for the first time this decade.
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE – AND A WHOLE LOT MORE
– IN STORE FOLLOWING PASSAGE OF STATE ISSUE 2
Early polling in Ohio and the experience of other states made one thing
clear: if voters believed State Issue 2 was just a minimum wage increase,
it was going to pass comfortably. But if they understood how it also
jeopardizes the privacy of their personal and payroll information, it
could be defeated.
In the end, the efforts of the Ohio Chamber and the group Ohioans to
Protect Personal Privacy (OTPPP) to educate voters about Issue 2’s
personal privacy implications and its costs were effective. Unfortunately,
they either weren’t effective enough or didn’t come soon enough.
Though the margin was closer than expected, Issue 2 still passed in
all but 24 counties and won overall, 56%-44%.
The next stop for Issue 2 is in the Ohio General Assembly, which must
now pass implementing language. Ultimately, much of the language and
meaning of the constitutional amendment will have to be sorted out by
Ohio’s courts.
OHIO SENATE RESULTS BUCK TREND
Perhaps the sole place where the election results didn’t appreciably
alter the political dynamic is in the Ohio Senate. The current 22-11
Republican majority in the Senate was reduced by one seat after the
victory by Sue Morano (D-Lorain) over Chamber Choice candidate Martha
Wise (R-Avon) in the open 13th Senate district. Morano will replace
Sen. Jeff Armbruster (R-North Ridgeville), who is term-limited.
As expected, the night’s closest contest was in the 27th district,
where Sen. Kevin Coughlin (R-Cuyahoga Falls) had to wage an expensive
campaign in order to defend his seat. He defeated challenger Judy Hanna
(D-Akron), 53%-47%.
The following is a brief summary of the results of the year’s 17
Senate contests:
District 1: Given how intense the primary was the pitted Rep. Steve
Buehrer (R-Delta) against Rep. Jim Hoops (R-Napoleon), the General Election
was anti-climatic. Buehrer won all ten of the counties in the district
en route to a solid 60%-40% victory over Ben Nienberg (D-Glandorf).
Buehrer will follow term-limited Sen. Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon).
District 3: Sen. David Goodman (R-Bexley) won a second term over challenger
Emily Kreider (D-Westerville) by a 55%-45% margin following an expensive
and combative campaign.
District 5: Like they did four years ago, Senate Republicans talked
up their chances of ousting Sen. Tom Roberts (D-Dayton). They came close
in 2002, but not this year. Roberts cruised to a second term by defeating
Trotwood Mayor Don McLaurin (R-Trotwood), 61%-39%. Winning by more than
25,000 votes in Montgomery County easily negated McLaurin’s wins
in Darke and Miami Counties.
District 7: Sen. Bob Schuler (R-Cincinnati) easily captured a second
term, winning 62%-38% over challenger Rick Smith (D-Cincinnati).
District 9: Appointed Sen. Eric Kearney (D-Cincinnati) had no problems
with challenger Thomas Brown (R-Cincinnati), a last minute fill-in on
the ballot. Kearney prevailed, 71%-29%.
District 11: Sen. Teresa Fedor’s (D-Toledo) opponent dropped out
weeks ago and wasn’t replaced, so Fedor won a second term without
a fight.
District 13: Four years ago, nurse and union activist Sue Morano (D-Lorain)
fell just 372 votes short of ending Sen. Jeff Armbruster’s (R-North
Ridgeville) legislative career after just one term. This year, Morano
was well-positioned from the beginning to win the seat. State school
board member Martha Wise (R-Avon Lake), a Chamber Choice candidate,
was never able to gain traction against Morano. Morano’s 63%-37%
win made this Senate seat the only one to change from one party to the
other in 2006.
District 15: Sen. Ray Miller (D-Columbus) didn’t even raise or
spend enough money on his campaign to require him to file a campaign
finance report, so it comes as no surprise that he coasted to an easy
78%-22% victory over John Roscoe (R-Columbus).
District 17: Sen. John Carey’s (R-Wellston) defeat of then-incumbent
Sen. Mike Shoemaker (D-Bourneville) was the highlight of election night
four years ago. This year, a Carey win was a foregone conclusion. He
dispatched challenger April Howland (D-Chillicothe), 59%-41%.
District 19: Senate President Bill Harris (R-Ashland) posted a 59%-41%
victory over challenger Thomas Burkhart (D-Danville).
District 21: Rep. Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland) was accustomed to easy
General Elections while in the House. She faced a similarly easy General
Election this year in her first run for the Senate. She won the right
to replace term-limited Senate Minority Leader C.J. Prentiss (D-Cleveland)
by garnering 85% of the vote in a romp over Richard Norris (R-Cleveland).
District 23: Appointed Sen. Dale Miller (D-Cleveland) bested two challengers,
Howard Shrimpton (R-Parma) and funeral home executive Jim Craciun (I-Cleveland),
to win a full term. Miller collected 68%of the votes.
District 25: Moving to the Senate from the House will be Rep. Lance
Mason (D-Cleveland). Mason beat former Euclid Mayor David Lynch (R-Cleveland),
77%-23%, and will succeed term-limited Sen. Eric Fingerhut (D-Cleveland).
District 27: Four years ago, Sen. Kevin Coughlin (R-Cuyahoga Falls)
was involved in one of the cycle’s most competitive contests –
a contest he wound up winning with 53% of the vote. This year, he was
involved in the most competitive contest which, after an expensive and
contentious campaign, he managed to win. Coughlin secured a second term
in the Senate by turning away the challenge from Judy Hanna (D-Akron),
52%-48%.
District 29: Sen. Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) represents a district that
favored Sen. John Kerry for president in 2004, so a close contest was
expected. The well-known and well-funded Schuring was able to prevail
in his bid to win re-election to a second Senate term by beating Canton
Councilman Tom West (D-Canton). Schuring won 55%-45%.
District 31: Likely wanting to leave nothing to chance, TV ads benefitting
Rep. Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster) were running on Columbus stations in
the last two weeks prior to the election. The ads helped Schaffer secure
a 58%-42% win over professor Dennis Lupher (D-Lancaster) and, consequently,
a seat in the Senate to replace term-limited Sen. Jay Hottinger (R-Newark).
Schaffer piled up large margins in both Fairfield and Licking Counties,
enabling him to make up for Lupher victories in both Hocking and Perry
Counties.
District 33: Rep. John Boccieri’s (D-New Middletown) GOP opponent
dropped out, leaving him with a free ride to the Senate, where he’ll
replace term-limited Sen. Bob Hagan (D-Youngstown).
CLOSE,
BUT NO CIGAR, FOR HOUSE DEMOCRATS
A year ago, or even three months ago, virtually no one considered the
possibility that Democrats could capture majority control of the Ohio
House from Republicans to be realistic. Despite the clearly unfavorable
political environment Republicans faced, the party enjoyed a large 60-39
majority, a superlative fundraising machine, and district lines drawn
to maximize their opportunities. As a result, it was thought the GOP
could ride out the storm of 2006 with its House majority trimmed but
still comfortably intact.
But the situation in Ohio mirrored to some degree the situation that
emerged at the congressional level: districts originally expected to
be swing seats trended towards the Democrats and the playing field kept
expanding to encompass more and more areas that featured either GOP
incumbents previously thought to be secure, voting patterns that historically
favored the GOP, or both. By early to mid-October, the prospect of Democrats
winning an outright majority in the House for the first time since 1992
was no longer just a remote one.
Ultimately, Democrats came up short of securing the majority, picking
up seven seats and leaving the House partisan balance at 53 Republicans
and 46 Democrats. This represents the closest the chamber has been to
partisan parity since 1993-94, when the Democrats had a similar 53-46
majority.
To get from 39 seats to 46, the Democrats held onto all but one of the
seats they currently hold, picked up four open seats formerly occupied
by Republicans, and knocked off four GOP incumbents. The four Republican
incumbents who lost were Reps. Randy Law (R-Warren), Earl Martin (R-Avon),
Geoff Smith (R-Upper Arlington), and Dan White (R-Norwalk). The only
Democrat incumbent to lose was Rep. Tim Cassell (D-Madison).
Unlike two years ago, which saw Reps. Cassell, Jennifer Garrison (D-Marietta)
and Randy Law (R-Warren) all post upset victories, or the shocking upset
by Rep. Derrick Seaver (R-Minster) in 2000, there really weren’t
any major surprises this year, perhaps because of the high number of
seats considered in play.
Several of the House’s strongest pro-business advocates won’t
be returning. Many either faced term limits or opted not to seek re-election,
while others, such as Chamber Choice candidates Martin and Smith, lost
their re-election bids.
Though it wasn’t a good night for Chamber Choice candidates, one
delivered one of the night’s biggest victories. In the 72nd House
district, appointed Rep. Ross McGregor (R-Springfield) rebuffed a strong
challenge by labor-backed candidate Dale Henry (D-Springfield) to win
a full term.
The other two Chamber Choice candidates running for the House, open
seat candidates Jim Hoppel (R-East Liverpool) and Brant Luther (R-Alliance),
both lost.
The following is a brief summary of the results in each of the 99 House
districts:
District 1: In 2000, Rep. Chuck Blasdel (R-East Liverpool) became the
first Republican to hold this seat in nearly 30 years. Now, Columbiana
County Treasurer Linda Bolon (D-East Palestine) has put it back in the
Democratic column. History and the closeness of Blasdel’s race
two years ago, when he won re-election to a third term by just 482 votes,
underscored the Democrat tilt to this district which, when coupled with
a bad environment, proved too much for Chamber Choice candidate and
Columbiana County Commissioner Jim Hoppel (R-East Liverpool) to overcome.
Bolon beat Hoppel 56%-44%.
District 2: Rep. Jon Peterson (R-Delaware) turned back a challenge from
former public school teacher Bruce Burnworth (D-Ostrander), 63%-37%,
to win a fourth and final term.
District 3: Rep. Jim Carmichael (R-Wooster) won a fourth term without
opposition.
District 4: In a reliably Republican district that supported Pres. George
W. Bush two-to-one in 2004, the race between attorney and Lima Councilman
Matt Huffman (R-Lima) and former radio talk show host Dennis Shreefer
(D-Lima) proved to be much tighter than originally anticipated. However,
Republican Huffman still prevailed over Shreefer, 58%-42%. Huffman succeeds
term-limited Rep. John Willamowski (R-Lima).
District 5: Trial attorney Jerry Stebelton (R-Lancaster) cruised to
a 58%-42% win over small business owner Kelly Kirk (D-Stout). Stebelton
will replace Rep. Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster).
District 6: Though he secured a fourth term in the House, Rep. Bob Latta
(R-Bowling Green) was held to his lowest winning percentage yet. He
defeated former North Baltimore Councilman Jeff Bretz (D-North Baltimore)
57%-43%; Latta’s lowest previous winning percentage was 63%.
District 7: In a rematch of a race he won 74%-26% two years ago, Rep.
Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights) again defeated school administrator
Beverly Valencic (R-Euclid). This time, Yuko garnered 80% of the vote.
District 8: Elder law attorney Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) had his test
in the May Democratic primary. He was unopposed in the General Election
and will succeed Rep. Lance Mason (D-Shaker Heights).
District 9: Returning to the Ohio House after a six-year absence is
Barbara Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights). She beat insurance agent and former
Cleveland Heights Councilman Jimmie Hicks, Jr. (R-Cleveland Heights),
84%-16%.
District 10: After defeating six opponents to capture the Democratic
nomination in this open seat contest, Eugene Miller (D-Cleveland) only
had to beat two to win the General Election. He handled subcontractor
Rosalind McAllister (R-Cleveland) and Michael Troy Watson (I-Cleveland)
easily and will replace term-limited Rep. Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland).
District 11: Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland) is another candidate who
faced her real challenge in the primary. Williams, a former legislative
aide to outgoing Rep. Annie Key (D-Cleveland), won a six-way primary
but faced no opposition in the General Election and will succeed Key.
District 12: In each of the past two election cycles, Rep. Michael DeBose
(D-Cleveland) received the highest percentage of the vote – 86%
each time – of any House candidate not running unopposed. DeBose
successfully defended his crown this year. In a rematch against Anthony
Cefaratti (R-Maple Heights), DeBose managed to get 89% of the vote!
District 13: Rep. Mike Skindell (D-Lakewood) easily secured a third
term, winning 77%-23% over John Patrick Hildebrand (R-Lakewood).
District 14: In the May primary, appointed Rep. Mike Foley (D-Cleveland)
trailed on election night and was put over the top only after all absentee
ballots were counted over the next two weeks. There was no such suspense
tonight. Foley beat William McGivern (R-Cleveland), 77%-23%, to earn
a full term.
District 15: Rep. Timothy DeGeeter (D-Parma) won a second term with
a solid 75%-25% victory over computer systems analyst David Fago (R-Parma).
District 16: The first Democrat to be on the ballot in this district
was disqualified pre-primary. The second ran as a write-in in May, but
withdrew after winning the primary. The ballot status of the third,
Jennifer Brady (D-Westlake), was still uncertain as late as last week
pending additional legal challenges. In the end, it didn’t matter.
Voters chose Brady over realtor Ed Herman (R-Rocky River) to be their
next representative anyway. Brady captured 51% of the vote to Herman’s
49% and she will now succeed term-limited Rep. Sally Kilbane (R-Rocky
River). To this observer, Brady’s win was the night’s biggest
surprise.
District 17: Prolific fundraising (he’s raised nearly half a million
dollars) and an unprecedented door-to-door effort that reportedly had
him personally knocking on over 17,000 doors helped Lyndhurst Councilman
Josh Mandel (R-Lyndhurst) keep this swing seat in GOP hands. Somewhat
surprisingly, the race wasn’t even close. Mandel beat Solon Councilman
Roger Goudy (D-Solon), 67%-33%, and will replace term-limited Rep. Jim
Trakas (R-Independence).
District 18: In a night without many surprises, the relative ease with
which Rep. Tom Patton (R-Strongsville) captured a third term qualifies
as one of the biggest. Patton beat retired educator John Celebrezze
(D-North Royalton), whose uncle was a five-term mayor of Cleveland,
59%-41% in this swing district.
District 19: Rep. Larry Flowers (R-Canal Winchester) earned a fourth
term with 56%-44% victory over Marian Harris (D-Columbus). Flowers’
winning percentage was down from years, reflecting the inhospitable
climate many Republicans faced, particularly in Franklin County.
District 20: The 20th district was one of the districts not originally
expected to feature a truly competitive race. But a competitive race
emerged, as was evidenced when both parties began airing TV ads in the
Columbus market. In the end, two-term incumbent Rep. Jim McGregor (R-Gahanna),
a former mayor of Gahanna, fended off challenger Beverly Campbell (D-Gahanna)
by a slim 51%-49% margin.
District 21: Buoyed by a heavy TV campaign financed by the Ohio House
Republican Campaign Committee, Kevin Bacon (R-Columbus), government
affairs representative for Farmers Insurance, captured a seat in the
House by beating Dean Hernandez (D-Westerville). Bacon, a member of
the Ohio Chamber’s Public Affairs Committee, will succeed retiring
Rep. Linda Reidelbach’s (R-Columbus) in the House after his 52%-48%
victory over Hernandez.
District 22: Rep. Jim Hughes (R-Columbus) also had to take to the TV
airwaves to guard against an upset in his bid for a fourth term. Hughes
faced an aggressive challenge from attorney John Carney (D-Columbus)
and hung on for a 53%-47% re-election win.
District 23: One of the few Franklin County Republicans not facing a
tough race in 2006 was Rep. Larry Wolpert (R-Hilliard). Wolpert dispatched
Michael Murphy (D-Galloway), 57%-43% to secure a fourth and final term.
District 24: The warning signs were evident two years ago, when Rep.
Geoff Smith (R-Upper Arlington) was held to just 56% of the vote against
token opposition from an independent candidate in a district that preferred
Sen. John Kerry over Pres. Bush. This year, the underlying political
climate and opposition from a strong candidate with excellent name recognition
proved too much for Smith to overcome. Ted Celeste (D-Grandview Heights),
brother of former Ohio Gov. Dick Celeste, defeated the incumbent, 54%-46%.
District 25: After two elections in which he was a top GOP target, Rep.
Dan Stewart (D-Columbus) coasted to a third term, 68%-32% over challenger
Mike Wiles (R-Columbus), a truck driver and president of the Council
of South Side Organizations.
District 26: Tracy Heard (D-Columbus), a bank loan and compliance auditor,
knocked off incumbent Rep. Mike Mitchell (D-Columbus) in the May primary,
and she captured a seat in the House tonight with a huge 82%-18% win
over small business owner Mike Elicson (R-Columbus).
District 27: Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus) faced only token opposition
from John Jufko (R-Columbus), winning with 87% of the vote.
District 28: Rep. Jim Raussen (R-Cincinnati) won a second term two years
ago in a race that was much closer than anticipated. This year, in a
race that was somewhat below the radar in terms of the attention it
received, Raussen faced another close call. He escaped with a narrow
52%-48% win over challenger Connie Pillich (D-Cincinnati), an attorney.
District 29: Rep. Lou Blessing (R-Cincinnati) was one of the few Republicans
to see his vote percentage increase this year over 2004. After winning
his House seat with 56% of the vote two years ago, Blessing earned a
second term by beating Brent Gray (D-Cincinnati), 60%-40%. Gray operates
a real estate investment and development firm.
District 30: Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) was unopposed in his bid
for a fourth and final term.
District 31: Scott Gehring (R-Westwood) was a late entrant into the
31st district race, being chosen to run after the GOP primary candidate
withdrew. The late start made an uphill battle against three-term incumbent
Rep. Steve Driehaus (D-Price Hill) even more difficult, and Driehaus
prevailed with a comfortable 67%-33% win over Gehring.
District 32: Dale Mallory (D-Cincinnati), whose campaign was described
by The Cincinnati Enquirer as being “virtually silent and invisible,”
still managed to post an easy victory over community activist Kimberly
Hale (R-Cincinnati). The brother of Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory defeated
Hale, 66%-34%, and will replace term-limited Rep. Catherine Barrett
(D-Cincinnati).
District 33: Rep. Tyrone Yates (D-Cincinnati) cruised to a third term
with 74% of the vote. His opponent was Rob Thornton (R-Cincinnati).
District 34: Though his margin of victory was closer than in any of
his previous three campaigns, Rep. Tom Brinkman (R-Cincinnati) still
captured a fourth term. This time, he beat back the challenge of airline
pilot Steve Silver (D-Cincinnati), 54%-46%.
District 35: In a district that Pres. Bush carried two years ago with
70% of the vote, it’s no surprise that Rep. Michelle Schneider
(R-Madeira) cruised to a 65%-35% win and a fourth term. She defeated
Karen Adams (D-Kings Mills).
District 36: In this rematch featuring Rep. Arlene Setzer (R-Vandalia)
and former Clayton Councilwoman Bev Smith (D-Clayton), the outcome was
the same as it was in 2004: a Setzer win. She defeated Smith 60%-40%
and will return to Columbus for a fourth term.
District 37: While focusing on trying to maintain his party’s House
majority, Speaker of the House Jon Husted (R-Kettering) had the luxury
of not having a General Election opponent.
District 38: Rep. John White (R-Kettering) defeated Carolyn Rice (D-Kettering),
director of executive education at Wright State University’s Raj
Soin College of Business, to earn a fourth term. Rep. White won with
56% of the vote.
District 39: After garnering 73% of the vote against two opponents,
Dayton Board of Education member Clayton Luckie (D-Dayton) earned the
right to replace Rep. Dixie Allen (D-Dayton). He beat both community
activist George Coles (R-Dayton) and Green Party member Logan Martinez
(I-Dayton).
District 40: Former Wright State University professor Martin Arbagi
(R-Dayton) proved no match for Rep. Fred Strahorn (D-Dayton) in this
solidly Democratic district. Strahorn won a fourth term, winning 74%-26%.
District 41: After defeating appointed Rep. Marilyn Slaby (R-Akron)
two years ago by less than 300 votes, freshman Rep. Brian Williams (D-Akron)
was a top GOP target this year. He also drew a well-known opponent,
former Ohio State and NFL star Tom Cousineau (R-Akron). Williams, however,
was up to the challenge, and turned away Cousineau 58%-42%.
District 42: Rep. John Widowfield (R-Cuyahoga Falls) managed to hold
off labor attorney Paul Colavecchio (D-Cuyahoga Falls), 51%-49%, to
earn a third term in the House.
District 43: Ever since former Rep. Twyla Roman (R-Akron) defeated then-incumbent
Rep. Tom Seese (D-Akron) in 1994, Democrats have eyed this seat. With
the departure this year of Rep. Mary Taylor (R-Green), the Democrats
were finally able to take it back. Attorney and former Akron Beacon
Journal reporter Steve Dyer (D-Akron) defeated fellow attorney and Green
Councilwoman Christine Croce (R-Green), 60%-40%. Dyer captured 60% of
the vote in Summit County and 59% in Portage County. The race never
really emerged as the competitive contest initially expected.
District 44: Former Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), who has been an assistant
professor of political science at Kent State University since he last
served in the House in 2000, will be back. He will succeed his wife,
Rep. Barbara Sykes (D-Akron), after beating Joe Crawford (R-Akron) 81%-19%.
District 45: Rep. Bob Otterman (D-Akron) had little difficulty securing
a fourth term. He beat Joshua Jones (R-Akron), 77%-23%.
District 46: A solid victory in an open seat race two years ago by Rep.
Mark Wagoner (R-Ottawa Hills) helped keep this district off the target
list for 2006. Though he faced a spirited campaign from Mark Dansack
(D-Maumee), a legal aide at a workers’ compensation plaintiff’s
law firm, Wagoner comfortably won a second term. He defeated Dansack
61%-39%.
District 47: Rep. Peter Ujvagi (D-Toledo) coasted to a third term over
challenger Ernest Berry (R-Toledo), 74%-26%.
District 48: Two years ago, Rep. Edna Brown (D-Toledo) was unopposed.
Even with an opponent this time, Carolyn Eyre (R-Toledo), her winning
percentage only dropped to 81%.
District 49: In this battle between two strong candidates seeking the
right to replace term-limited Rep. Jeanine Perry (D-Toledo), attorney
and Oregon Councilman Matt Szollosi (D-Oregon) emerged victorious. He
defeated small business owner and Oregon Board of Education President
Steve Hornyak (R-Oregon), 70%-30%.
District 50: Following the indictment last week of John Johnson (D-Massillon)
on charges of sexual battery and sexual imposition, the outcome of his
challenge to Rep. John Hagan (R-Alliance) was a foregone conclusion.
Johnson ended up losing to Hagan, 58%-42%.
District 51: Rep. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton) defeated public schoolteacher
Kody Gonzalez (D-North Canton), 63%-37%.
District 52: Easily earning a second term was Rep. Bill Healy (D-Canton).
He beat Eric Waldrop (R-Canton), 76%-24%.
District 53: Rep. Shawn Webster (R-Hamilton) cruised to an easy victory
over attorney Glenda Smith (D-Hamilton), 58%-42%. Webster will be serving
his fourth and final term.
District 54: Rep. Courtney Combs (R-Hamilton), who ran unopposed for
his first full term two years ago, scored an easy re-election victory
tonight. He defeated challenger Ken Keith (D-Hamilton), 58%-42%.
District 55: Freshman Rep. Bill Coley (R-Middletown) had the good fortune
of not having a General Election opponent this year.
District 56: Rep. Joe Koziura’s (D-Lorain) third term was secured
over the summer when his opponent dropped out and was not replaced on
the ballot.
District 57: Rep. Earl Martin (R-Avon Lake) got his start in public
office when he was appointed to replace Matt Lundy (D-Elyria) on Avon
Lake council in 1996 after Lundy resigned. A decade later, it’s
Lundy that’s replacing Martin in the Ohio House – though not
by Martin’s choice. Lundy rather easily defeated the incumbent,
56%-44%, to deny Martin a second full term. Martin, a small business
owner and Chamber Choice candidate, was hampered by the attention given
a dispute between him and some of his neighbors over access to a lakefront
beach. But, in the end, he was a victim of the political climate more
than anything else.
District 58: Rep. Dan White (R-Norwalk), who was appointed to replace
former Rep. Kathy Reed (R-Norwalk) on the last day of session in June,
won by 575 votes in Huron County, where he lives, and by 525 votes in
Seneca County. But these 1,100 votes weren’t enough of a margin
to overcome the 2,001 vote margin personal injury lawyer and Amherst
Councilman Matt Barrett (D-Amherst) piled up in Lorain County. As a
result, Barrett made White’s legislative career a brief one.
District 59: Kasey Shidel (R-Canfield) was a late replacement for the
GOP, and provided just token opposition for Rep. Ken Carano (D-Youngstown).
Carano defeated Shidel easily, capturing 71% of the vote in winning
a fourth term.
District 60: The path to the House for term-limited Sen. Bob Hagan (D-Youngstown)
was secured after he won a five-way primary in May, as he faced no General
Election opposition.
District 61: Chamber Choice candidate Brant Luther (R-Alliance), a former
Stark County Auditor, was beaten by personal injury lawyer Mark Okey
(D-Carrollton) in all four counties in the 61st district. Luther did
best in Stark County, but still lost there by 41 votes. Following his
58%-42% win, Okey will succeed Rep. John Boccieri (D-New Middletown).
District 62: Freshman Rep. Lorraine Fende (D-Willowick), who was involved
in one of 2004’s closest contests, had a comparatively easy re-election
contest this year. She beat back the challenge of human resources consultant
Greg Schmidt (R-Willoughby), 65%-35%.
District 63: With his narrow, 470-vote victory two years ago, Rep. Tim
Cassell (D-Madison) scored a pickup for the Democrats in this slightly
Republican district that comprises the eastern half of Lake County.
A much-publicized DUI conviction proved to be his downfall this year,
as Cassell lost his re-election bid to accountant Carol-Ann Schindel
(R-Painesville). Schindel won 52%-48%.
District 64: First-term Rep. Randy Law (R-Warren) pulled off the upset
of the year in 2004, ousting Rep. Dan Sferra (D-Warren) in this district
that at the same time gave more than 60% of its votes in the presidential
contest to Sen. Kerry. Democrats considered his victory a fluke and
were confident from day one that Law would be a one-termer. Republicans
argued that, given the already heavily Democrat tilt of the district,
Law would not be susceptible to the same backlash GOP candidates in
other parts of the state experienced. They also argued that, because
Law had worked hard to address the most critical local issue, tougher
landfill regulations, voters would remain supportive despite his party
affiliation, that Law diligently attended to constituent matters, was
well-known, and that the Democrat candidate was not a top-tier challenger.
It looks like the Democrat argument was more accurate, as attorney Tom
Letson (D-Warren) ousted Law by a relatively wide margin, 54%-46%.
District 65: Rep. Sandy Harwood (D-Niles) rebuffed a challenge by Lordstown
Councilman Arno Hill (R-Lordstown), capturing a third term, 79%-21%.
District 66: In one of the most Republican seats in the state, Rep.
Joe Uecker (R-Loveland) won an easy re-election contest. He defeated
challenger William Newby (D-Cincinnati), 64%-36%.
District 67: Outgoing Rep. Tom Raga (R-Mason) won his only contested
race, in 2000, with more than three-quarters of the vote and faced no
opposition in either 2002 or 2004. In this heavily Republican district,
it’s no surprise that Shannon Jones (R-Springboro) kept the seat
in GOP hands. She defeated attorney Jeff Ruppert (D-Franklin), 62%-38%.
District 68: Rep. Kathleen Chandler (D-Kent) won a third term by defeating
trucking company president Bill Davis (R-Ravenna), 65%-35%. Chandler’s
winning percentage has increased each election.
District 69: Longtime House member and former Appeals Court Judge Bill
Batchelder (R-Medina) joins Barbara Boyd and Vernon Sykes as one of
three former representatives who will return to the House. Following
a contentious campaign, Batchelder beat former Brunswick Township Trustee
Jack Schira (D-Brunswick), 55%-45%. He succeeds term-limited Rep. Chuck
Calvert (R-Medina), who himself succeeded Batchelder in 1999.
District 70: Rep. Kevin DeWine (R-Fairborn) earned his fourth and final
term with another big win, defeating challenger Kevin O’Brien (D-Fairborn)
61%-39%.
District 71: Sen. Jay Hottinger’s (R-Newark) 64%-36% win over Tom
Holliday (D-Pataskala) means he’ll replace term-limited Rep. Dave
Evans (R-Newark), who began his own legislative career by succeeding
Hottinger in the House back in 1998.
District 72: One of the few bright spots for the GOP – as well
as for the business community – was the victory by appointed Rep.
Ross McGregor (R-Springfield) over Dale Henry (D-Springfield), a retired
GM assembly worker and former Springfield mayor. Chamber Choice candidate
McGregor became one of the most vulnerable incumbents as soon as he
was sworn in just over a year ago to replace former Rep. Merle Kearns
(R-Springfield), but hard work and missteps by the Henry campaign helped
McGregor win in this swing district. McGregor defeated Henry 54%-46%.
District 73: 25-year old Jay Goyal (D-Mansfield), making his first run
for public office, kept this seat in the Democratic column by defeating
former Mansfield Councilman Phil Holloway (R-Mansfield), the district
office director for U.S. Rep. Mike Oxley. Though this district went
solidly for Bush two years ago, it has been represented by a Democrat
ever since Sherrod Brown defeated then-incumbent Rep. Joan Douglass
in 1974. With the term-limit forced departure of Rep. Bill Hartnett
(D-Mansfield), Republicans hoped this would be the year they finally
captured the seat. They were denied once again, as Goyal ran away with
the race, defeating Holloway 63%-37%.
District 74: Without winning outright any of the three counties in the
district, educator Bruce Goodwin (R-Defiance) still won a four-way GOP
primary in May. Tonight, he captured all three, scoring him a 55%-45%
win over Wittenberg University sophomore Ben McCullough (D-Montpelier)
and a seat in the House. He replaces Rep. Steve Buehrer (R-Delta).
District 75: Not surprisingly, Sen. Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon) won
his contest against Angie Byrne (D-Van Wert). The veteran legislator
won every county in the district, but his overall 56%-44% win was tighter
than anticipated.
District 76: The last three elections in this district featured Rep.
Mike Gilb (R-Findlay) beating Ken Ludwig (D-Findlay). District voters
were presented with a different choice in 2006, and decided that teacher
and former Findlay High football coach Cliff Hite (R-Findlay) deserved
the job. Hite bested attorney John Kostyo (D-Findlay), 60%-40%.
District 77: In another rematch, Rep. Keith Faber (R-Celina) earned
a fourth and final term by again crushing Betsy Marshall (D-Eaton),
65%-35%. The outcome was never really in doubt; the bigger question
is, “who’s going to succeed Faber in the House?” Lest
you think we’re getting way ahead of ourselves, remember this:
the 77th House district is part of the 10th Senate district, which will
be vacant as soon as Sen. Jim Jordan resigns in order to take his place
as a newly-elected member of Congress…
District 78: Six years ago, outgoing Rep. Derrick Seaver (R-Minster)
– then a Democrat – pulled one of the greatest upsets in recent
memory, winning this solid GOP district by just 242 votes. Seaver twice
won re-election as a Democrat (before switching to become a Republican
shortly after the 2004 election). This gave Democrats some optimism
that they could win the seat a fourth straight time. Though their candidate,
former Seaver aide Adam Ward (D-Urbana) campaigned aggressively, he
wasn’t able to repeat Seaver’s magic. Furniture store owner
John Adams (R-Sidney) captured the seat by beating Ward, 52%-48%. Ward
won in Champaign County, his home territory, by 1,276 votes while Adams
won in Shelby County, his home territory, by 1,056 vote. Adams’
2,096 vote margin in the district’s other county, Auglaize, provided
the difference.
District 79: Yet another rematch of a 2004 contest, this one pitting
Rep. Diana Fessler (R-New Carlisle) against challenger Dave Fisher (D-Tipp
City). After winning with two-thirds of the votes two years ago, Fessler
saw her percentage fall this year, but she still managed a solid 61%-39%
win this year.
District 80: As chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, Rep. Chris Redfern
(D-Port Clinton) was no doubt heavily involved in countless other campaigns.
However, he obviously didn’t neglect his own re-election effort.
He secured a fourth term in the House with a solid 63%-37% win over
farmer Ed Enderle (R-Huron).
District 81: Democrats considered it a candidate recruitment success
when they got former state representative Darrell Opfer (D-Oak Harbor)
to challenge Rep. Jeff Wagner (R-Sycamore). Unfortunately for Opfer,
he only represented a small portion of the 81st district during his
previous time in the House. While he did beat Wagner in that portion
of the district, Wagner won a third term rather comfortably, beating
Opfer 60%-40%.
District 82: Rep. Steve Reinhard (R-Bucyrus) was unopposed. He’ll
be back for a final term.
District 83: Comparatively speaking, Rep. Tony Core (R-Rushylvania)
had a close race tonight. After winning 70% of the vote in 2002 and
73% in 2004, he got just 64% of the vote this time against challenger
Shawn Allen (D-Belle Center).
District 84: Rep. Chris Widener (R-Springfield) defeated Connie Crockett
(D-Yellow Springs) to win a third term. His victory was by a 61%-39%
margin.
District 85: Once the Ohio House Republican Campaign Committee started
running TV ads aired on Columbus stations that focused on this race,
it was obvious Rep. John Schlichter (R-Greenfield) was vulnerable. Tonight’s
results show just how vulnerable: he was held to just 52% of the vote
by challenger Ray Pryor (D-Chillicothe), after winning two years ago
with 62%. But a win is a win is a win, meaning Schlichter returns for
a third term.
District 86: After losing to Rep. Dave Daniels (R-Greenfield) in both
2002 and 2004, the third time wasn’t a charm for economics professor
Bill Horne (D-Hillsboro) – though he delivered his best performance.
He held Daniels to just 53% of the vote, and Horne’s almost 2,000
vote victory in Pike County must have made Daniels nervous all night
until Clinton County’s results finally came in.
District 87: Rep. Clyde Evans (R-Rio Grande) won a third term by defeating
small business owner Nick Rupert (D-New Plymouth), 58%-42%.
District 88: Freshman Rep. Danny Bubp (R-West Union) faced a serious
challenge from insurance agent Paul Hall (R-Williamsburg) in the primary.
After beating Hall, it was an easy ride to re-election without opposition
for Bubp.
District 89: Rep. Todd Book (D-McDermott) warded off challenges from
two opponents, small business owner Tim Knauff (R-West Portsmouth) and
Mike Bryan (I-Portsmouth). Book won a third term with 68% of the vote.
District 90: Rep. Thom Collier (R-Mount Vernon) won a rematch against
farmer Duane Grassbaugh (D-Howard). Collier captured 57% of the vote
to earn his fourth term.
District 91: After just one term in the House, Rep. Ron Hood (R-Ashville)
opted to run for an open Senate seat rather than re-election. Replacing
Hood in the House will be attorney Dan Dodd (D-Millersport). Dodd, who
was Hood’s 2004 opponent, defeated fellow attorney Bill Hayes (R-Pataskala),
53%-47%. Dodd overcame the GOP-tilt of this district and won it by beating
Hayes by significant margins in both Hocking and Perry Counties. This
race featured a controversial TV ad that used a law review article Dodd
authored as the basis for a charge that he would not want a man convicted
of kidnap, rape and murder to be executed. What role any backlash against
the ad played in Dodd’s victory is uncertain.
District 92: A Republican – even a moderate incumbent one like
Rep. Jimmy Stewart (R-Albany) – is never going to be truly secure
in this district that contains Athens and the Ohio University campus.
In his previous two elections, Stewart won Athens County once and lost
it by just 122 votes the other time. This year, however, his opponent
was Athens Councilwoman Debbie Phillips (D-Athens), and she took 56%
of the county’s vote en route to winning it by 2,143 votes. However,
Stewart’s victory margins in the other three counties were enough
to compensate for losing Athens – and enough to earn him a third
term in the House. Stewart prevailed, 52%-48%.
District 93: Two years ago, one of the biggest surprises was the victory
by attorney Jennifer Garrison (D-Marietta) over two-term incumbent Rep.
Nancy Hollister (R-Marietta). With much less fanfare, Garrison secured
a second term this year by soundly beating Byesville Mayor Don Gadd
(R-Byesville), 71%-29%. Garrison carried every county in the district,
including Guernsey County – where Byesville is located.
District 94: Rep. Jim Aslanides (R-Coshocton) will be return for a fourth
and final term after beating Aaron Phillips (D-Zanesville), but the
margin was much closer than expected. Phillips edged Aslanides in Muskingum
County, but Aslanides carried Coshocton County by nearly 3,000 votes
to win 53%-47% overall.
District 95: Rep. John Domenick (D-Smithfield) had little difficulty
turning away a challenge from college student A.J. Voytecek (R-Martins
Ferry). Domenick garnered 79% of the vote in winning a second term.
He has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Sen. Charlie Wilson,
who was elected tonight to the U.S. House, in the 30th Senate district.
District 96: Rep. Allan Sayre (D-Dover) scored an impressive 68%-32%
victory in his bid for a second term. He defeated recycling manager
Shane Thompson (R-Belmont).
District 97: Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Lakeville) turned away the challenge
from James Riley (D-Sullivan). After his 60%-40% win, Gibbs will be
back for a third term.
District 98: Rep. Matt Dolan (R-Novelty) faced a spirited challenge
from Ray Ku (D-Chagrin Falls), a law professor at Case Western Reserve
University, but still walked away with a 57%-43% victory and a second
term.
District 99: It was déjà vu all over again in this district,
where Rep. George Distel (D-Conneaut) not only faced the same opponent
as he did in 2004, but also garnered the same percentage of the vote.
He again defeated challenger Bill Pikor (R-Thompson) by taking 67% of
the vote. Distel will be serving his fourth and final term.
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