Ohio Chamber of Commerce - Governmental Affairs

MARCH 8, 2000

SPECIAL EDITION: PRIMARY RESULTS

OHIO CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARIES
Congressional District 6: Michael Azinger (R-Marietta), who finished a strong third in the 1998 primary for the GOP nomination, will get his chance this year against incumbent Congressman Ted Strickland (D-Lucasville). Azinger defeated Athens City Auditor Jimmy Stewart 51%-49%.
Congressional District 8: John Griffin (D-Miamisburg) is back for another shot at Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester). Griffin, who lost to Boehner in the 1998 General Election, defeated John Parks (D-Oxford) 53%-47%.
Congressional District 10: Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Lakewood) had little difficulty in turning away a primary challenge from C. River Smith (D-Cleveland) for the second primary in a row. Smith got only 7% against Kucinich.
On the Republican side, Bill Smith (R-Lakewood) won the right to face Kucinich.
Congressional District 11: First-term Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Cleveland) trounced challenger Gerald Henley (D-Cleveland) in the Democratic primary 92%-8%.
Congressional District 12: In the most competitive, expensive, and – at times – nasty congressional primary in Ohio this year, state Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Columbus) posted an impressive 73%-21% win over state Sen. Gene Watts (R-Dublin). Challengers Ramona Whisler (R-Columbus) and Andrew Zukowski (R-Columbus) received 4% and 2%, respectively, while Tiberi carried every county in the district.
As expected, Columbus City Councilwoman Maryellen O’Shaughnessy (D-Columbus) won the Democratic nomination, drawing 78% of the vote. She defeated Ed Brown (D-Columbus) who garnered 14%, and Ralph Applegate, who received 8%. The Tiberi-O’Shaughnessy race will draw national attention and is considered key to both party’s efforts to control Congress next year.
Congressional District 14: Rick Wood (R-Fairlawn) defeated James Hrubik (R-Norton) 58%-42% and will now have an uphill battle against Congressman Tom Sawyer (D-Akron) in November.
Congressional District 15: Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Columbus) faced only token opposition from Craig Lortz (R-Columbus) and won 88%-12%. She’ll face Bill Buckel (D-Columbus) and Scott Smith (L-Columbus) in the General Election.
Congressional District 17: Embattled incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Traficant (D-Youngstown) faced the most difficult challenge to his seat since he was first elected – and emerged victorious. With two credible challengers as well as facing possible indictment, Traficant still received 50% of the vote. State Sen. Bob Hagan (D-Youngstown) finished second with 34% and Mahoning County Auditor George Tablack (D-Youngstown) came in third with 14%. Christopher Doutt (D-Warren) received less than 2%.
The fall campaign will be a rematch of ’98, as Paul Alberty (R-Poland) captured the GOP nomination with a 52%-48% win over former Congressman Lyle Williams (R-Warren). Traficant is again favored, despite his legal difficulties.

OHIO SUPREME COURT PRIMARY
The Ohio Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate, Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Tim Black (D-Cincinnati), mustered enough support to defeat Court of Appeals Judge Jim Brogan (D-Dayton), 55%-45%. This sets up a fall General Election pitting Black against incumbent Supreme Court Justice Deborah Cook.

OHIO SENATE PRIMARIES
Senate District 10: Rep. Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek), who received the OCCPaC endorsement, easily dispatched Springfield Township Trustee Timothy Juergens (R-Springfield) 69%-31% to win the Republican primary. Austria will face Clark County Commissioner Roger Tackett (D-South Charleston) in November in this open seat race to succeed Sen. Merle Grace Kearns (R-Springfield).
Senate District 12: In the most expensive Ohio General Assembly primary this year, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) scored a 60%-40% win over Rep. Jim Buchy (R-Greenville). Buchy was endorsed by OCCPaC. The difference in this race was Allen County, where Jordan won 76% of the vote. Jordan will face Jason Saltis (D-Lima) and Debra Mitchell (NL-Greenville) in the November General Election. The winner will succeed term-limited Sen. Bob Cupp (R-Lima).
Senate District 22: Rep. Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster) won the Republican primary in the race to follow term-limited Sen. Grace Drake (R-Solon). Amstutz defeated Don Sopka 64%-36%. Amstutz captured the OCCPaC endorsement in this election and will face Elizabeth Kelley (D-Medina) and Cheryl Neufer (L-Lodi) in the fall.
Senate District 24: Ed Boyle (D-North Olmsted) emerged with the Democratic nomination in a hard-fought four-way primary. He won with 41% of the vote. Other candidates, Ann Donegan (D-Olmsted Falls) 26%, Pat Leneghan (D-Parma) 23%, and Terry Durica 10%, rounded out the field. Boyle will now face appointed incumbent Sen. Bob Spada (R-Parma Heights) and Richard Leirner (NL-Parma). Spada replaced former Sen. Gary Suhadolnik (R-Strongsville) in early 1999.
Senate District 32: Tim Ryan (D-Niles) prevailed in this five-way Democratic primary. Ryan captured 36% of the vote; Howland Township Trustee Darlene St. George (D-Warren) finished second with 30%, and Marc Dann (D-Hubbard) was third with 26%. Two other candidates combined for the other 8%. Ryan and Dann split key labor union endorsements while St. George attempted to present herself as a moderate alternative. Ryan will face Randy Law (R-Bristolville) and Patricia Urquhart (L-Chardon) in November. The winner will replaced term-limited Sen. Tony Latell (D-Girard).

OHIO HOUSE PRIMARIES
House District 2: Deerfield Township Trustee Tom Raga (R-Mason) emerged the comfortable winner in a three-way GOP primary. Raga pulled 45% of the vote to 36% for Mason City Councilwoman Betty Davis (R-Mason). Clearcreek Township Trustee Ed Wade (R-Springboro) was third with 19%. Raga will face Richard Inskeep (D-Mason) in the fall in this heavily Republican Warren County district for the right to succeed term-limited Rep. George Terwilleger (R-Maineville).
House District 3: Former Rep. John Wargo (D-Salineville) won a three-way primary with 37% in his comeback attempt. Anthony Trevena (D-Salem), the Columbiana County Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate, was second with 34.5%.
Wargo will do battle with Chuck Blasdel (R-E.Liverpool) in the General Election. Blasdel, a small businessman and member of the Columbiana County planning commission, earned 48% of the vote in what was also a three-way contest for the GOP nomination. Incumbent Rep. Sean Logan (D-Salineville) is term-limited.
House District 4: Dean Clark (D-Perrysburg) squeaked out a 51%-49% victory over Thomas Sigurdson (D-Northwood) in the Democratic primary. Clark will be the underdog in the General Election against current Sen. Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) in this Wood County district. Latta opted to seek election to the House rather than a second term in the Senate. Incumbent Rep. Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green) is being forced out by term-limits.
House District 6: Fairfield County Republican Party Chairman Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster), who received the OCCPaC endorsement, won a 58%-42% contest over Pickerington City Councilman Brian Fox (R-Pickerington). Schaffer will face Dennis Lupher (D-Lancaster), who was unopposed in the Democratic primary, in November. The winner of that race will succeed term-limited Rep. Jon Myers (R-Lancaster).
House District 7: In the race to succeed Amstutz, former Shreve mayor and current Wayne County Republican Party Chairman Jim Carmichael defeated Don Demkee 65%-35% to capture the GOP nomination. Demkee did not actively campaign. Carmichael’s General Election opponent will be teacher and Wooster City Councilwoman Inell Keller (D-Wooster).
House District 9: Former Cleveland Heights-University Heights school board member Claudette Woodard (D-Cleveland Heights) won a three-way Democratic primary with 42% of the vote. Woodard, who was endorsed by the Cleveland AFL-CIO, defeated Cleveland Heights City Councilwoman Phyllis Evans (D-Cleveland Heights) and current school board member Eric Silverman (D-Cleveland Heights). Evans was the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate in this race and had the support of term-limited Rep. Barbara Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights). Theodore Guerry (R-Clevland) was unopposed in the GOP primary but received a total of only 29 votes in this heavily Democratic district.
House District 10: Five Democrats squared off in the primary for the right to follow longtime Rep. Troy Lee James (D-Cleveland). The winner was Annie Key (D-Cleveland). She received 34% of the vote.
House District 13: Former U.S. Rep. Mary Rose Oakar (D-Cleveland) appears to have resurrected her career in public office by capturing a 50% majority of the vote in a four-way Democratic primary. Her closest challenger, attorney Kevin Kelley, got 42%. No other party fielded candidates in this race, so Oakar will succeed Rep. Barb Pringle (D-Cleveland), who is term-limited.
House District 23: Rep. Amy Salerno (R-Columbus), who received the OCCPaC endorsement, handled a token challenge from Steve Lapinski (R-Columbus) 74%-26%. Salerno’s General Election opponent in her bid for a fourth and final term will be Karen Carr (D-Columbus).
House District 24: Madison Township Fire Chief Larry Flowers (R-Canal Winchester), the Franklin County Republican Party’s endorsed candidate, defeated Westerville Mayor and businessman Stew Flaherty (R-Westerville) 55%-45%. OCCPaC had endorsed Flaherty. Flowers will run against Thomas Drabick (D-Blacklick) and Roy Wagner (L-Westerville) in November. The winner will succeed current Speaker of the House Jo Ann Davidson (R-Reynoldsburg).
House District 26: Linda Reidelbach (R-Columbus) received 77% of the vote in easily winning the GOP primary in this district. Tiberi, the incumbent, is term-limited. Reidelbach, who received the OCCPaC endorsement, will face T.J. Johnson (D-Columbus) in the General Election.
House District 27: In what was arguably the most contentious of all Ohio General Assembly primaries, assistant Franklin County prosecutor Jim Hughes (R-Columbus) posted a surprisingly large win over appointed incumbent Rep. Dave Robinson (R-Columbus). The primary pitted the House Republican Caucus, which appointed and supported Robinson, against the Franklin County GOP, which endorsed Hughes over Robinson. Hughes got 60% of the vote. Robinson, a former Ohio Chamber and Ameritech employee, had the OCCPaC endorsement.
The Democratic primary was won by Columbus School Board member Mark Hatch (D-Columbus). Hatch beat Joe Motil (D-Columbus), who was the party’s unsuccessful nominee against former Rep. E.J. Thomas (R-Columbus) in 1998, 68%-32%. Hatch and Hughes will square off in the fall in a potentially competitive race.
House District 28: Geoff Smith (R-Upper Arlington) won a closer-than-expected victory over banker Greg Vergamini (R-Upper Arlington) in this race to succeed term-limited Rep. Priscilla Mead (R-Upper Arlington). Smith, who had the Franklin County GOP endorsement and heavily outspent Vergamini, pulled out a 54%-46% win. He’ll face Upper Arlington City Councilwoman Mary Lorms (D-Upper Arlington) and Norma Kountz (NL-Columbus) in November.
House District 31: Rep. Catherine Barrett (D-Cincinnati), endorsed by OCCPaC, dispatched challenger Theo Barnes (D-Cincinnati) 69%-31% to win the Democratic primary. Though she’ll have Libertarian, Natural Law, and Republican opponents in November, she should have little difficulty winning a second term.
House District 32: This is one of three Hamilton County GOP primaries that pitted the county party’s endorsed candidate against a candidate supported by a myriad of insurgent social conservative groups and individuals. In this instance, the county party came out on the losing end. Jim Raussen (R-Cincinnati) defeated Princeton School Board member Tawana Keels Simons (R-Cincinnati) 53%-47%. Simons had the party endorsement and the backing of outgoing Rep. Dale Van Vyven (R-Sharonville).
Raussen’s Democratic opponent will be former Forest Park Mayor Wayne Coates (D-Forest Park), who beat Van Vyven’s ’98 General Election opponent, Jean Kumler (D-Cincinnati), 58%-42%. The Raussen-Coates matchup has the potential to be the most competitive Hamilton County General Assembly contest this year.
House District 34: Green Township Trustee Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) had no difficulty with challenger Randy Shank (R-Harrison). Seitz won 75%-25%. He’ll face Jean Siebenaler (D-Cincinnati) and Gary Sweeney (L-Cincinnati) in November. The winner will be term-limited Rep. Cheryl Winkler’s (R-Cincinnati) successor.
House District 36: Madeira Mayor Michelle Schneider (R-Madeira) evened the score between the Hamilton County GOP and the insurgent social conservatives with her victory over Charles Tassell (R-Cincinnati). Schneider, who received the OCCPaC endorsement, drew 67% to Tassell’s 33%. She’ll have Democrat and Libertarian opponents in the General Election, but is the favorite in this heavily Republican district. Incumbent Rep. Bob Schuler (R-Cincinnati) is term-limited.
House District 37: In the marquee matchup between the Hamilton County GOP and the social conservatives, anti-tax crusader Tom Brinkman (R-Cincinnati) dropped former assistant county prosecutor Steve Adams (R-Cincinnati) to win the GOP primary. Brinkman captured 54% of the vote to Adams’ 46%. Adams was the party’s endorsed candidate. This is the most-pro-business district in the state, and Brinkman should have no difficulty in November against three challengers. He should succeed term-limited incumbent Rep. Jackie O’Brien (R-Cincinnati).
House District 42: Kettering Vice Mayor John White (R-Kettering) rode the endorsement of the Montgomery County GOP and the support of incumbent Rep. and county party chairman Jeff Jacobson (R-Brookville) to a 53%-47% win over Washington Township Trustee Joyce Young (R-Dayton). White will face Deputy Montgomery County Auditor Joe Lacey (D-Dayton) and Glen Schoonover (L-Dayton Township) in the fall.
House District 43: State Board of Education member Diana Fessler (R-New Carlisle) pulled off one of the biggest surprises, beating teacher Fred Worth (R-Troy) 52%-48% to win the GOP nomination.
In the Democratic primary, the third time wasn’t a charm for David Brewer (D-Troy), who was term-limited incumbent Rep. Bob Netzley’s (R-Laura) General Election opponent in both 1996 and 1998. Brewer was defeated by Carol McKeever (D-Tipp City) 52%-48%.
House District 44: Barbara Sykes (D-Akron), wife of outgoing Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), easily prevailed in a four-way primary. She captured 66% of the vote. Sykes will be heavily favored in November against Maxine Blake (R-Akron) and Chet Sutherland (L-Akron). Blake defeated Daphne Sturkey 57%-43% in the GOP primary.
House District 46: A win in the Democratic primary by David Worhatch (D-Hudson) sets up a General Election rematch between Worhatch and Rep. Kevin Coughlin (R-Cuyahoga Falls). Worhatch, an employee rights attorney, defeated 19-year old opponent Robert Roach (D-Stow) 56%-44%.
House District 48: Summit County Councilman Mike Grimm (D-Tallmadge) knocked off Suffield Township Trustee Ron Mishler (D-Mogadore) 52%-48% for the right to challenge three-term incumbent Rep. Twyla Roman (R-Akron).
House District 54: The race to succeed term-limited Rep. Bill Healy (D-Canton) drew nine candidates in two primaries. The winners: Mary Cirelli (D-Canton) and Mary Cain (R-Canton). Cirelli, a former Stark County commissioner, took 30% in beating five challengers in the Democratic primary, while Cain took 61% in beating two fellow Republicans. Cirelli and Cain will square off in November in this heavily Democratic district.
House District 56: Appointed incumbent Mike Stevens (D-Canal Fulton) made it past the first hurdle in his bid for a full term. He defeated Vincent Strasavich (D-Navarre) 76%-24%. Stevens, who replaced former Rep. Johnnie Maier (D-Massillon) in January, will face John Hagan (R-Alliance) and Ronald Brown (L-Massillon) in the General Election. Hagan, who was the Republican nominee against Maier in ’98, defeated former Louisville City Councilman Thomas Zwick (R-Louisville) 59%-41% in the GOP primary.
House District 57: Rep. Ron Hood (R-Canfield) turned away an intra-party challenge to his re-election effort. Hood beat Lordstown Village administrator Ron Barnhart (R-Columbiana) 66%-34%. Due to his fiercely ideological philosophy and the demographic makeup of the district, Hood has won narrowly in each of his previous three elections. 2000 should be no exception. In fact, the only thing different about 2000 from the last two elections will be his opponent. Union activist Sam Metheny (D-Lake Milton), who lost to Hood in both 1996 and 1998, was defeated in the primary this year by John Boccieri (D-Canfield). Boccieri emerged from the three-way Democratic primary with 35% of the vote.
House District 60: Veterinarian and OCCPaC endorsee Shawn Webster (R-Hamilton) rode a huge advantage in Butler County to a win over Jefferson Township Clerk David Wesler (R-New Paris) and Oxford City Councilwoman Sally Southard (R-Oxford). In Butler County, Webster piled up a 2,793 vote margin over Southard and a 3,811 vote margin over Wesler. Webster won overall with 43% of the vote. Wesler was second with 34%.
In the only Libertarian General Assembly primary in the state, Patrick White (L-Camden) knocked off Howard Matre (L-Seven Mile), 35 votes to 16 votes. Webster and White will battle Kevin Williams (D-Oxford) and Jason Bach (NL-Somerville) in the General Election.
House District 62: Chris Rothgery (D-Elyria) and Jeff Manning (R-N. Ridgeville) won the Democratic and Republican primaries, respectively, and will face each other in November in what should be an extremely competitive campaign for the right to replace term-limited Rep. John Bender (D-Elyria) in the General Assembly. Rothgery garnered 46% of the vote in beating three challengers, while Manning won 71%-29% over Josanne Pagel. Rothgery, an attorney, is the related to several other Rothgery’s that are active in Elyria politics and have held elective office. Manning is also an attorney, as well as a small businessman and a former N. Ridgeville city law director.
House District 63: When Rep. Bill Taylor (R-Norwalk) made a late announcement that he would not seek re-election, three Republicans stepped forward to try and succeed him. Tom Lendrum (R-Huron), former President of Norwalk Concrete Industries, emerged from the primary as the GOP nominee after taking 38% of the vote. Milan Mayor Bob Bickley (R-Milan) finished second with 34%, while school principal Dennis Walters (R-Amherst) got 29%. Lendrum will do battle with ’98 Taylor opponent and former Erie County Commissioner Natalie Mosher (D-Huron) and two third-party candidates in November.
House District 64: OCCPaC-endorsed Rep. Sylvester Patton (D-Youngstown) is in good shape for a second term after turning away a primary challenge from Dan Martin (D-Youngstown). He beat Martin 63%-37%. Patton faces only minor party candidate John Fockler (L-Struthers) in the General Election.
House District 65: Teacher and Austintown Township Trustee Board Chairman Ken Carano (D-Youngstown) scored a convincing victory over two opponents to earn the Democratic nomination in the 65th district. Carano got 59% of the vote. His fall opponent will be another teacher, Boardman School Board member Nancy Hull (R-Youngstown). Incumbent Rep. Ron Gerberry (D-Canfield) is prevented from running for re-election by term limits.
House District 66: Rep. Chris Verich (D-Warren), who was appointed to this seat to succeed his brother, was upended by former Warren Mayor Dan Sferra (D-Warren) in a three-way Democratic primary. Sferra took 43% of the vote to Verich’s 32%. Verich was endorsed by OCCPaC. Sferra will face Charles Burger (R-Leavittsburg) in November. Burger defeated John Jewell (R-Warren) in the GOP primary 58%-42%.
House District 67: Sen. Tony Latell (D-Girard), unable to run for re-election to the Senate due to term limits, took a successful step towards election to the House by crushing Phillip Arbie (D-McDonald) and John Saulitis (D-Mineral Ridge) in the Democratic primary. Latell won over 71% of the vote. He’ll face Todd Bonar (R-Cortland) in the fall. Latell is the prohibitive favorite to succeed term-limited Rep. June Ferderber (D-Mineral Ridge) in this strong Democratic district.
House District 68: Despite fervent hope that anyone but him would capture the GOP nomination and a concerted effort to bolster that hope, Tim Grendell (R-Chesterland) won the Republican primary and is the probable successor to his term-limited wife, Rep. Diane Grendell (R-Chesterland). Grendell garnered 52% of the vote, while Chris Howell (R-Aurora) – who had the endorsement of Voinovich and other GOP heavyweights – managed only 24%. Ken Blair (R-Newbury) took 13% and Georgia Thomas Parks (R-Burton) 11%. Grendell will have to contend with Jeffrey Fanger (D-Chesterland) and Frank Evan (L-Chagrin Falls) in November.
House District 72: Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond), a commercial leasing agent and former newspaper publisher, won this three-way primary with 46% of the vote. Niehaus defeated Melvin Dean (R-Bethel) and Scott Boone (R-Sardinia). They received 35% and 18% of the vote, respectively. Niehaus was encouraged to run by outgoing Rep. Rose Vesper (R-New Richmond). Niehaus and attorney Ken Zuk (D-Amelia) will be on the ballot in November.
House District 73: With veteran incumbent Rep. David Hartley (D-Springfield) forced out because of term limits, both parties had contested primaries. On the Democratic side, labor union official Ron Rhine (D-Springfield) won a narrow 53%-47% victory over former Springfield City Councilman Dale Henry (D-Springfield).
On the Republican side, former Springfield Chief of Police and ’98 Hartley opponent Roger Evans (R-Springfield) beat Bryce Smedley (R-Springfield) and optometrist Robert Bennett (R-Springfield). Evans got 43% to Bennett’s 31% and Smedley’s 26%.
House District 74: Incumbent Sen. Merle Grace Kearns (R-Springfield) beat appointed incumbent Rep. Chris Widener (R-Springfield) 49%-42% in a three-way GOP primary. Charlie Morrison (R-London) collected the remaining 9%. Kearns will now face Cynthia Dunlevy (D-New Carlisle) in the General Election.
House District 84: Keith Faber (R-Celina) rode a wave of support in Mercer County, his home county, to victory over Darke County Commissioner Terry Haworth (R-Greenville). Faber, who was endorsed by OCCPaC, also won narrowly in the Miami county portion of the district. This advantage was sufficient to ward off Haworth’s capture of 62% of the vote in Darke County. Faber beat Haworth 53%-47% overall.
In the Democratic primary, Bill Sell (D-Celina) defeated Tonya Kahlig (D-Greenville) 63%-37%. Sell and Haworth will vie to succeed term-limited Rep. Jim Buchy (R-Greenville).
House District 85: David Shiffer (R-Cable) emerged victorious in a four-way primary for the GOP nomination in the district held for the last four years by Rep. Jim Jordan. Shiffer won with 36% of the vote. Furniture store owner John Adams (R-Sidney) drew 33%, while retired high school teacher Bill Ross (R-Sidney) received 24% to finish third. Richard Herron (R-Cable) rounded out the pack with 7%. Shiffer will meet Derrick Seaver (D-Minster) in the fall.
House District 86: Turnout was high enough in Hancock County to boost attorney Mike Gilb (R-Findlay) to victory in a tough, three-way primary, despite the fact that another Hancock County candidate was also in the race. Hancock County Auditor Tony Iriti (R-Findlay), the nominal frontrunner at the onset of this campaign, finished second with 33%. Small business owner and Hardin County Commissioner Ed Elliott (R-Mt. Victory) finished with 28%, 2,283 votes behind Gilb, who won with 39%. Gilb now faces Kenneth Ludwig (D-Findlay). Incumbent Rep. Charlie Brading (R-Wapakoneta) is term-limited.
House District 87: On a day when many appointed incumbents struggled, Rep. Tony Core (R-Rushsylvania) was no different. Appointed to succeed his late father, Core withstood an aggressive campaign from challenger Susan Wish (R-Bellefontaine) to win 54%-46%. He’ll now face Stacy Roberts (D-Bellefontaine) in the fall in his bid for election to his first full term.
House District 90: In a late-developing and uninspiring race, ’98 GOP nominee Steve Reinhard (R-Bucyrus) won while spending almost no money or time on the campaign trail. Attorney J.W. Rogers (R-Marion) made a late charge, but fell short by 221 votes. Reinhard captured 45% to Rogers’ 44%. Troy Ulmer (R-Caledonia) received the remaining 11%. Reinhard will face appointed incumbent Rep. Bob Gooding (D-Waldo) in the General Election.
House District 95: One appointed incumbent who didn’t have a close contest was Rep. Jim Aslanides (R-Coshocton). Aslanides, who received the OCCPaC endorsement, dumped challenger Van Slack (R-Roseville) 71%-29%. Aslanides, who replaced former Rep. Joy Padgett (R-Coshocton) last year, will square off against Wayne Yoder (D-Fresno) in November.
House District 98: The Krupinski name held strong along the river as Eileen Krupinski (D-Steubenville) defeated former union business agent Bob Phillipson (D-Bloomingdale) and Frank Targoss (D-Wintersville). Krupinski, the wife of term-limited incumbent Rep. Jerry Krupinski (D-Steubenville), captured 49% in winning. Phillipson finished second with 34%. Krupinski will face ’98 GOP nominee Frank Sentich (R-Richmond) in the General Election.