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SOONERS VOTE TUESDAY ON RIGHT
TO WORK AMENDMENT
Voters
in Oklahoma will go to the polls tomorrow to decide State
Question 695, which would amend the Oklahoma Constitution
to ensure that workers have the freedom to work anywhere
in the state without being required to pay dues or a bargaining
service fee to a union as a condition of employment.
This is clearly a huge issue for big labor nationally.
Labor wants to stop right-to-work in Oklahoma in order
to prevent the movement from feeding off a success and
spreading to other states.
As
evidence of the effort’s importance to labor, about
85% of the $3.3 million raised through August 31 by SQ
695 opponents came from labor unions – this despite
the fact that less than 7% of Oklahoma’s workers
are union members. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of all
anti-695 donations came from unions outside Oklahoma.
By contrast, only 18% of the pro-695 money came from out-of-state.
Overall, according to The Oklahoman, opponents of SQ 695
“hold a clear advantage in raw dollars.”
Initial polling pegged support of right-to-work among
Oklahomans at 60%, but recent polling suggests that the
vote will be extremely close. In light of the campaign’s
tightness, the anti-695 forces have resorted to that time-tested
union method – scare tactics. Their television ads
claim that passage of 695 would result in lower wages
and a reduction in health benefits and falsely state that
Idaho’s economy has suffered since it passed a right-to-work
law in 1985.
If SQ 695 passes, Oklahoma would become the first state
in 21 years to enact right-to-work. It would join 21 other
states – Ohio not among them – as states that
protect workers’ freedom of association and prevent
coercive union power. |
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DETERS’
DECISION ENLIVENS STATEWIDE FIELDS
The
decision by State Treasurer Joe Deters to challenge State
Auditor Jim Petro for the GOP nomination for Attorney
General rather than seek re-election has not only created
an exciting and competitive battle for the party’s
nomination for that office, but has impacted the entire
political landscape for 2002 as well.
With control of all five statewide offices, it appeared
the GOP was headed towards a peaceful and uneventful primary.
Gov. Bob Taft, Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, and Deters
would all run for re-election. Attorney General Betty
Montgomery and Petro – both of whom are prevented
by term limits from running for re-election to their current
positions – would switch jobs and seek the others’
current office.
Conversely, with no incumbents and very few potential
candidates with any experience running statewide, a Democratic
primary with a throng of candidates and several spirited
contests was expected.
Deters’ decision, however, turned everything upside
down.
Blackwell, who served as treasurer from 1994 to 1998,
has announced that, rather than run for re-election, he
will again run for the treasurer’s post being left
vacant by Deters. Blackwell’s decision leaves the
GOP without an incumbent – or other current statewide
officeholder – to run for secretary of state. Not
unexpectedly though, such an open seat contest for a statewide
office has drawn no shortage of interest. Four individuals
have already announced candidacies for the post, with
two others likely to do so in the near future and still
others contemplating their chances.
Already running are State Rep. Ann Womer Benjamin (R-Aurora),
Lucas County Auditor Larry Kaczala, Ashtabula County Auditor
Sandy O’Brien, and Brook Park plumber Ron Krosky.
Former State Rep. Ron Hood (R-Canfield), is expected to
announce his candidacy soon, and former Cuyahoga County
Commissioner Lee Weingart is speaking to Republican organizations
across the state and appears a likely candidate. In addition,
Franklin County Recorder Rob Montgomery and Hamilton County
Prosecutor Mike Allen are supposedly mulling bids.
Democrats are hoping to capitalize on the GOP scramble.
While State Democratic Party Chair Dave Leland has accused
Republicans of subverting the intent of term limits with
its shuffle, he should be thrilled with this turn of events.
He now has to field candidates against only four, instead
of five, proven statewide votegetters, one of whom –
the Petro-Deters victor – could emerge from the GOP
primary weakened and financially vulnerable.
Though many Democrats have publicly suggested that the
governor is vulnerable, so far they have only come up
with a single challenger to Gov. Taft. Former Cuyahoga
County Commissioner Tim Hagan announced the formation
of an exploratory committee last month and indicated he
would soon make formal his candidacy. There are other
potential candidates, but none appear to be moving aggressively
to mount a campaign. These include State Senate Minority
Leader Leigh Herington (D-Kent) and State Sen. Eric Fingerhut
(D-Cleveland).
Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis has the Democratic
field to himself so far in the treasurer’s race,
and no candidates have yet emerged to challenge Montgomery
for auditor or the Petro-Deters winner for attorney general.
Said to be mulling over runs for these offices are term
limited Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner, Cuyahoga County
Prosecutor Bill Mason, Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates,
and U.S. Reps. Sherrod Brown (D-Elyria) and Tom Sawyer
(D-Akron). The latter two would likely only be candidates
if the forthcoming congressional redistricting plan forces
their hands. In addition, Columbus City Attorney Janet
Jackson is rumored to be interested in the attorney general’s
office, but is in the midst of a re-election campaign
for her current job and would presumably wait until after
this November’s election before formalizing her plans.
As is the case on the GOP side, there are several candidates
seeking the nomination for secretary of state. Columbus
City Councilwoman Charleta Tavares, who lost to Blackwell
in 1998, is again seeking the nomination, as are State
Rep. Bryan Flannery (D-Lakewood) and Cleveland City Councilman
Craig Willis. Flannery has been running since before Blackwell
made his decision to run for treasurer. Also mentioned
as a possibility is Cincinnati City Councilwoman Alicia
Reece.
Though the filing deadline for all of these offices is
still five months away, the intrigue has already begun. |
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JOHNSON’S
MOVE TO DEVELOPMENT
CAUSES CHAIN REACTION
Unlike
1999, which saw more than a dozen state legislators –
all of them serving their final term under term limits
– resign their seats to pursue other opportunities,
departures in 2001 have been scant. Until Sen. Bruce Johnson
(R-Columbus) resigned effective September 17 to fill the
position of director of the Department of Development
under Gov. Taft, only former Sen. Roy Ray (R-Bath) had
left the General Assembly this year.
Johnson’s vacancy in the Senate hasn’t yet been
officially filled, but a Senate Republican screening committee
recommended State Rep. David Goodman (R-Bexley) to fill
the seat. The full Senate Republican caucus is expected
to approve Goodman’s appointment in early October.
He has represented the 25th House district since 1998
and compiled an 88% cumulative pro-business voting record
during his time in the House.
While Goodman’s certain move to the Senate was almost
a foregone conclusion from the start, his successor in
the House is not. A spirited contest is developing that
will once again highlight the divisions within the Franklin
County Republican Party. Though the House Republicans
are responsible for filling the vacancy, the desires of
county parties are typically given some consideration,
and the unpleasant experience the caucus had in 1999 with
disregarding the Franklin County Republican Party is still
fresh in the minds of many who do not want a repeat.
The two individuals who have indicated they would like
to replace Goodman are Gahanna Mayor Jim McGregor and
John Rosan, a CPA with PricewaterhouseCoopers. McGregor
has been mayor for 18 years and previously was an administrator
with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Rosan is
a former finance director for the Franklin County Republican
Party and currently serves on the party’s central
committee. He also is Goodman’s campaign treasurer.
The county party has battled internal divisions in recent
years between economic and social conservatives. Complicating
the situation, Party Chairman Michael Colley, a trial
attorney, is widely expected to not seek re-election.
As a perceived lame duck, he has a diminished ability
to bring the factions together. Colley has indicated that
the party will not begin the process of interviewing candidates
interested in succeeding Goodman until Goodman formally
resigns and a vacancy in House district 25 is official.
McGregor probably is more closely aligned with the loose
coalition of social conservatives and courthouse employees
that have prevailed in other recent intra-party contests.
Rosan, meanwhile, is probably preferred by committee members
who are first and foremost economic conservatives. The
fact that Rosan is a member of the committee that will
vote on an endorsement is not expected to provide him
a significant advantage.
Over the summer, P.a.C.E. met with both Rosan and McGregor.
Neither was asked to complete an issues survey, but our
initial thoughts are that both would be likely to support
most of the business agenda advocated by the Ohio Chamber
and its members.
The 25th House district currently includes, in addition
to Gahanna, the Columbus suburbs of Bexley and Whitehall,
as well as parts of Columbus’ northeast side. It
is uncertain what changes to the district will be made
as a result of reapportionment. |
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REVAMPED
LEGISLATURE MAINTAINS
PRO-BUSINESS APPROACH
After
the legislature adjourned in late June, you should have
received a copy of the first P.a.C.E. Voting Record for
the 124th Ohio General Assembly. Given the uncertainty
that existed at the beginning of the year due to the installation
of a new Speaker of the House and leadership team and
the arrival of a record number of freshman legislators,
the results are reassuring and demonstrate a solid pro-business
voting pattern. Not a single bill opposed by the Chamber
has passed either chamber so far this year.
Floor votes on key business-backed legislative priorities
have given us the first clear separation between our allies
and opponents at the Statehouse is some time, and the
scores bear this out. In the House, they range from a
low of 50% up to a perfect 100% – a far cry from
the 74%-100% range compiled during the 123rd General Assembly.
In the Senate, the range is even greater, as one Senator
– Linda Furney – managed a mere 38% pro-business
score.
In a departure from recent years, the bills included in
the voting record that were contentious were not of the
business v. labor variety, but rather pitted the business
community against the trial bar. Senate Bill 97, which
brought stability back to the auto insurance market by
eliminating the mandatory offering of uninsured/underinsured
coverage, and Senate Bill 120, which would replace Ohio’s
current system of joint and several liability with a proportionate
liability system – passed a divided Senate despite
strong opposition from the Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers.
SB 97 also passed the House and is now state law. SB 120
has now moved to the House for action.
With next year’s primary election scheduled for May,
ample time remains for lawmakers to consider other significant
pieces of legislation before political concerns override
policy concerns and debate on anything remotely controversial
stalls. As a result, we think the prospect of other defining
pieces of legislation receiving the floor votes necessary
for inclusion in our voting records is good. Pressure
to pass House Bill 100, a diabetes mandate bill that the
Chamber opposes, will be intense. Senate Bill 114, which
would limit the prevailing wage law, and Senate Bill 60,
which establishes an optional comp time payment system
– are being heard in committees and could come to
the floor for votes. |
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FRESH
CANDIDATES EMERGING FOR 2002
While
the filing deadline for the November 2002 elections is
not until February, individuals considering a run for
office next year need to prepare themselves and their
families well in advance for the rigors of a campaign.
In order to help prospective candidates better understand
their potential as electable candidates and the commitment
it takes to be a successful candidate, P.a.C.E. again
co-sponsored a “Candidate Surfacing-Evaluation Seminar”
in July.
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of several current members
of the Ohio General Assembly who attended this seminar
prior to winning their seats in the legislature, over
40 would-be candidates, family members, and campaign managers
attended the seminar that was also sponsored by the Ohio
Farm Bureau, NFIB/Ohio, the Ohio Society of CPAs, the
Ohio Insurance Institute, the County Commissioners Association
of Ohio, Nationwide, and Ameritech. P.a.C.E. is an original
sponsor of this unique program that has been held in each
off-election year since 1997.
The day-long education featured a comprehensive look at
the demands a campaign makes on one’s time, personal
life, and job, the factors that must be considered in
assessing the competition, the financial requirements
for a winning campaign, and the challenge of establishing
an effective campaign structure. Participants were left
with a clear picture of the realities of entering a political
race.
The attendees came from across the state, across the political
spectrum, and will be seeking public office at all levels
of government. Several will no doubt be on the ballot
next year running for state representative, and the seminar
provided P.a.C.E. staff an opportunity to meet them and
begin gathering information and making initial assessments
about their campaigns.
A follow-up “Campaign Management” seminar that
will focus on developing a winning campaign is planned
for next spring. This program will be an intensive, two-day
campaign school that will feature media training and a
campaign simulation. |
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