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Feb 9, 2011 Paying Less In Federal Taxes Than They Did Under Bush For 3rd Straight Year, Americans Paying Less In Federal Taxes Than They Did Under Bush Think Progress more
Jan 29, 2011 Full-day kindergarten prepares kids better for success Even at a time of fiscal austerity, the priority of state government must be to help Ohioans compete effectively in a rapidly changing economy. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jan 29, 2011 Reclaim the Media: Cantwell, Franken introduce legislation to protect net neutrality U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the Internet Freedom, Broadband Promotion, and Consumer Protection Act of 2011 to ensure the broadband Internet continues to serve as a source of innovation, free speech, and job growth. Fairfield County Democratic Party more
Jan 29, 2011 John Kasich’s Reverse Robin Hood on Ohio’s Natural Resources Good old Robin Hood and his merry band of men lived in the forest and kept themselves busy stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. In John Kasich’s world, he and his merry band of poultry mega farmers and foreign oil and gas interests intend to to take natural resources from all Ohioans... Clips and Comment more
Jan 29, 2011 Auditor of State should defend taxpayers, not flawed bill Challenged to stand up for taxpayers and transparency, Ohio's new Auditor of State, David Yost, today took the opposite path. Fairfield County Democratic Party more
Jan 29, 2011 JobsOhio approved by panel in House Gov. John Kasich's plan to privatize Ohio's economic development efforts cleared another legislative hurdle yesterday despite Democrats' concerns. Columbus Dispatch more
Jan 29, 2011 Max Sutton to run for Newark mayor NEWARK -- Max Sutton, a Newark attorney and business owner, announced today he plans to run for mayor of Newark. Fairfield County Democratic Party more
Jan 26, 2011 The Agony & The Irony: Ohio’s GOP Retreads and the Same ‘Ol When it comes to health care reform, Portman, DeWine either clueless or looking out for big business Clips and Comment more
Jan 16, 2011 Proposal would wipe out many of Strickland's education plans COLUMBUS -- Legislation is in the works to overturn many aspects of former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland's plan for public education, including a mandate that districts offer all-day kindergarten for free. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jan 16, 2011 Lack of jobs, not bad loans, leading to lost homes The foreclosure crisis always has been a different animal in Ohio than in other parts of the country, according to housing advocates. Here, it has been affected as much by disappearing jobs as by shady lenders. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jan 12, 2011 Rep. Gerald Stebelton to chair House Education Committee LANCASTER — The incoming chairman of the House Education Committee said he hopes to limit cuts in education funding. But, he warns, cuts are coming. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jan 8, 2011 Kasich going after Medicaid Gov.-elect John Kasich and 32 other Republican governors and governors-elect are urging the Obama administration to let states cut enrollment in the tax-funded Medicaid program without losing federal aid. Columbus Dispatch more
Jan 8, 2011 Outgoing governor gives 290 pardons In exercising his ultimate authority as governor, granting executive clemency, Gov. Ted Strickland will go down in history as more liberal than his predecessors. Columbus Dispatch more
Jan 8, 2011 Opiate Task Force recognized by Ohio Dept. of Health LANCASTER -- The Fairfield County Opiate Task Force and Fairfield Medical Center were recognized Friday for their efforts to deal with opiate addiction as a community problem. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jan 7, 2011 Fairfield County man tapped to lead state drug abuse prevention, treatment services COLUMBUS -- For years, Orman Hall has been telling anyone who would listen about prescription drug abuse. From the National Sheriff's Association to Congressional committees, Hall has been talking about the scourge of legal opiates. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jan 7, 2011 Ken Culver: Council president work bars mayor run LANCASTER -- After a lengthy deliberation about whether to run for mayor, Lancaster City Council President Ken Culver will vie for a third term in his current seat. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jan 2, 2011 Public workers vow to fight GOP efforts to change laws Incoming state leaders plan to target public employment laws in 2011, but this past week backers of the collective bargaining process promised to put up a fight. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jan 2, 2011 Public Workers Facing Outrage as Budget Crises Grow FLEMINGTON, N.J. — Ever since Marie Corfield’s confrontation with Gov. Chris Christie this fall over the state’s education cuts became a YouTube classic, she has received a stream of vituperative e-mails and Facebook postings. New York Times more
Jan 1, 2011 Killing train kills private projects When the 3C passenger rail line pushed by Gov. Ted Strickland was derailed, supporters say the estimated 16,700 jobs and $3 billion in potential investments went off track as well. Developers said they are not likely to build projects in Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati now that the... Columbus Dispatch more
Dec 28, 2010 Fairfield County sheriff warns of mail thefts The Fairfield County sheriff is warning the public to beware of mail thefts. Columbus Dispatch more
Dec 16, 2010 Cordray taking top post with federal consumer protection bureau Outgoing Ohio Attorney General Rich Cordray has been tapped to serve a leading role in the federal consumer financial protection agency he advocated for as Ohio’s top lawyer. Business Journal more
Dec 12, 2010 Charity Newsies mark 75 years of organizing county fundraiser LANCASTER -- Seventy-five years ago, local businesspeople and supporters hit the streets for one day in Lancaster selling a newspaper. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Dec 12, 2010 Steve Austria to be on House spending committee The U.S. House Republican Steering Committee has selected U.S. Rep. Steve Austria, R-Beavercreek, to serve as a member of the House Appropriations Committee for the 112th Congress. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Dec 9, 2010 Ohio, Wisconsin high-speed rail money to go elsewhere WASHINGTON -- It's official: Ohio's federal high-speed rail funding has been sent down the tracks to other states. Columbus Dispatch more
Dec 9, 2010 Food pantry lights up downtown with holiday fundraiser For the third straight year, a Pickerington-based food pantry hopes to light up downtown as it feeds families in need this holiday season. This Week - Pickerington more
Dec 7, 2010 Strickland: Kasich's passenger rail plan 'tragic,' 'wrong for Ohio' Gov. Ted Strickland today called his successor's plan to kill a passenger rail system linking four Ohio cities "tragic," contending that Republican John Kasich is passing up a unique opportunity to create jobs and enhance Ohio's transportation options. Columbus Dispatch more
Dec 7, 2010 Lancaster hopes to help company develop downtown property LANCASTER -- City officials are deciding whether to sponsor a Columbus company's application for a grant that could pave the way for redevelopment of the site of the former Lancaster Glass facility. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Dec 1, 2010 Ted Strickland: Democrats Suffering From 'Intellectual Elitism' Fresh off a narrow loss in his gubernatorial re-election campaign, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland on Wednesday offered some somber and sober-minded criticism for his own party and president. Huffington Post more
Nov 30, 2010 Kasich names head of ODOT At an age when most people are leaving their job for a long-awaited retirement, Jerry Wray will return to a position he left more than a decade ago. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 28, 2010 Funeral for former Lancaster fire chief will be Monday The funeral for former Lancaster fire chief Wilbur Welch will take place on Monday. Welch served 24 years in the department before retiring in February 1992. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 28, 2010 Comeback for Ohio Dems would not be easy Swings of the pendulum in politics are nothing new, but the one that swung through Ohio -- and most of the rest of the nation -- on Nov. 2, was a body blow to the Ohio Democratic Party. Fairfield County Democratic Party more
Nov 28, 2010 Other states clamoring for Ohio's 3C rail funds Gov.-elect John Kasich's vow to scrap a proposed passenger rail line linking Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland is becoming increasingly popular - in New York, California and other states that hope to snatch the $400 million in federal dollars that Ohio might give up. Columbus Dispatch more
Nov 27, 2010 Council troubled by more than $1 million fund gap The city council and the city administration tried to find ways to cut more than $1 million from the city's general fund budget during hearings Friday but failed to come up with any easy solutions. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 26, 2010 Newspaper asks Kasich to preserve state government jobs résumés as public records Gov.-elect John Kasich and the chairman of his nonprofit transition committee were asked by a representative of The Cincinnati Enquirer to preserve all résumés and related memos or records as people apply for state government jobs. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 26, 2010 Fairfield 33 Development Alliance presents marketing plan The group charged with economic development throughout the Fairfield County region will focus its 2011 marketing and funds on three distinct industries. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 23, 2010 Lancaster City Council prepares for budget talks The city council had its first look at the mayor's proposed 2011 budget, and soon it will sift through the numbers to trim a gap of more than $1 million. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 23, 2010 Lancaster firefighters split shifts to tutor students When the Lancaster firefighters come into the city schools to tutor students, it not only helps their reading fluency but elevates their self-esteem and confidence, school officials say. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 19, 2010 Pickerington offers residents prescription discounts Pickerington residents are eligible for a new drug discount program that city officials say could save 20 percent on the cost of prescription medications. This Week - Pickerington more
Nov 19, 2010 New rail facility planned for east side of Lancaster The east side of Lancaster will have a railway transload facility operational in 2011. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 18, 2010 Lancaster city revenue continues annual decrease The city's general fund revenue has decreased each year since 2007. Despite income tax collections remaining steady, the trend is projected to continue through 2011. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 13, 2010 George Bush Book 'Decision Points' Lifted From Advisers' Books When Crown Publishing inked a deal with George W. Bush for his memoirs, the publisher knew it wasn't getting Faulkner Huffington Post more
Nov 13, 2010 GOP rejects blocking all Strickland nominees An Ohio Senate spokeswoman says the Republican-led chamber is not considering a blanket rejection of outgoing Gov. Ted Strickland's pending appointments. Columbus Dispatch more
Nov 13, 2010 Former Fairfield County Clerk of Courts worker files complaint A former employee of the Fairfield County Clerk of Courts office is appealing her firing to the State Personnel Board of Review, but the clerk says the firing was justified. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 12, 2010 Kingy's Pizza co-owner faces drug charges Fairfield-Hocking Major Crimes Unit officials say they set up seven transactions to buy prescription pills from a Kingy's Pizza co-owner Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 7, 2010 Kasich cuts put GOP on the spot As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. Columbus Dispatch more
Nov 7, 2010 Schools brace for funding cuts Ohio school districts got some hint this week of the hole the approaching budget tsumani might blow in their budgets. Columbus Dispatch more
Nov 7, 2010 City council discusses budget cut options LANCASTER -- Amid the city administration making final adjustments to next year's budget, some city council leaders already are working on ways to avoid further financial shortfalls, now and in the future. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 5, 2010 Amanda-Clearcreek in limbo for two weeks or more It could be two weeks or more before Amanda-Clearcreek officials, students and parents learn if the district's fourth attempt to pass a levy was successful. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 4, 2010 Lisa Kessler, Steve Davis interested in succeeding Myers Two well-known and proven vote-getting local Republicans are looking to throw their hats into the ring to replace county Commissioner Jon Myers when he retires at the end of the year. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 4, 2010 Now that Republicans are in charge, liberal groups have their concerns As Republicans savored a clean sweep of Ohio's Legislature and statewide offices, groups traditionally supported by Democrats positioned for the budget and policy fights they expect are ahead. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 31, 2010 Local youth involvement high among Democrats, Republicans Jade Holmes has spent much of her free time knocking on countless doors, walking untold miles and encouraging anyone who'll listen to get out and vote on Tuesday. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 30, 2010 Focus on change in 31st District contest Two local residents are running for the Ohio Senate seat because they want to see more changes in Columbus. Democrat Dennis Lupher is challenging incumbent Republican Tim Schaffer, who has served as senator since 2006. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 30, 2010 Capitol Idea: Seeking New Unity In A Place Of Historical Disunity GETTYSBURG, Pa. — Watching charming, autumn-tinted scenery roll by driving the rural highways of this corner of Adams County, you could think yourself anywhere in rural America. The Democratic Daily more
Oct 29, 2010 Outside groups pour millions into contested Ohio races Outside groups have spent $12 million on negative campaign ads in Ohio's federal races, and about a fourth of that was in the hotly contested 18th Congressional District race. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 29, 2010 Former employee files suit against Fairfield County Ten months after being fired and one week before the election, a former county employee has filed a civil suit against the Fairfield County commissioners, maintaining he had been terminated after he had filed an ethics complaint against Fairfield County Commissioner Mike Kiger. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 29, 2010 Fairfield County's top political donors spend about $290,000 There's no escaping it. The campaign signs. The television ads. The mailers. Political campaigns dump millions into the local economy every two years in an effort to shape voter opinion. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 29, 2010 Big-name Democrats make final Ohio campaign push Democrats are rolling out the big names -- President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton -- in a desperate effort to save Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and maintain their grip on a state critical for the 2012 presidential election. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 29, 2010 Ohio's Democratic gov. aiming for rural GOP votes Democrat incumbent Ted Strickland is reaching back to his winning strategy of four years ago, making a push to pick up votes in conservative rural areas during the final days of the governor's race. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 28, 2010 Cuyahoga County turnout key to races statewide Gov. Ted Strickland might hail from Duck Run near the Ohio River, but this Lake Erie metropolis is the home turf he must defend if he hopes to win a second term Tuesday. Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 28, 2010 Strickland told truth in anti-Kasich ad, elections panel finds A panel of the Ohio Elections Commission voted 2 to 1 this morning to throw out a complaint that Gov. Ted Strickland lied about Republican challenger John Kasich's record on gun issues. Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 28, 2010 Strickland, Kasich and others rally support in Summit County With the days winding down till the 2010 general election, the campaign rhetoric is heating up. Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland and his Republican challenger, John Kasich, each visited Summit County on Wednesday and brought a message to their ardent supporters: I am the right man for the job. Akron Beacon Journal more
Oct 26, 2010 Fairfield County commissioner says he's leaving office early Fairfield County Commissioner Jon D. Myers said today that he will step down early from his third term by resigning on Dec. 31. Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 24, 2010 Strickland whittles Kasich lead to 2 points The race for governor has narrowed to a 2-point gap as Democrats are showing more interest as the election nears, according to a poll commissioned by the Ohio Newspaper Organization. Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 24, 2010 National parties pouring money into 6th District Spending by the national parties is on the rise in eastern Ohio's 6th Congressional District. Fairfield County Democratic Party more
Oct 24, 2010 President rallies Minnesota faithful President Barack Obama rallied his party's base yesterday around gubernatorial hopeful Mark Dayton. Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 24, 2010 Obama: Consumers lose if GOP rolls back reforms President Barack Obama says consumers would lose if Republicans regain power in Congress and try to roll back his Wall Street overhaul. Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 24, 2010 Strickland kept promises on public education and income taxes Zanesville Times Recorder more
Oct 23, 2010 Clinton visit scheduled Former President Bill Clinton is expected to campaign in Columbus next Saturday for Gov. Ted Strickland and Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, D-Columbus, according to Democratic sources. Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 23, 2010 Ohio unemployment falls for 6th straight month The final snapshot of Ohio's job market before Election Day was issued Friday and showed the state's unemployment rate slipped to 10 percent in September, continuing a steady retreat from March's 26-year high of 11 percent. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 23, 2010 Changes ahead for high-tech jobs plan No matter who wins the Ohio governor's race, changes are coming to the popular Third Frontier jobs-creation program. Fairfield County Democratic Party more
Oct 22, 2010 Election over for millions of voters Election Day already is finished for more than 3 million Americans, and a surprising number of them are Democrats. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 22, 2010 Poll: Candidates for Ohio governor about even A new poll in the Ohio governor's race shows Democratic incumbent Ted Strickland and GOP challenger John Kasich are about even two weeks before Election Day. The CNN/Time poll released Wednesday shows Strickland with 48 percent support among registered voters and Kasich with 46 percent. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 22, 2010 Power to appoint a big tool for governors Whoever Ohioans pick in the Nov. 2 gubernatorial election won't just be governor. He'll name dozens of judges and thousands of other Ohioans to 300 state boards, commissions and task forces -- everything from public university trustees to the Third Frontier Commission to the state dental board. Cincinnati Enquirer more
Oct 19, 2010 Strickland points to character contrast in campaign Seeking a needed bump among voters, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland sought Monday to paint a contrast in character between himself and Republican rival John Kasich heading into the final stretch of the governor's race. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 19, 2010 Kasich team in crosshairs over ’Plumber’ statement Republican John Kasich’s running mate in the Ohio governor’s race is drawing Democratic criticism for an erroneous claim that a federal law was found broken in the Joe the Plumber records-peeping case. Toledo Blade more
Oct 18, 2010 President's rally attracts 35,000 Seeking to fire up the Democratic base and the young voters who helped put him into office in 2008, President Barack Obama urged an overflow crowd on the Ohio State University Oval last night to reject a Republican agenda "that nearly destroyed the economy." Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 18, 2010 Obama targets key groups in election's homestretch Heading into the homestretch of the midterm elections, President Barack Obama is targeting key Democratic constituencies as he tries to energize voters and build up Election Day turnout among his supporters. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 16, 2010 Train foes have roads agenda Once again, the Buckeye Institute reveals its love for the free market so long as its beloved highway monopoly is immune from liability while being lavished with billions annually in taxpayer subsidies. Cincinnati Enquirer more
Oct 15, 2010 Celebrities Produce Video To Push Back Against Chamber, Rightwing Attacks A progressive coalition enlisted two well-known Hollywood comedians to produce a humorous video aimed at rebutting the onslaught of election-season business and conservative attacks on the healthcare reform law enacted earlier this year. The Democratic Daily more
Oct 14, 2010 Allegations Prove Foreigners Buying Elections Just As Obama Warned, Expert Says Revelations that one of the most powerful lobbying groups is using foreign funds to influence U.S. elections proves President Obama was right in January when he warned of just such consequences to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, according to an analyst at a Washington watchdog... The Democratic Daily more
Oct 11, 2010 Ohio Attorney General Fights Against Wall Street COLUMBUS, Ohio — Back East, at the corner of Broad and Wall Streets, the view is swell. The Dow is soaring, and bankers look pleased. But here on East Broad Street, the mood is gloomier. At least 90,000 residential and commercial foreclosure notices will be filed in Ohio this year. Pension... New York Times more
Oct 9, 2010 Underdog Fisher hits back at Portman U.S. Senate candidates trade barbs at fiery debate in Cleveland Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 9, 2010 $2 ride program to move forward without funding from county The Fairfield County commissioners decided against contributing about $15,000 to Lancaster Public Transit to start countywide service next year. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 7, 2010 Kasich shouldn't block high-speed rail tracks WHEN the high-speed or medium-speed train pulls out of the station, Ohio won't be on it if Republican John Kasich wins the gubernatorial election. He is adamant that expansion of passenger rail service in the state will go nowhere if he's governor. Toledo Blade more
Oct 4, 2010 How to fight Tea Party's faux populism Progressives are an impatient bunch. We fight for people who have waited too long already — for health care, for educational opportunity, for jobs to keep them in the middle class. USA TODAY more
Oct 4, 2010 Fairfield County Sheriff seeking budget increases The leaders of the two county departments with the largest budgets warned of cuts in the detective bureau and the major crimes unit or a break in faith with the people of Fairfield County if their 2011 budget requests were not accepted. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 3, 2010 Joe Hallett commentary: Campaign attack ads reach scummy lows Amid the inanity coming from your television set in 30-second bursts, there is one politician's ad that sticks out as the scummiest so far. It is an attack ad by Josh Mandel, ironically a likable and easygoing state representative from Lyndhurst who is running against Democratic state... Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 3, 2010 Cordray, DeWine differ sharply on issues (video) Corruption. Health care. Crime lab delays. It doesn't take much to get two opposing attorneys at each other's throats, especially when they're competing to be the state's top lawyer. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 3, 2010 Dayton Daily News endorses Gov. Ted Strickland The Dayton Daily News is endorsing Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland in the Nov. 2 election. Springfield News Sun more
Oct 2, 2010 Ohio's John Glenn reminded how time flies John Glenn may be a space hero, but some things can bring a guy right down to earth. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Sep 30, 2010 Development of a rail system in Ohio is worth pursuing People who can remember excursions by passenger train from downtown Youngstown stations to Cleveland or Pittsburgh for a ball game or a day of shopping are fewer and fewer. Fairfield County Democratic Party more
Sep 30, 2010 Four-way race includes incumbent, 3 challengers The November race for Ohio's 7th Congressional district will feature four contestants. This Week - Pickerington more
Sep 30, 2010 Schaffer, Lupher to vie for 31st Senate District seat Familiar foes will face off in November for the 31st Ohio Senate district seat when incumbent Tim Schaffer is challenged by Dennis Lupher. This Week - Pickerington more
Sep 28, 2010 Congress candidates in 7th District agree on very little We could get a 4 year old to represent us and vote NO! Support Bill Conner for Congress! Columbus Dispatch more
Sep 28, 2010 '10 census likely will cost Ohio two House seats '10 census likely will cost Ohio two House seats Columbus Dispatch more
Sep 28, 2010 Strickland within margin of error in new Fox poll Strickland within margin of error in new Fox poll Columbus Dispatch more
Sep 28, 2010 Obama rally in Columbus on Oct. 17 Obama rally in Columbus on Oct. 17 Columbus Dispatch more
Sep 24, 2010 Ohio releases faster passenger train schedule A new analysis says trains running on Ohio's passenger rail project are capable of completing the entire Cleveland-to-Cincinnati route in just over 5 hours, about 90 minutes faster than a previous estimate. State transportation officials say the new schedule is based a more detailed computer... Columbus Dispatch more
Sep 24, 2010 Campaign Ad Watch | Ted Strickland for Governor: Angry Campaign Ad Watch | Ted Strickland for Governor: Angry Columbus Dispatch more
Sep 24, 2010 Ohio releases faster passenger train schedule Trains running on Ohio's planned passenger rail project are capable of completing the entire Cleveland-to-Cincinnati route in just over 5 hours, about 90 minutes faster than a previous estimate, state transportation officials said Friday. Dayton Daily News more
Sep 23, 2010 Downhill With the G.O.P. New York Times more
Sep 20, 2010 Report ties jobs to high-speed rail bid Ohio Public Interest Research Group says the state’s high-speed passenger rail plan would create jobs and drive economic growth. The nonprofit advocacy organization released a 63-page report Monday as Ohio officials consider whether to accept a $400 million federal stimulus grant to help... Columbus Business Journal more
Sep 18, 2010 Elections complaint dismissed after letter of apology Elections complaint dismissed after letter of apology Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Sep 17, 2010 Lehman Collapse 2 year Anniversary Yesterday marked the two-year anniversary of the collapse of the financial giant Lehman Brothers, a collapse that led to the global recession and caused Ohioans to lose their homes, their jobs and their pensions. Congressman John Kasich served as a Managing Director of Lehman Brothers from 2001... Fairfield County Democratic Party more...
Sep 17, 2010 The Tax-Cut Racket The Tax-Cut Racket New York Times more
Sep 17, 2010 Stewart, Colbert to hold rallies in Washington D.C. Stewart, Colbert to hold rallies in Washington D.C. Yahoo News more
Sep 16, 2010 3 mayors praise governor, criticize opponent 3 mayors praise governor, criticize opponent Youngstown Vindicator more
Sep 16, 2010 Cordray also uses 'Wall Street' attack Cordray also uses 'Wall Street' attack Columbus Dispatch more
Sep 16, 2010 Mayors Join for Testimonial to Strickland Mayors Join for Testimonial to Strickland Business Journal Daily more
Sep 15, 2010 Officials: Lehman Brothers collapse killed big job deal for Lorain Officials: Lehman Brothers collapse killed big job deal for Lorain The Chronicle Telegram more
Sep 15, 2010 Dems in Dayton and across state observe anniversary of Lehman Brothers collapse Dems in Dayton and across state observe anniversary of Lehman Brothers collapse Dayton Daily News more
Dec 3, 2007 Dispatch - Strickland revisits campaign promises "I own this issue," [Strickland] said yesterday. "I am not going to run away from it or walk away from it. I am not crawling away from it either. I think about it every day. It is my strong commitment to get this done." Columbus Dispatch more
Dec 1, 2007 Dispatch - Ohio Foreclosure Rate Still Highest A mortgage research company says Ohio continued to have one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country last month. RealtyTrac says Ohio reported one foreclosure filing for every 290 households. The state had more than 17,000 filings in October, up 136 percent from a year ago. Columbus Dispatch more
Nov 27, 2007 Dispatch - Legislature hasn't been a house afire this year Ohio lawmakers are on pace to hold fewer sessions and pass fewer bills in 2007 than in any corresponding year for at least a decade. While legislators frequently gather in Columbus for committee hearings and handle a variety of business in their districts, the House will have convened just 37... Columbus Dispatch more
Nov 22, 2007 Pickerington Times-Sun - Area townships, cities consider Route 33 corridor JEDD Officials from Violet Township, Bloom Township, and the cities of Pickerington, Canal Winchester and Lancaster are currently reviewing and discussing a draft of a proposed Joint Economic Development District agreement focused on economic growth opportunities along the U.S. Route 33 corridor. Pickerington Times-Sun more
Nov 22, 2007 Pickerington Times-Sun - District officials study options for expiring 7.9-mill levy With the passage of Issue 8 in the november general election, Pickerington Local School District officials are now directing their attention to what to do about a 7.9-mill operating levy that will expire in December 2008. Pickerington Times-Sun more
Nov 22, 2007 ThisWeek Pickerington - Final vote on budget expected Dec. 4 A final vote on "a very tight" city budget for 2008 is expected at (Pickerington City) council's Dec. 4 meeting. Council's finance committee will finalize the budget proposal and vote whether to forward it to council at its Nov. 29 meeting. This Week - Pickerington more
Oct 18, 2007 Dispatch - Strickland seeks reform; State must outline, track teacher misconduct, governor says Gov. Ted Strickland and Ohio lawmakers pushed yesterday for immediate reforms to the state system that allows teachers with histories of misconduct into classrooms. Strickland said the Ohio Department of Education needs to consolidate information about disciplined educators and make it available... Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 7, 2007 Dispatch - Ex-aide calls 'Ney World' irresistible By 2005, Capitol Hill insider Neil Volz had come to realize that he had to help destroy his former boss, Rep. Bob Ney, to save himself and begin recovering his self-respect. Columbus Dispatch more
Sep 22, 2007 Dispatch - Dann seeks to close third charter school Attorney General Marc Dann yesterday sought to shut down a third tax-funded, privately operated charter school where student performance has been dismal. In a lawsuit filed in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, Dann alleged that the Moraine Community School of Dayton has failed in its mission... Columbus Dispatch more
Sep 22, 2007 Dispatch - Ex-BWC official pleads guilty Prosecutors agreed to the deal with McLean in part because of his "extensive" cooperation in a sweeping investigation of scandals at the bureau, said Lara N. Baker, chief prosecutor in the Columbus city attorney's office. Columbus Dispatch more
Sep 13, 2007 Dispatch - Dann's moves to close charter schools called political; Institutions already at risk over poor grades, bookkeeping “We don't want to wait because we don't want to see more tax dollars wasted. We don't want to see kids in failing schools any longer than they have to be. When a kid is in a school where they are not being educated, that's one day too long,” said Leo Jennings III, spokesman for Dann. Columbus Dispatch more
Sep 9, 2007 Dispatch - Backing for president, war sinks further in central Ohio, poll says As America prepares to hear a long-awaited progress report on Iraq and mark another 9/11 anniversary, central Ohioans' disdain for their president and his war stands at an all-time high. Columbus Dispatch more
Sep 7, 2007 Dispatch - Strickland Asks For Expanded Federal Flood Aid For 7 Counties Governor Ted Strickland Thursday asked President Bush to expand federal aid to seven Ohio counties declared major disaster areas because of flooding last month. Ohio News Network more
Sep 6, 2007 ThisWeek Pickerington - Council, board races each attract 7 candidates Pickerington-area voters will see a full ballot in the Nov. 6 election. According to information filed with the Fairfield County Board of Elections, seven people are seeking election to three open seats on Pickerington City Council. This Week - Pickerington more
Aug 19, 2007 Eagle-Gazette - Republican Party names Hedges to replace Lutz on ballot Lancaster Republicans have chosen Robert Hedges to replace Bradley Lutz as an at-large candidate for city council in the November election. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jul 19, 2007 Dispatch - GOP disputes union order Many of the state's 7,000 independent home health-care workers -- the ones who look after low-income elderly and disabled Ohioans -- say Strickland's order gives them a long-awaited opportunity to address concerns about pay, benefits and working conditions. Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 24, 2007 Dispatch - Governor praised for theft response, Experts say his swift action and commitment to sharing details are best way to handle data loss Crisis-management and communications experts generally give Strickland high marks for his handling of the crisis, despite questions about whether his administration took too long to figure out what data was compromised and whether he initially understated the scope of the problem. Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 24, 2007 Eagle-Gazette - Education elections open The Ohio School Board's Association is working to get people involved in public education in November. It's a school board election year, and OSBA wants as many people to get involved as possible. That's why the organization is getting its school board candidate campaign under way. Local boards... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jun 24, 2007 Eagle-Gazette - Jerry Woodgeard, candidate for Mayor Learn about Democratic candidate Jerry Woodgeard in this Eagle-Gazette online special report. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jun 23, 2007 Dispatch - Legislators settle the easy issues for next budget A special conference committee whipped through a 10-minute hearing yesterday, settling 23 of the easiest-to-resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the $52.3 billion state budget. Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 12, 2007 Dispatch - Governor vows to veto video wagering games Hours after Gov. Ted Strickland threatened to veto legislation that would allow Ohioans to wager on archived horse races via a video console, the speaker of the House declared the bill dead. At the same time, Strickland and Attorney General Marc Dann said devices that function like a slot... Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 8, 2007 Dispatch - 10 mortgage lenders sued; state alleges illegal practices Friday Accusing 10 mortgage lenders of "unconscionable acts," Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann yesterday sued the companies he said violated the state's 5-month-old predatory-lending law. Dann's lawsuits say the lenders and brokers pressured real-estate appraisers to inflate the value of homes to "make... Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 8, 2007 Dispatch - School funding amendment- Education groups to pursue fall vote Education groups pushing a constitutional amendment aimed at changing Ohio's school-funding system want the proposal on the ballot this November, not a year later. Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 1, 2007 Dispatch - Brunner asks auditor to help recoup Blackwell gifts On his way out of office as secretary of state, J. Kenneth Blackwell gave parting payments totaling $80,186 to 19 top staffers in December. Jennifer Brunner, his Democratic successor, wants the money paid back. Brunner is seeking to recover the payments on grounds they were illegal, after... Columbus Dispatch more
May 21, 2007 Dispatch - Pickerington schools will place levy on November ballot Pickerington voters, who turned down a 5-mill replacement levy two weeks ago, should expect to return to the polls in November. School board members announced the plans this morning. The board still has to decide whether to return to voters with a 5-mill replacement levy or another operating... Columbus Dispatch more
May 20, 2007 Gazette - Schools responds well to poor 2005 audit, cleaning up its previous Lancaster City Schools officials are ready to move forward with additional plans to organize its finances after a recent 2006 audit showed no findings for recovery. The recent audit follows a 2005 audit that led to the resignation of the school district's treasurer, Scott Osborne. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
May 12, 2007 Dispatch - Ohio Democratic Party ready for role in 2008 In Columbus tonight, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will find an Ohio Democratic Party that actually appears capable of helping her win the presidency next year. Such a proposition was dubious for the party's last two presidential nominees. And in 1996, Clinton's husband, Bill, won Ohio almost in... Columbus Dispatch more
May 6, 2007 Dispatch - Ex-official repays state after being confronted After she was defeated in last year's GOP primary, former state Treasurer Jennette Bradley spent $1,200 in taxpayer money to update her personal resume. Bradley also signed off on spending $5,150 for 23 treasurer's employees to attend a career consulting seminar. The topics included... Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 28, 2007 Blade - Reports show how BWC workers were tied to scandal Hundreds of pages of investigative reports released yesterday by prosecutors reveal how three investment department employees with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation were swept up in the scandal that has gripped the state agency for more than two years. Toledo Blade more
Apr 28, 2007 Eagle-Gazette - County needs poll workers for May 8; This year's turnover higher than normal because of change in Ohio's governor's party Fairfield County elections officials are struggling to recruit enough poll workers for the upcoming election in May. Five hundred workers are needed to run a normal election across the county. Election officials still needed at least 10 poll workers as of Friday for the primary election. But... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Apr 28, 2007 Pickerington Times-Sun - City Council gives City Manager Gilleland a contract renewal In a meeting April 17, Pickerington City Council unanimously approved the renewal of City Manager Judy Gilleland's contract and authorized her to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Child Advocacy Center of Fairfield County. Fairfield County Democratic Party more
Apr 28, 2007 Pickerington Times-Sun - Issue 9: Charter amendment a worthy move for Pickerington Changing or amending a city charter -- the "constitution" by which a municipality is structured and operates -- is not something to be taken lightly, nor is it something that should happen frequently. That noted, it is also important to maintain the integrity of that document and make sure the... Pickerington Times-Sun more
Apr 28, 2007 Pickerington Times-Sun - Issue 3: Making levy permanent keeps funding level Pickerington Local School District voters should vote "yes" on Issue 3, a 5-mill permanent replacement levy on the May 8 primary election ballot. Pickerington Times-Sun more
Apr 28, 2007 Pickerington Times-Sun - Issue 9: Charter amendment a worthy move for Pickerington Changing or amending a city charter -- the "constitution" by which a municipality is structured and operates -- is not something to be taken lightly, nor is it something that should happen frequently. That noted, it is also important to maintain the integrity of that document and make sure the... Pickerington Times-Sun more
Apr 16, 2007 Eagle-Gazette - Proposed ballot issue would ensure sick days for Ohio workers One of the state’s major unions is pursuing a proposal that would require companies to grant sick days, an issue that could wind up on the November 2008 ballot and help drive voter turnout for the Democratic nominee for president. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Apr 5, 2007 Dispatch - Strickland extends freeze on state's food spending Gov. Ted Strickland today extended his temporary freeze on certain state meal-related expenditures until May 4. It was to have expired today. After learning that the state spent nearly $8.2 million on food and related purchases since July 2003, Strickland last month issued an order temporarily... Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 5, 2007 Dispatch - Elections-panel chief loses bid to stop hearing on his ouster Ohio's attorney general and secretary of state personally went to court yesterday to fight for the right to remove Robert T. Bennett from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 5, 2007 Dispatch - Boehner, Hobson clash on Pelosi trip; Ohio Republicans disagree on mission to Syria Rep. David L. Hobson of Springfield, who joined Pelosi and other lawmakers in a meeting yesterday with Syrian President Bashar Assad, disagreed with Boehner that Pelosi "came here to embarrass Bush. I think she came here to reinforce certain policies, understand the region better and have the... Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 1, 2007 Blade - Gov. Strickland prescribes prevention for health woes; Leader wants Ohio's kids insured, immunized In his proposed two-year, $52.9 billion budget sent to lawmakers last month, Gov. Ted Strickland calls for raising income limits to provide health coverage to Ohio's 155,000 uninsured children. "That's the most cost-effective way to provide medical care, to make sure that children are immunized,... Toledo Blade more
Apr 1, 2007 Buckeye Lake Beacon - Jobs Coming to Buckeye Lake The Beacon learned this week that the Ohio Department of Development plans to announce within days a joint venture with Vanashree Agrotech of Pune, Maharashtra in India. The company is a leader in the conversion of biomass into fuels. The announcement could be made by Ohio Governor Ted... Buckeye Lake Beacon more...
Apr 1, 2007 Eagle-Gazette - Sewer fees may triple by 2020 Lancaster residents will pay higher sewer fees starting next year. The question for city officials is how much and from what source the money will come. The fee hike comes from the Ohio EPA officials telling Lancaster officials they must complete seven projects to meet the agency's requirement... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Apr 1, 2007 Blade - Ohio seeks limelight as next corridor of energy innovation New York had its Silicon Alley, Michigan its Automation Alley and Illinois its Silicon Prairie. Now comes Ohio in the parade of Silicon Valley wannabes. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Gov. Ted Strickland, both Democrats, pledged during their 2006 campaigns to join forces in Washington and Columbus... Toledo Blade more
Apr 1, 2007 AP - Governor signs transportation budget Governor Strickland this morning signed the state's 7.8 billion-dollar transportation budget for the next two years. The Democrat used his line-item veto on a provision that would have allowed charter schools to create their own transportation districts. Ohio News Network more
Apr 1, 2007 Pickerington Times-Sun - Committee holds economic pact with proposed changes City Council President Keith Smith said he doesn't think the revised agreement the township delivered to the city has enough votes to pass because of how the document describes the use of expenses between the township and the city. Pickerington Times-Sun more
Mar 27, 2007 Third member of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections resigns Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner received notice Tuesday from Cuyahoga County Board of Elections member Sally Florkiewicz that she has resigned from the board. The resignation by Florkiewicz, a Republican, leaves fellow Republican Robert T. Bennett as the sole member of the Cuyahoga... Ohio Secretary of State more
Feb 27, 2007 Eagle-Gazette - Lancaster City Council: More input, please; Proposed salary increases draw apathetic response Lancaster City Council members want to hear what you think about the proposed pay raises they will be voting on at the next meeting. The proposed salary increase was not brought up by any member of the public during the council meeting Monday night, however, Council members did raise the issue. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Feb 21, 2007 Eagle-Gazette - Veteran politicians face off for mayor; Smith and Woodgeard prepare for their second race against each other City Councilman Jerry Woodgeard, D-At Large, filed petitions to run for mayor. He will face Republican Mayor David Smith. Smith has until Thursday to file his petitions, but he said he plans to run for the office again. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Feb 20, 2007 Eagle-Gazette - National City Bank VP to run for city treasurer The race for Lancaster City Treasurer will include a prominent Democrat. Robert C. Wolfinger, 56, has filed petitions to run for the part-time seat now held by Republican Wayne Roller. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Feb 12, 2007 Columbus Dispatch - Hungry in Ohio; Dramatic jump in use of food stamps underscores troubling trend across state The job and wage stagnation that have long plagued the northeastern and southeastern regions of the state seem to be reaching central Ohio, said Laura Holton of the Fairfield County Department of Job and Family Services. Columbus Dispatch more
Feb 6, 2007 Dispatch - Audit of Blackwell office requested The shredding of documents before J. Kenneth Blackwell left office as secretary of state is one reason his successor wants a complete audit of the office. The new secretary of state, Jennifer L. Brunner, hand-delivered a letter yesterday to Auditor Mary Taylor seeking a top-tobottom review of... Columbus Dispatch more
Feb 6, 2007 Dispatch - New Workers’ Comp bribery accusations surface; Agent charged with paying former official Clarke T. Blizzard showered a former top official at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation with tickets and gifts, including $2,300 cash to his former girlfriend and more than $9,000 for his son’s college tuition, authorities said yesterday. In return, companies that Blizzard represented... Columbus Dispatch more
Jan 30, 2007 Dispatch - Cordray says state owns thousands of pieces of unused property Cordray, who has been in office since Jan. 8, has already done a preliminary inventory of state property in 20 counties. He found 7,364 parcels of state property. He estimated 446 of those could be sold for private development or use for community projects. The McKinley Avenue plot, 12 acres... Columbus Dispatch more
Jan 25, 2007 Eagle-Gazette - Several candidates want Pickerington Schools' top job The Pickerington Local School District released a list of candidates who have submitted resumes for the superintendent position. Bob Thiede, the district's current superintendent, announced his retirement late last year. Thiede will retire in July. The person will lead the Fairfield County's... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jan 16, 2007 Blade - Blackwell handed out $80,000 in bonuses as he left office On his way out the door, former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell handed 19 of his key employees more than $80,000 in bonuses, even as his replacement, Democrat Jennifer Brunner, said he left her some $1 million short to meet her office’s obligations for this fiscal year. Toledo Blade more
Jan 12, 2007 Eagle-Gazette - Access management plan jammed with disagreements It doesn't appear a countywide access management plan will be implemented anytime soon. A two-hour meeting involving the committee designated to draft the plan and township trustees from throughout the county ended with a postponement Thursday. Some Fairfield County trustees said the county... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jan 12, 2007 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - McCain Defends Bush's Iraq Strategy Despite pointed questions from Levin and other Democrats, the testimony of the two top officials drew considerably less consternation than Thursday's testimony from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., told Rice that he feared Bush's plan would be the worst foreign... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jan 3, 2007 Eagle-Gazette - Voters may decide fate of economic development agreement PICKERINGTON -The economic development agreement that divided Pickerington City Council for the last half of 2006 will continue to split the council this year. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jan 3, 2007 Dispatch - Taft signs bill limiting reach of minimum-wage coverage Gov. Bob Taft leaves office Sunday but is still at work, signing 12 bills yesterday that were passed during the lameduck legislative session last month and reviewing several other bills waiting for his signature or veto. Columbus Dispatch more
Dec 30, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Replacement named for Lancaster's 1st Ward, Bobbitt to be second woman on Lancaster Council The residents of Lancaster 1st Ward will have a new councilwoman starting in January. Melody Bobbitt was the unanimous choice to replace John Smith on the City Council. The decision came during a special meeting of the 1st Ward Fairfield County Democratic Central Committee members on Thursday. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Dec 29, 2006 New York Times - Ohio Ruling Denying Pay in Job Injury Draws Debate The Ohio Supreme Court has upheld a KFC franchise’s petition to deny workers’ compensation payments to a teenage boy who was severely burned while cleaning a pressure cooker, raising questions from lawyers and the dissenting judges about the basic no-fault tenet of the state’s workers’ compensation. New York Times more...
Dec 27, 2006 Dispatch - Taft reprimanded for ethics violations The Ohio Supreme Court today publicly reprimanded outgoing Gov. Bob Taft over ethics violations while in office, a black mark that stays on his permanent record as an attorney. Columbus Dispatch more
Dec 24, 2006 Blade - Strickland vows end to ‘business as usual’; Innovation viewed as key to development Gov-elect Ted Strickland says he will redirect Ohio’s development spending to the roots of the state’s economic slump: a shortage of the research, ideas, and investment that lead to profitable companies and higher incomes. His administration will gauge its progress with a new “scorecard” focused... Toledo Blade more
Dec 24, 2006 Dispatch - Womer Benjamin appointed to State Board of Education Taft, who leaves office on Jan. 7, appointed Womer Benjamin, 53, as the state’s insurance chief in 2002 after her loss to Democrat Tim Ryan in a northeastern Ohio congressional race. She served in the Ohio House from 1995 to 2003. Columbus Dispatch more
Dec 24, 2006 Dispatch - State rules 81 percent of provisional ballots valid About 81 percent of provisional ballots cast statewide in the Nov. 7 election were valid, up from 78 percent that were counted and verified in the 2004 election, the Ohio secretary of state’s office said Friday. Columbus Dispatch more
Dec 24, 2006 Dispatch - Issue 2 Backers Want Veto The coalition that backed Issue 2, the minimum-wage constitutional amendment on the November ballot, is now asking Governor Bob Taft to veto the law that would put the amendment into action. Columbus Dispatch more
Dec 24, 2006 Associated Press - Strickland Names Two New Cabinet Officers Governor elect Ted Strickland named two new cabinet officers Thursday, including the state's first openly gay agency director. The appointment of Columbus city councilwoman Mary Jo Hudson as insurance director follows a 2004 election in which religious conservatives in the state successfully... Ohio News Network more
Dec 21, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Hybrid position filled for county commissioners Fairfield County will have a new clerk-manager for the county commissioners. Carri Brown was hired on Tuesday by the county to enter the new position, a hybrid that includes the clerk's job, a fiscal element and elements of the old county administrator's position. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Dec 20, 2006 Associated Press - Limits on unions mark Republican lawmakers' last day Bills limiting organizing and political giving by labor unions were Republicans lawmakers' parting gift to Democratic Gov.-elect Ted Strickland on Wednesday. Ohio News Network more
Dec 19, 2006 Blade - Strickland: No tolerance for any Bureau of Workers' Compensation kickbacks Governor-elect Ted Strickland yesterday said managed-care companies should be "terminated" from doing business with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation if investigators determine that the firms have offered kickbacks in exchange for employer referrals. Toledo Blade more
Dec 19, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Council approves budget; staff, services won't be affected City Council unanimously passed its 2007 budget on Monday night. The new budget includes $25,699,635 for the general fund and an additional $70,229,769 for the non-general fund departments. The total budget is $95,929,404. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Dec 18, 2006 Associated Press - Lawmakers grapple with will of the people After voters convincingly approved a minimum-wage increase on the November ballot, lawmakers wrote a bill containing rules that cut a long list of worker categories out of the raise - drawing ire from the ballot issue's backers. "By attempting to insert certain exemptions, this bill is... Ohio News Network more
Dec 18, 2006 Associated Press - Report: Workers' comp bureau not aggressive in kickback probes The state's scandal-plagued fund for injured workers failed to aggressively investigate allegations of kickbacks and other schemes by managed care providers, The (Toledo) Blade reported Sunday. Ohio News Network more
Dec 18, 2006 Blade - BWC scandal riles claimants; Injured workers see millions lost as they fight for help Bureau critics say that the plight of injured workers has deepened because two Republican governors, George Voinovich and Bob Taft, have thrown the system out of balance to reward their business backers. Toledo Blade more
Dec 17, 2006 Dispatch - Analysis of election Thanks to the state’s new no-excuse absentee voting law, Ohioans cast a record number of absentee ballots in last month’s general election, a Dispatch analysis of official returns shows. The analysis also shows that the percentage of provisional ballots cast in the Nov. 7 election increased only... Columbus Dispatch more
Dec 15, 2006 Dispatch - Noe trail leads to Voinovich associate Quarterly payments of $2,500 from convicted coin dealer Thomas W. Noe to a company run by the wife of U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich’s former campaign treasurer are part of an ongoing investigation. The payments were made to an obscure company incorporated in Florida that names as the only... Columbus Dispatch more
Dec 15, 2006 Dispatch - When it comes to bill stuffing, legislators are fruitful During their lame-duck session, lawmakers stuffed 64 provisions into Goodman’s bill, honoring children’s author Robert McCloskey, homeless people, Germans, black people, veterans, farmers, police killed in the line of duty, nurses and, in a compromise, two fruits. Columbus Dispatch more
Dec 12, 2006 Dispatch - Discord over wage bill deepens; GOP ignoring voters, labor in writing law, critics say Charges that Republican state lawmakers are making a sweeping end run around Ohio’s minimum-wage amendment fired up Don Coulter yesterday. "What’s the sense of having an election if you’re going to turn back the clock and start all over again?" asked Coulter. The retired steelworker from... Columbus Dispatch more
Dec 11, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Recount ends for fire levy, results remain the same The Fairfield County Board of Elections finished the manual recount of the Greenfield Township fire levy, which failed in the Nov. 7. The results remain unchanged from the final certification Nov. 28. The levy failed by a vote of 1,211 to 1,159. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Dec 11, 2006 Dispatch - Strickland says he won’t cozy up to coal interests When Strickland takes office next month, he might have to deal with a threatened federal takeover of Ohio’s coal programs. But the governor-elect says that if Ohio needs to raise more money to clean up bankrupt mines, he will present coal companies with the bill. Columbus Dispatch more
Dec 7, 2006 ThisWeek Pickerington - Diebold taking blame for invalid election results The Fairfield County Board of Elections recertified official election results last week after an error attributed to the voting machines' manufacturer produced inaccurate final vote counts. According to elections board director Deborah Henderly, Diebold Election Systems failed to notify the... This Week - Pickerington more
Dec 3, 2006 Toledo Blade - Strickland vows fix in school funding In an interview after his speech to the Ohio Education Association, Mr. Strickland said his plan would grow out of a consensus from teachers, parents, businessmen, and the Republican-controlled General Assembly. Toledo Blade more
Nov 30, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Councilman plans to resign in December One of the councilmen whose election was key to Democrats taking control of Lancaster City Council in 2005 is resigning. John Smith, D-1st Ward, said he was moving to a new home in Perry County after the first of the year. He plans to resign his council seat sometime in December. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 30, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Elections officials correct procedural tabulation error The Fairfield County Board of Elections blames Diebold for errors with the first official vote count of the Nov. 7 general election. Three of the board's four members certified the vote count for the Nov. 7 general election during an emergency meeting Tuesday night. It was the second time... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 29, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Greenfield Township votes down proposed development The Greenfield Township Zoning Board voted down a proposed development along Plum Road Tuesday, putting its fate into the hands of township trustees. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Nov 29, 2006 Buckeye Lake Beacon - Decision on Liberty Township salvage yard coming soon News bytes from Liberty Township. Buckeye Lake Beacon more...
Nov 16, 2006 The Other Paper - Did we need so many provisional ballots? “The overuse of provisional ballots is an under-the-radar-screen issue right now,” said Sean Greene, research director of Electionline.org, an election-issues think tank. “But any election decided by less than 5 percent of the vote may well ride on how provisional ballots are handled.” The Other Paper more...
Nov 13, 2006 Bush says he's ready to listen on Iraq Monday, November 13, 2006. From the Cleveland Plain Dealer Responding to a humbling election, White House aides said Sunday that President Bush welcomes new ideas about the war in Iraq. Bush will meet today with the 10-member bipartisan Iraq Study Group, led... Ohio Democratic Party more...
Nov 13, 2006 Noe found guilty of theft, forgery, money laundering By Mark Niquette The Columbus Dispatch Monday, November 13, 2006 3:32 PM AP Noe, right, with his lawyer Bill Wilkinson, listens to the jury instructions in court last week. TOLEDO - Coin... Ohio Democratic Party more...
Nov 13, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Noe found guilty of theft, forgery, money laundering Coin dealer Thomas W. Noe today was found guilty of aggravated theft, forgery, tampering with records and money laundering today by a Lucas County jury. Columbus Dispatch more
Nov 8, 2006 Ohio News Network - Strickland Declared Winner of Gubernatorial Race Democratic U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland won for governor in scandal-scarred Ohio on Tuesday, ending 16 years of Republican control of the office leading into the 2008 presidential election. Ohio News Network more
Nov 8, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Blackwell loses, and it wasn’t even close Ted Strickland led a Democratic onslaught last night by swamping Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell in the most lopsided governor's race since 1994. Columbus Dispatch more
Nov 3, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Rep. Ney resigns seat Ney pleaded guilty Oct. 13 to conspiracy and making false statements, acknowledging taking trips, tickets, meals and campaign donations from disgraced lobbyist Abramoff in return for official actions on behalf of Abramoff clients. Columbus Dispatch more
Nov 3, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Judge rules Ohio counties can scan absentee ballots early All 88 Ohio counties can start scanning absentee ballots before Election Day, a Cuyahoga County judge ordered late today, overruling a state order that had banned early scanning. Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 31, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Endorsement of candidacy: Ted Strickland We need a governor who judges issues on their merits, not his political agenda. We need a leader who can work with both parties and all political perspectives. There's only one man who meets those tests. That man gets our endorsement and should get your vote: Ted Strickland. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 29, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Endorsement of candidacy: Jennifer Brunner Jennifer Brunner offers the better choice as Ohio's next Secretary of State. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 29, 2006 Pickerington Times-Sun - Endorsement: Lupher The Pickerington Times-Sun believes voters should elect Democrat Dennis Lupher as senator from the 31st District. Pickerington Times-Sun more
Oct 28, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Eight local tax requests will be on the ballot Voters in two villages and six townships will decide the fate of eight local tax requests in the Nov. 7 general election. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 28, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Endorsement of candidacy: O'Neill and Espy "We urge your votes for O'Neill and Espy." Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 27, 2006 Associated Press - Candidate’s property transfer attracts federal attention A federal bankruptcy trustee is investigating whether a congressional candidate gave property to her family last year to keep it from her creditors. Court files show that state Sen. Joy Padgett transferred her one-third share of her family farm less than a month before she and her husband sought... Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 26, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Judge suspends Ohio’s voter ID law for absentee voting A federal judge today suspended Ohio's new voter identification law as it applies to absentee voting, saying the state's 88 counties are inconsistently applying the new rule in voting that is currently under way. Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 25, 2006 Toledo Blade - Forensic accountant testifies that Noe’s checkbook shows he lived off state coin funds A forensic accountant took jurors through a painstaking walk through Tom Noe's business checkbook this morning, going over line after line of what he allegedly spent the state's money on. Emlyn Neuman-Javornik said this morning that almost all of the checks, written with money from the state's... Toledo Blade more
Oct 25, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Woman who filed complaint asks for dismissal of Strickland voting challenge The northeast Ohio woman who filed a challenge of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ted Strickland's eligibility to vote has asked to have the complaint dismissed, elections officials said. Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 25, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Issue 4 vs. Issue 5 Statewide; smoking bans raise debate Business owners and voters in Fairfield County are divided over whether a total or partial smoking ban would be the right thing for Ohio. There are two issues on Ohio's Nov. 7 ballot involving statewide smoking bans. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more...
Oct 24, 2006 Toledo Blade - CPA can't confirm millions in coin sales; She says most deals were not recorded On dozens of occasions since the state gave Tom Noe $50 million, he transferred millions into his personal coin business under the guise of coin sales for which there is little documentation, a forensic accountant testified yesterday. Toledo Blade more
Oct 17, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Investigator: Noe search found fraction of expected coins When state investigators inspected the coins held at Thomas W. Noe's Maumee coin shop in May 2005, they expected to find about $13 million in assets but discovered only about $600,000, a witness in Noe's corruption trial testified this morning. Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 17, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Polls: Brown widens lead over DeWine in Senate race Two polls released today show GOP Sen. Mike DeWine trailing his Democratic rival in a Senate race once considered among the closest in the country. U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown was favored by 53 percent of likely Ohio voters surveyed by The Quinnipiac University Poll, compared to 41 percent who... Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 17, 2006 Toledo Blade - BWC official says he was asked to show executive how to 'double delete' e-mails Tom Wersell, the director of investigations for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, testified this morning that the bureau's chief legal officer asked him to show another executive how to delete e-mails in the weeks after the Tom Noe coin scandal erupted. Toledo Blade more
Oct 17, 2006 Toledo Blade - Prosecutor, defense fire away at Noe trial; 'Swindle' alleged; BWC contract blamed Tom Noe was deep in debt when he convinced the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation in 1998 to invest $25 million in rare coins, “setting the stage for one of the biggest swindles” ever committed against the state of Ohio, a Lucas County prosecutor said yesterday. Toledo Blade more
Oct 9, 2006 Ohio's minimum wage: what's at stake at polls What will Issue 2 do? Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Oct 8, 2006 Toledo Blade - Kidd's 'wrong choice' led to Noe's downfall; Political ties grew into campaign cash scheme Federal prosecutors, aided by Mr. Kidd, proved that Noe poured more than $45,000 into the President's campaign to become a Bush "Pioneer" - a distinction posted on the campaign Web site for those who raised at least $100,000. Toledo Blade more
Oct 7, 2006 Toledo Blade - Judge blocks statements by Noe lawyers; coin audit OK Judge Osowik also denied requests by Noe’s attorneys to bar a handwriting analysis at trial, and evidence of other crimes, including illegal contributions to President Bush’s re-election campaign and a bribe to the former chief financial officer of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Toledo Blade more
Oct 4, 2006 Toledo Blade - Noe's upcoming trial to hear from ex-BWC officials Prosecutors yesterday disclosed the potential witnesses they could call to testify in the trial of former Toledo-area coin dealer Tom Noe, and the list is a virtual "who's who" of past officials of the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Fairfield County Democratic Party more
Oct 4, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Federal judge voids part of Ohio's new voter rule A federal judge today struck down a new Ohio voting rule that required naturalized citizens to provide proof of their citizenship if challenged by a poll worker. Columbus Dispatch more
Oct 2, 2006 Dispatch - Strickland’s concern for others springs from his family and faith LUCASVILLE, Ohio — Ted Strickland laughs when asked whether there one day might be a historical marker outside the modest home on Duck Run where he grew up. Boyhood home of Ted Strickland, Ohio’s 68 th governor. Dispatch more...
Oct 2, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Strickland visits Lancaster ; Candidate talks about education, jobs, health care Motorists honked their horns and hundreds of people cheered and clapped as gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland spoke at the downtown Bandstand Sunday. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Oct 1, 2006 Blade - New state law expands absentee balloting Starting Tuesday, voters may cast absentee ballots either by mail or in person to avoid lines on Nov. 7 potentially caused by new identification requirements and new voting machines in some counties. Toledo Blade more
Oct 1, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Tight races in Ohio may decide fate of Congress; Ouster of Pryce, Chabot crucial for Democrats to win House, analysts say Want to know which party will control the U.S. House next year? Look to Ohio, say Democrats, Republicans and nonpartisan pundits. Columbus Dispatch more
Sep 30, 2006 Blade - 40 excused of 175 in Noe jury pool With the trial less than 10 days away, Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas Osowik yesterday released 40 potential jurors from the high profile case during a hearing with defense attorneys and prosecutors on pretrial issues. Toledo Blade more
Sep 30, 2006 New York Times - Campaign Cash Mirrors a High Court’s Rulings An examination of the Ohio Supreme Court by The New York Times found that its justices routinely sat on cases after receiving campaign contributions from the parties involved or from groups that filed supporting briefs. On average, they voted in favor of contributors 70 percent of the time.... New York Times more...
Sep 24, 2006 Dispatch - Strickland Strong Ted Strickland leads Ken Blackwell by 19 points, Sherrod Brown leads by a healthy margin and other statewide Democrats are poised for big victories, according to the latest polling from the Columbus Dispatch. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Sep 24, 2006 Beacon Journal - Brown talks tuition during University of Akron visit Sherrod Brown visited the University of Akron to talk to students and propose solutions to the high price of college education - up 68% in Ohio since 2000. The Akron Beacon Journal more...
Sep 22, 2006 Dispatch - Ney's about-face leaves bad taste with voters Republicans in the 18th Congressional District are feeling hurt, angry and betrayed after Bob Ney's guilty plea to corruption charges. They're also gravitating toward Zack Space, the Democrat running for the seat. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Sep 22, 2006 Beacon-Journal - Sutton campaigns on 3 E's The road back to economic health for Northern Ohio is simple: education, ethics and entrepreneurial innovation, according to Betty Sutton, the Democratic nominee for the 13th Congressional District. Ohio Democratic Party more...
Sep 17, 2006 Dispatch - Clinton takes aim at Blackwell Former President Clinton visited Cleveland Saturday to lend his name to a fundraiser that pumped up the campaign coffers for gubernatorial nominee Ted Strickland. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Sep 15, 2006 AP - Strickland calls for changes at BWC U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland would clean up the scandal-scarred state insurance fund for injured workers by replacing its oversight commission with an independent board of directors, he told The Columbus Dispatch for a story Thursday. The Associated Press more...
Sep 14, 2006 Beacon Journal - Quiet, intense races down the ticket Ohio Democrats have a chance to seize control of the Ohio Apportionment Board, the apparatus that controls the drawing of legislative districts, thanks to a strong ticket, from top to bottom. The Akron Beacon Journal more...
Sep 14, 2006 Dispatch - Brown sets modest health-insurance goal Democratic Senate challenger Sherrod Brown unveiled a plan yesterday to provide greater access to health insurance to the hundreds of thousands of Ohioans who lack health care. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Sep 8, 2006 Plain Dealer - Ohio Democratic Party sues Blackwell to unmask attack-ad donors On Thursday, the Ohio Democratic Party sued Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, seeking to unmask donors to a nonprofit group that spent more than $1.5 million last month on anonymously financed TV ads that hammer Rep. Ted Strickland. Ohio Democratic Party more...
Sep 7, 2006 Dispatch - Racism charged in lawsuit in state auditor's race Democrat Barbara Sykes yesterday went to federal court to stop what she said is a racist campaign tactic by Republican Mary Taylor in the state auditor’s race. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Sep 7, 2006 Plain Dealer - Ohio minimum-wage amendment qualifies for Nov. ballot The effort to amend Ohio's Constitution to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.85 an hour, and provide inflationary increases, easily qualified for the ballot with more than 363,000 valid signatures spread across 69 counties. Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Sep 5, 2006 Plain Dealer - Cleveland parade showcases Democrats The annual Cleveland Labor Day parade organized by Democratic Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, showcased the party's candidates for statewide office, from gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland to Ben Espy, a candidate for the Ohio Supreme Court. Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Sep 5, 2006 Enquirer - Democrats hit well-traveled campaign paths Democrats were out in force over the Labor Day weekend, visiting the Coney Island AFL-CIO picnic to mingle with thousands of union families and loyal supporters. Cincinnati Enquirer more...
Sep 3, 2006 Beacon Journal - Brown takes on role of challenger Sherrod Brown has served Ohio in many capacities: State Rep, Secretary of State and now, U.S. Congressman. He hopes to play one more role - Senator. The Akron Beacon Journal more...
Sep 3, 2006 Plain Dealer - Unions plan big push for Democrats The AFL-CIO hopes to shift government control to Democrats this fall by spending $40 million on union get-out-the-vote efforts in key states, including Ohio. The Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Sep 2, 2006 Blade - Strickland touts views during Toledo visit U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland was in Toledo to tout a plan for a high-tech toll collection program for the Ohio Turnpike and to spread his positive message of change. The Toledo Blade more
Sep 1, 2006 Blade - Sherrod Brown backs Ohio's minimum wage increase U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown repeated his call for raising Ohio’s minimum wage in a meeting with labor leaders in Toledo yesterday. The Toledo Blade more
Sep 1, 2006 Toledo Blade - Penalty rises for 4 GOP campaign 'conduits' Turns out, there really isn’t such a thing as a free lunch. Or even a deeply discounted one. The four Republican women who accepted Tom Noe’s money in order to attend a $2,000-a-plate luncheon fund-raiser for President Bush in 2003 will have to pay far more to pick up the final tab. Toledo Blade more
Sep 1, 2006 Toledo Blade - Noe eager to get his day in court, attorney asserts Tom Noe is just five weeks from a trial that could put him in prison for decades, yet he relishes the chance to face the accusations against him, one of his attorneys said yesterday. Toledo Blade more
Sep 1, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Tiberi latest Republican to break step with Bush While Tiberi and Shamansky share some of the criticism about how the war has been handled, Shamansky yesterday repeated his contention that it’s time for the United States to end its involvement in Iraq. It's a mistake "to stay the course when you don't know what the course is," he said. Columbus Dispatch more
Sep 1, 2006 Associated Press - Judge to hear challenge to voter registration rules In the lawsuit, filed in July, the Democrats and voter advocacy groups argue that criminal penalties for violating voter registration rules could deter people from canvassing. The law requires each person who registers voters to return the forms either in person or by mail to the local board of... Ohio News Network more
Sep 1, 2006 Associated Press - Spokesman: Blackwell wants to reopen Lima prison Renovating the prison would cost between $30 and $50 million, with an added $40 million a year to operate the facility, Taft spokesman Mark Rickel said. The added cost would make it difficult for the state to "maintain fiscal discipline" while operating under its tightest budget in 40 years,... Ohio News Network more
Aug 31, 2006 Dispatch - Candidate for State Auditor denies question was racist The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus and Barbara Sykes blasted the Republican nominee for state auditor for making an issue of Sykes' race in a recent telephone poll. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Aug 31, 2006 New York Times - Ohio to Delay Destruction of Presidential Ballots With paper ballots from the 2004 presidential election in Ohio scheduled to be destroyed next week, the secretary of state in Columbus, under pressure from critics, said yesterday that he would move to delay the destruction at least for several months. Since the election, questions have been... New York Times more...
Aug 30, 2006 Pickerington Times-Sun - Committee ready to sell bond issue to community The Committee for Responsible Schools has been given the green light after the Pickerington Board of Education's recent decision to seek a three-school bond issue on the November general election ballot. Pickerington Times-Sun more
Aug 30, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Poverty figures grimmer for Ohio Ohio is home to some of the highest rates of poverty and some of the lowest household incomes, according to data released yesterday by the U.S. Census. Columbus Dispatch more
Aug 29, 2006 Beacon Journal - Ohio Farmers Could Rotate Political Field Ohio farmers, who are traditional conservatives, are lining up behind Democrats Ted Strickland and Sherrod Brown as Republicans have ignored agricultural issues in their zeal to raise taxes and focus on hot-button social issues. Akron Beacon Journal more...
Aug 21, 2006 Plain Dealer - Bye bye Larry! Larry Householder, who is in a league of his own when it comes to corruption, has decided to drop out of the race for Perry County Auditor. Householder, according to GOP sources, knew he was going to get beat so he decided to quit. Bye bye Larry. Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Aug 20, 2006 AP - Strickland, Brown press for change GOP voters are flocking to the TurnAround Ohio Tour, featuring Ted Strickland and Sherrod Brown, which ends a three day, multi-city swing today with events in Columbus and Marion. The Associated Press more...
Aug 20, 2006 Blade - State Democrats catch early bus as campaign speeds up The TurnAround Ohio bus tour continued through SW Ohio, with stops in Butler, Warren and Clermont counties. Ted Strickland, Sherrod Brown and statewide Democrats presented a message of change to voters. The Toledo Blade more...
Aug 20, 2006 Dispatch - Some in GOP look to their left Democrats invaded Ohio’s GOP stronghold yesterday, meeting with about 50 Republicans in Warren County after a day of bold talk about how support is flowing their way across party lines. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Aug 18, 2006 Beacon Journal - Blackwell gets cold reception, Strickland applauded Ted Strickland elicited applause from hundreds of educators at a recent event. Ken Blackwell, speaking at the same event, drew a much different response. Akron Beacon Journal more...
Aug 16, 2006 Tribune Chronicle - Corruption Charges Hang Over 2006 Elections Barbara Sykes, Marc Dann, Jennifer Brunner and Richard Cordray make up an impressive group of statewide Democrats who are campaigning hard, raising money, and reaching out to voters in a climate of Republican corruption and scandal. The Warren Tribune Chronicle more...
Aug 16, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Voting machines risky, study concludes A new study raises serious questions about whether Diebold touch-screen voting devices used in more than half of Ohio’s counties produce accurate results, but Diebold insists the machines can be trusted and that the study is flawed. Columbus Dispatch more
Aug 15, 2006 Vindicator - Williams, Strickland to discuss local issues Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams will meet with Gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland soon to discuss Strickland's plan for Ohio's urban centers. The Youngstown Vindicator more...
Aug 14, 2006 Dispatch - Liberal, moderate faith groups team to counter religious right Liberals and moderates who feel their faith has been co-opted are organizing to counter what they say is the religious right's overemphasis on hot-button topics at the expense of other social justice matters. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Aug 11, 2006 Dispatch - Strickland airs radio spot meant for black audiences U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, the Democratic nominee for governor, began airing a 60-second radio commercial yesterday that is aimed at black voters. Columbus Dispatch more...
Aug 9, 2006 Dispatch - Rally, petitions seek amendment to raise Ohio's minimum wage Supporters of a drive to increase Ohio's minimum wage turned in over 700,000 signatures of those backing the drive. The ballot amendment the campaign is supporting would raise the wage from $5.15 to $6.85, which would help raise families out of poverty. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Aug 8, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Ney’s exit shakes up GOP ticket; State Sen. Joy Padgett asked to take on campaign in 18 th Congressional District Even with beleaguered Congressman Bob Ney’s abrupt decision not to seek re-election, the battle for his seat likely will remain an expensive, nationally watched race. After insisting for months that he would run even if indicted in a continuing federal corruption investigation, Ney announced... Columbus Dispatch more
Aug 8, 2006 Toledo Blade - Voinovich, Strickland show off new unity; pair forge alliance against gambling A former Republican governor and a Democrat who wants to be governor joined together yesterday to battle slot machines. What, if anything, should you read into that, beyond the obvious gambling conclusions? Toledo Blade more
Aug 8, 2006 Toledo Blade - Ohio legislator rejects charge of improper action; Suit claims illegal meeting influenced bill on clergy sex abuse In a rare move, a member of the Ohio House yesterday took the stand to rebut accusations that lawmakers illegally plotted behind closed doors to eliminate a proposed one-time window for the filing of lawsuits by victims of decades-old child sex abuse. Three advocates for the bill claim the... Toledo Blade more
Aug 8, 2006 Associated Press - Special elections first test for state's voter ID law Special elections in 27 Ohio counties Tuesday mark the beginning of a new era of voting in the state: for the first time, voters must show proper identification to cast a ballot. Ohio News Network more
Aug 6, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Prosecutors link BWC brokers to thousands in gifts 2 charged with bribing ex-bureau official allegedly extended perks According to court documents, Michael W. Lewis and Daniel P. O'Neil provided meals and catering totaling $4,197 to Gasper, including $2,527 at the Worthington Inn, $1,122 at Katzinger's Deli, and $547 at the Refectory, a Columbus restaurant that features "classic and contemporary French cuisine"... Columbus Dispatch more
Aug 6, 2006 New York Times - New Registration Rules Stir Voter Debate in Ohio For Tony Minor, the pastor of the Community of Faith Assembly in a run-down section of East Cleveland, Ohio’s new voter registration rules have meant spending two extra hours a day collecting half as many registration cards from new voters as he did in past years. New York Times more...
Aug 3, 2006 Free Times - All 88 Are Key - Ohio Dems to leave no county behind Ohio Democratic Party Chair Chris Redfern talks about the ODP's 88 County strategy, a plan that mimicks the DNC's 50 State strategy. Ohio Dems are committed to organizing, spending money and being involved in all of Ohio's 88 counties. Cleveland Free Times more...
Aug 2, 2006 AP - Strickland releases tax returns, Blackwell declines Gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland released his tax returns yesterday, a move that Republican Ken Blackwell has refused to make. What is Ken Blackwell hiding from Ohioans? The Associated Press more...
Aug 2, 2006 Daily News - Brown urges changes to Medicare plan's gap Senate candidate Rep. Sherrod Brown called for changes to Medicare Part D's gap in prescription coverage that could hit millions of Americans this year. Brown called the gap 'a cruel hoax'. Dayton Daily News more...
Aug 2, 2006 Times - Garrison proposes all-day kingergarten Ohio Rep. Jennifer Garrison, D-Marietta, introduced legislation that would give funding for each school district to begin all-day kindergarten and financially benefit the districts that already have it. Marietta Times more...
Aug 1, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Noe shielded; Workers’ Comp bureau discouraged full probe of coin investment, official tells An internal auditor at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation wanted to get out of a controversial rare coin investment six years ago, but a bureau official told him his job "was not to set investment policy," according to court testimony. Columbus Dispatch more
Jul 31, 2006 Repository - Strickland looking better to defeat Blackwell Commentary from the Canton Repository says Ted Strickland is on track for a big victory in November. The Repository highlights numerous errors in judgement by the Blackwell campaign. The Canton Repository more...
Jul 30, 2006 Dispatch - Democrats happy in unfamiliar territory Over 140 volunteers gathered at ODP HQ on Saturday, July 29th to hear from Sherrod Brown, Bob Shamansky and a trio of local candidates. The volunteer then hit the streets, canvassing for their candidates as part of the DNC's National Democratic Reunion. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Jul 30, 2006 New York Times - Disowning Conservative Politics, Evangelical Pastor Rattles Floc “When the church wins the culture wars, it inevitably loses,” Mr. Boyd preached. “When it conquers the world, it becomes the world. When you put your trust in the sword, you lose the cross.” New York Times more...
Jul 28, 2006 Toledo Blade - Noe battles search warrant; Coin dealer's attorneys trying to suppress evidence The motion to suppress evidence is among four motions before the court. Judge Osowik denied a prosecution request to quash a subpoena sought by Noe's attorneys. The subpoena seeks access to e-mails, memos, and documents held by the BWC relating to Noe's management of the coin funds. Toledo Blade more
Jul 28, 2006 Toledo Blade - GOP leader apologizes to Strickland; staffer is fired for an e-mail packed with allegations The state Democratic Party chairman, Chris Redfern, said Republicans waited too long to act on the message. "It wouldn't take me a week to fire someone who disseminated such filth and hatred," he said. Fairfield County Democratic Party more
Jul 26, 2006 Beacon Journal - Strickland lays out plan Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland has unveiled the next component of his Turnaround Ohio campaign -- a plan that calls for accountability and results-based government. Akron Beacon Journal more...
Jul 26, 2006 Enquirer - Downtown demonstration targets Chabot A group of 30 people from the AFL-CIO staged a protest Tuesday at U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot's Cincinnati office because of his opposition to an increase in the federal minimum wage. Chabot faces Democrat John Cranley in November. The Cincinnati Enquirer more...
Jul 26, 2006 Daily News - Candidate's wife encourages other women to get involved On Tuesday, Sherrod Brown's wife Connie Schultz joined a group of Miami Valley women interested in politics to applaud their activism and encourage them to get others involved in the process. Dayton Daily News more...
Jul 25, 2006 Associated Press - Poor record-keeping at workers' comp lowered some benefits Hundreds of injured workers temporarily received less in state benefits than they deserved thanks to poor record-keeping at the state insurance fund for injured workers, according to a memo released Monday by Gov. Bob Taft. Ohio News Network more
Jul 25, 2006 New Yorker - HOLY TOLEDO; Ohio’s gubernatorial race tests the power of the Christian right. On January 15th, twenty-eight Protestant ministers and three rabbis in the Columbus area filed a complaint with the I.R.S. charging Parsley's and Johnson's churches and their tax-exempt affiliates with engaging in "a continuing pattern of political campaign activity" and promoting "one particular... New Yorker more
Jul 23, 2006 Dispatch - Strickland far ahead, early poll indicates Ted Strickland and Sherrod Brown have increased their commanding leads over their Republican challengers in new polling results released today. Strickland leads Blackwell by 20%, Brown leads DeWine by 8%. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Jul 22, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Opinion: Lancaster won't benefit from Wal-Mart Letter to the editor regarding Wal-Mart and Lancaster Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more...
Jul 21, 2006 AP - Strickland a candidate apart from usual Dems This year, Ted Strickland carries the party's banner. The congressman from rural Ohio has credentials that are substantially different: United Methodist minister, psychologist and college professor. The Associated Press more...
Jul 18, 2006 Daily News - Labor's Focus is on Democrats The Ohio AFL-CIO opens its 25th biennial convention today in Cincinnati, with the emphasis on electing Democrats on Nov. 7. The Dayton Daily News more...
Jul 18, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Man working on getting insurance for all Ohioans The United States is the only industrialized nation that doesn't have universal health insurance, but it doesn't have to be that way, according to organizers of the Single-Payer Action Network, also known as SPAN Ohio. The Cleveland-based organization is on a mission to collect 97,000 signatures... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jul 18, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Report: Three-fourths of proposed Ohio tax cut would go to top 1 percent The tiny percentage of Ohio's wealthiest would get most of the money from cuts proposed in an election-year bill to state taxes on stock sales and other capital gains, according to a study released Tuesday... Columbus Dispatch more
Jul 18, 2006 Ohio News Network - Ohio Democrats' ad criticizes DeWine's use of 9-11 imagery Ohio Democrats started airing an ad Tuesday criticizing GOP Sen. Mike DeWine for using images of the World Trade Center burning from terrorist attacks in a TV campaign against his Democratic opponent. Ohio News Network more
Jul 16, 2006 Advocate - Strickland visits Heath Ted Strickland and other statewide candidates visited Heath as part of a three-day, multi-city tour throughout central and northeast Ohio to share their vision for a new Ohio. The Newark Advocate more
Jul 16, 2006 AOL/Reuters - Megachurches Build a Republican Base In that March survey, more than 82 percent of the Ohio evangelicals who attend church at least once a week said they approve of bringing more religion into politics. AOL News / Reuters more
Jul 12, 2006 Dispatch - With release of poll, Ney's camp admits troubles Zack Space leads incumbent Republican Bob Ney in new polling released by the Space campaign. Ney's campaign released polling that shows the two in a virtual tie. Clearly, Ney is in trouble. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Jul 11, 2006 Enquirer - Hackett embraces Brown Paul Hackett, who months ago left the U.S. Senate race, pledged his support and gave Rep. Sherrod Brown his endorsement in Brown's race against Republican Senator Mike DeWine. The Cincinnati Enquirer more...
Jul 11, 2006 Dispatch - Brown criticizes DeWine for vote against drug imports Democrat Sherrod Brown says Sen. Mike DeWine showed he was on the side of drug companies, not the side of consumers, yesterday by voting against a Senate proposal to ease the ban on importing prescription medicine. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Jul 10, 2006 Daily News - Strickland ties education to the economy Democrat Ted Strickland lumps Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell right in with the rest of the Republicans running state government when it comes to assigning blame for Ohio's economic decline. Dayton Daily News more...
Jul 9, 2006 Beacon Journal - Bigger push urged on voter ID law Ohio's chief elections officer -- Ken Blackwell -- apparently has no plans to educate Ohioans about a new voter identification requirement beyond county fair booth flyers. Akron Beacon Journal more...
Jul 9, 2006 Blade - Szollosi hitching political future to rolling help center Toledo City Council Frank Szollosi, no stranger to controversy, is getting back to the basics: an Airstream trailer that he'll take to Toledo neighborhoods as part of his "Szollosi Listens" campaign. The Toledo Blade more
Jul 7, 2006 Beacon Journal - Democratic flag bearers Ohio-bound Sen. John Edwards and Sen. Hilary Clinton will be featured speakers at a national convention starting this weekend in Columbus. Akron Beacon Journal more...
Jul 5, 2006 Plain Dealer - NE Ohio key to Senate contest Thomas Suddes writes that a jobs-and-progress camapign will likely favor Sherrod Brown over incumbent Republican Mike DeWine. The Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Jul 5, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Democrats face uphill struggle to gain seats; GOP's legislative edge spread evenly in state Though they hold just 39 of the 99 seats in the Ohio House of Representatives, Democrats are beating the odds, at least from a numbers standpoint. New political indexes, which use election results to determine how many people are likely to vote Democratic or Republican, show that 68 of 99 Ohio... Columbus Dispatch more
Jul 2, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Opinion: Leave the Internet alone TO a large degree, the Internet has been a great equalizer for society, and its operations should not be altered by the U.S. Senate. Telecommunication companies want to change the way they provide service to those who tap into this vast network of information. The goal, they claim, is to provide... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jul 2, 2006 Toledo Blade - Investigators' handling of Noe case raises questions; just 1 of 24 alleged conduits prosecuted for donations Despite evidence that Noe used more than two dozen people to help him multiply his political giving, only former Taft aide Doug Talbott has paid the price. He admitted last year to taking Noe money and contributing it to three Ohio Supreme Court justices. Toledo Blade more
Jul 1, 2006 Toledo Blade - Report tracks origin of Taft donation; $2,500 gift linked to Noe was given during '02 event featuring Bush The $2,500 contribution that state investigators believe Tom Noe laundered into Bob Taft's 2002 re-election campaign ended up in the governor's coffers during a Columbus fund-raiser that featured President Bush. Toledo Blade more
Jun 30, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Senior aide to Rep. Ney subpoenaed; Three staff members leaving while investigation continues Three top aides to embattled Rep. Bob Ney are leaving his office, and a federal grand jury has subpoenaed another senior staff member in an investigation of the Heath Republican’s ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 30, 2006 Toledo Blade - Noe conduit suspected of Taft donation; ex-Rep. Perz not charged over campaign funds Investigators from the task force probing the expanding scandal involving Noe and the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation uncovered a Noe check to Ms. Perz for $2,500 on May 10, 2002 — the day she gave the same amount to the Taft campaign. Toledo Blade more
Jun 29, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - School plan favored by Blackwell called gimmick A school-funding plan implemented by four states and embraced by Ohio Republican gubernatorial nominee J. Kenneth Blackwell is "one of the worst ideas in education," says Rod Paige, a former education secretary in the Bush administration. Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 28, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - 4 more convicted of ethics charges in Noe investigation The ongoing investigation into state-government corruption that is roiling Ohio politics produced four additional convictions today. Four current or former elected officials from the Toledo area each pleaded no contest and were found guilty this afternoon to a single ethics charge related to... Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 27, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Four officials in Noe case to answer ethics charges in court Four current or former public officials from the Toledo area are expected in court Wednesday to answer ethics charges related to allegations they funneled campaign cash from coin dealer Thomas W. Noe to President Bush. Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 27, 2006 Beacon Journal - Sherrod Brown pushes fair-trade plan U.S. Senate candidate Sherrod Brown took to downtown Akron Monday to announce legislation he is seeking that would ban sweatshop imports. Akron Beacon Journal more...
Jun 27, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Blackwell's changes to voter registration upheld Efforts to register new voters in Ohio will be undermined by rules written by Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell and upheld yesterday by a state panel, critics said after a contentious hearing. Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 27, 2006 Associated Press - County removes court documents from Web site Hamilton County has blocked access to court documents on the Internet amid concerns about identity theft and the security of online records. Some 25 million pages of documents won't be available until officials determine a more reliable method of keeping Social Security numbers and other... Associated Press more
Jun 26, 2006 Enquirer - Strickland: GOP support ebbing Democrat Ted Strickland, candidate for Ohio governor, said Saturday that Republicans keep coming to him and pledging their support because they have grown disenchanted with Republican-dominated government, nationally and locally. The Cincinnati Enquirer more...
Jun 26, 2006 Plain Dealer - Controversial record dogs GOP Treasurer hopeful Sandra O'Brien's controversial time as an elected official in Ashtabula County raises questions about her fitness for the Ohio Treasurer's office. Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Jun 24, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Commissioners give departments more money; Clerk of Courts Office, Sheriff's Office and Engineer's Office receive additional funds Clerk of Courts Deborah Smalley asked for an additional $82,614. Smalley's office couldn't afford to continue operating without the additional funds, Commissioner Judy Shupe said. Smalley refused to comment about the budgetary issues or what she plans to do with the money since it was allocated... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jun 22, 2006 Toledo Blade - Suspect manages Voinovich portfolio; Senator to return $9,000 in donations U.S. Sen. George Voinovich yesterday acknowledged that one of the Cleveland-area investment brokers indicted for allegedly bribing an official at the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation has handled his personal financial portfolio since he left the governor's office in 1999. Toledo Blade more
Jun 21, 2006 Plain Dealer - Blackwell site stirs ire over voter signup It is much easier to register to vote on Ken Blackwell's gubernatorial website opposed to his official Secretary of State website, a move that fits Blackwell's pattern of making it more difficult for those that don't support him to vote. The Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Jun 19, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Two brokers indicted in Workers' Comp scandal Two brokers who did business with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation were indicted today on federal charges they conspired to bribe the bureau's former chief financial officer with the use of an oceanfront condominium in Florida. Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 18, 2006 Beacon Journal - Regula under fire for favorites GOP Congressman Ralph Regula is under fire for his use of earmarks, which increase the run-away spending Republicans in Washington are seemingly addicted to. Akron Beacon Journal more...
Jun 18, 2006 Plain Dealer - Democats have "New Direction" for America When the Democratic Party retakes control of Congress, Democrats will act quickly to increase the minimum wage, lower prescription drug costs and slash interest rates on student loans, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Saturday. Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Jun 15, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Noe trial put off until Oct. 10, GOP state chairman complains about likely overlap with election The trial of prominent Republican contributor Thomas W. Noe on charges related to his handling of a state coin investment has been moved to Oct. 10, four weeks before statewide elections in Ohio. At a hearing yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court, Judge Thomas J. Osowik granted a request... Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 14, 2006 Blade - Supreme Court orders Taft to hand over documents The Ohio Supreme Court yesterday ordered Gov. Bob Taft to hand over documents to the high court that he wants to keep secret. State Sen. Marc Dann hailed the order as a victory for Ohio's taxpayers. The Toledo Blade more
Jun 14, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - BWC probe expands into pensions; Investigation involves dozens of officials, vendors The investigation of bribes at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has provided ammunition in the probe of possible illegal gifts going to officials involved with multibilliondollar investments at the state’s pension systems, The Dispatch has learned. Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 13, 2006 Post - Democrats closing fundraising gap with Republicans A surge in small, individual contributions is lifting Democratic campaigns this year and is helping close a Republican fundraising advantage that has existed for years in national politics. The Washington Post more...
Jun 12, 2006 AP - Strickland has double Blackwell's total on hand Democrat Ted Strickland, with no major challenge in last month's primary for governor, had twice the campaign cash on hand as Republican Kenneth Blackwell. The Associated Press more...
Jun 12, 2006 Plain Dealer - Issue could alter Ohio's political picture If labor and anti-poverty groups can get the Minimum Wage increase issue on the November ballot, some political experts contend, Democratic voters will be much more likely to go to the polls. The Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Jun 10, 2006 Toledo Blade - In campaign fund race, Strickland doubles up his rival; Democrat has $2.6 million, compared with $1.3 million for Blackwell Ted Strickland leads at the polls and at the bank. Mr. Strickland, a Democratic congressman from Lisbon, reported $2.6 million on hand in his run for governor yesterday, double the $1.3 million reported by his GOP opponent, Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell. Toledo Blade more
Jun 9, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Democrats elect committee members Fairfield County Democrats re-elected the leadership that recruited new blood into party, allowing it to take control of the Lancaster City Council for the first time since the 1970s. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jun 8, 2006 Vindicator - Boccieri blasts Blackwell on voter registration State Rep. John Boccieri blasted Republican gubernatorial candidate Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell on Wednesday at the Mahoning County Board of Elections regarding recent changes to election law governing voter registration procedures. The Youngstown Vindicator more...
Jun 7, 2006 NY Times - Block the Vote, Ohio Remix As Ohio gears up for a very competitive election season this fall, its secretary of state, J. Kenneth Blackwell, has put in place "emergency" regulations that could hit voter registration workers with criminal penalties for perfectly legitimate registration practices. New York Times more...
Jun 7, 2006 Columbus DIspatch - Officials deflect blame for BWC hire As the former chief financial officer at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation heads to court today to plead guilty to state and federal corruption charges, an important question remains: How did Terrence W. Gasper get such a powerful job in the first place? Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 7, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Ex-Workers’ Comp official pleads guilty to corruption charges Terrence W. Gasper pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charges and state money laundering and ethics charges as part of a sweeping investigation into state government investment and ethics scandals. Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 6, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - New election rules draw fire ; Blackwell edict muddles voter registration, some say Critics of Ohio’s new election law say Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell has implemented rules that make it more difficult to register voters than the law itself does. At a hearing yesterday, some said Blackwell’s rules would shut down voter-registration efforts in Ohio that use paid workers. Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 6, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - The Coin Scandal his year's statewide elections are set against a backdrop of ethics and investment scandals that have rocked state government since the spring of 2005 and have led to criminal charges against seven current or former public officials - so far - including Gov. Bob Taft. Columbus Dispatch more
Jun 2, 2006 Dayton Daily News - Ohio Democrats applying pressure as workers' comp scandal grows Ohio Democrats quickly pounced on news of another prosecution in the state Bureau of Workers' Compensation scandal and predicted it would eventually put the investigative spotlight on top Republicans. Dayton Daily News more...
Jun 2, 2006 Cleveland Plain Dealer - Identity theft becomes issue in statewide race A spate of high-profile security lapses by key state and federal entities is pushing identity theft to the fore in the Ohio secretary of state's race. Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Jun 2, 2006 Toledo Blade - Ohio schools anticipate tough times over 5 years Many northwest Ohio public school districts, and others across the state, are predicting significant money problems over the next five years, according to financial forecasts recently submitted by districts throughout the state. Toledo Blade more
Jun 2, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Republicans elect county party leaders "When the party did not endorse Mike Kiger as the incumbent Republican running for re-election, it left a bad taste in my mouth," Peterman said. He was referring to the Republican County Commissioner, Kiger, who won his party's primary despite the party's endorsement of a challenger. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Jun 1, 2006 Blade - Brown slams DeWine, GOP on veterans health care Sherrod Brown brought his U.S. Senate campaign to Toledo yesterday to talk about his agenda for improving the federal government's support of veterans and their families. The Toledo Blade more...
Jun 1, 2006 Toledo Blade - GOP adopts wait-and-see approach to tainted funds Tom Noe's admission in federal court yesterday that he funneled thousands of dollars into the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign wasn't enough to prompt President Bush to immediately return the illegal money. Instead, Mr. Bush and his political advisers are taking a wait-and-see approach. Toledo Blade more
May 31, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Noe pleads guilty to federal campaign fund-raising charges; Coin dealer faces likely 2-year prison sentence Indicted coin dealer Thomas W. Noe pleaded guilty today to illegally using friends and associates to funnel $45,400 to President Bush's re-election campaign. Noe changed his previous not-guilty pleas to three federal charges to "guilty" during a hearing before U.S. District Judge David A. Katz. Columbus Dispatch more
May 31, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Ex-aide calls Ney advocate for Abramoff Republican Rep. Bob Ney of Heath was a champion on Capitol Hill for Jack Abramoff and his clients before the lobbyist was disgraced, Ney’s former chief of staff testified yesterday. Columbus Dispatch more
May 31, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Blowing whistle just got tougher; Public employees stripped of protections by high court The Supreme Court made life tougher for government whistle-blowers, ruling yesterday that the First Amendment doesn’t protect public employees who disclose waste and fraud as part of their jobs. By a 5-4 margin, the justices said that the government’s interest in effectively managing operations... Columbus Dispatch more
May 30, 2006 Globe - Contenders of '08 look to Ohio With Ohio emerging as a pivotal battleground for the 2008 election, presidential hopefuls are visiting the Buckeye State and campaigning for local Democratic candidates. The Boston Globe more...
May 29, 2006 Dispatch - Ohio Senate race in national spotlight Congressman Sherrod Brown gears up for one of the most anticpated Senate races in 2006 - his run against Mike DeWine. The Columbus Dispatch more...
May 28, 2006 Dispatch - Minimum-wage drive rolling With two months to go before the filing deadline, the drive to increase Ohio's minimum wage is picking up steam. The Columbus Dispatch more...
May 28, 2006 Toledo Blade - Expanded voucher offer finds few takers; Only 10 in Toledo apply for tuition aid In Toledo, where 3,600 students are eligible, only 10 have applied. In Lima, where 3,000 students are eligible, 41 have applied. In Sandusky, where 300 students are eligible, 15 have applied. Toledo Blade more
May 28, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Minimum-wage drive rolling; Backers want to put initiative on fall ballot With a little more than two months before the filing deadline, backers of a proposed Ohio constitutional amendment to increase the state minimum wage have gathered half the 500,000 signatures they figure they’ll need to get on the fall ballot. Columbus Dispatch more
May 27, 2006 Toledo Blade - Noe asks corruption charge be dismissed; ex-coin dealer faces racketeering count Tom Noe yesterday asked a Lucas County Common Pleas Court judge to throw out a charge that the former Toledo-area rare-coin dealer engaged in corruption as the manager of the state's $50 million coin fund. Toledo Blade more
May 25, 2006 Dispatch - Coleman in DC as mayors help set Democratic vision Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman says the Democratic Party’s message for the 2006 midterm elections is a simple one that promotes a feeling of security -that must be presented coherently at national and local levels. The Columbus Dispatch more...
May 24, 2006 Daily News - Democrats unveil TV ad against Blackwell The Ohio Democratic Party has launched a TV ad attacking Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell right where Blackwell is supposed to be strongest — as a man of strongly held beliefs who sticks to them. Dayton Daily News more...
May 23, 2006 ODP RELEASES NEW TV AD Ohio Democratic Party TV Ad Asks: What Does Ken Blackwell Believe? LINK: Ohio Democratic Party more
May 23, 2006 Blade - Kaptur seeks out energy investments U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) continued to beat the drum yesterday for alternative energy sources at the Toledo Rotary Club luncheon at the Zenobia Shrine Hall. Ohio Democratic Party more...
May 23, 2006 AP - Glenn goes to bat for Democrats John Glenn, the former astronaut and four-term senator, who retired in 1999, says he's taking a more active role in campaigning this year after getting back on the stump for Senator Kerry in 2004. The Associated Press more...
May 21, 2006 Blade - Hoping for headway with a headstart, Kerry joins Strickland in Toledo for rally Senator John Kerry and Congressman Ted Strickland spoke to a crowd of over 300 at a rally in Toledo's Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza on Saturday night. The Toledo Blade more...
May 20, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - TEL plans not that alike; Spending reductions would be billions apart A legislative plan to restrict future state government spending won’t pack nearly the same punch as the constitutional amendment formerly pushed by J. Kenneth Blackwell, though some groups say it still goes too far. Columbus Dispatch more
May 20, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Noe seeks to have state trial shifted; Ex-coin dealer cites wave of bad publicity Thomas W. Noe’s attorneys contend the former coin dealer can’t get a fair trial in Toledo on the 53 state charges he faces. Former coin dealer Thomas W. Noe is seeking to have his trial on state charges moved out of Lucas County, saying "overwhelmingly negative pretrial publicity" has made it... Columbus Dispatch more
May 20, 2006 Pickerington Times-Sun - Politics put aside as students help with clothes donations Two Pickerington High School North seniors with differing political ideologies recently came together and made a difference. Christopher Corder, president of the Teenage Republicans club, joined with Young Democrats President Diana Rivera to organize a clothing drive last week at their school. Pickerington Times-Sun more
May 19, 2006 Plain Dealer - Democrats return to their old stomping grounds, Ohio It's never too early to visit Ohio if you're a 2008 Democratic presidential wannabe. More than two years before Election Day, Oval Office aspirants are already trekking through the political battlegrounds that decided the 2004 election. The Plain Dealer more...
May 19, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Clerk of Courts missing $1,000 Lancaster police are investigating the Fairfield County Clerk of Courts Office after a $1,000 discrepancy was discovered in a daily bank deposit made Tuesday. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
May 18, 2006 The Other Paper - Voter challenges: All over the map "Challenge forms slow the process," said Matt Damschroder, director of the Franklin County Board of Elections. "We've discouraged poll workers from using them at all." Until Heather Jernigan and her husband went to their Lancaster polling place for last week's primary election, they were not... The Other Paper more...
May 17, 2006 Plain Dealer - Public employees used on private job Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and his business partners are using public employees to gut a closed steakhouse that they plan to convert into a bar and game room. Ohio Democratic Party more
May 17, 2006 Blade - Strickland sharpens his pitch to black voters Ted Strickland continued his outreach to all Ohio voters yesterday with an appearance at the Harvard Community Services Center. The Toledo Blade more...
May 14, 2006 Blade - Strickland critical of 'shameful' GOP For Ted Strickland, Republican leaders have squandered Ohio's natural resources, its universities, and the talents of its 11 million residents, "just about everything a state would want to be successful." The Toledo Blade more...
May 13, 2006 Toledo Blade - May 31 date set for Noe to change not-guilty plea A federal judge in Toledo has set a date for Tom Noe to change his not-guilty plea in his campaign finance criminal case. U.S. District Judge David Katz yesterday morning scheduled a hearing at 3 p.m. May 31. On Wednesday, Mr. Noe indicated that he wanted to change his not-guilty plea on... Toledo Blade more
May 13, 2006 Toledo Blade - Rival targets DeWine for taking funds from oil firms Mike DeWine has friends in low-popularity places. His U.S. Senate re-election could depend in part on whether voters hold it against him. He has raised money with President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, whose approval ratings have nose-dived in Ohio, and with two leading figures in a... Toledo Blade more
May 13, 2006 Bond issue failed in 20 of 39 precincts The difference between 'yes' and 'no' voters for the 2.3-mill, 28-year bond issue on the May 2 primary election ballot was 182 votes. The narrow defeat left many in the community wondering what was coming next. Pickerington Times-Sun more
May 13, 2006 GOP hopes to ditch TEL to benefit Blackwell Republican lawmakers are exploring ways to make a measure limiting government spending disappear from the November ballot while allowing J. Kenneth Blackwell to save face on the signature proposal of his gubernatorial campaign. Columbus Dispatch more
May 13, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - GOP hopes to ditch TEL to benefit Blackwell Republican lawmakers are exploring ways to make a measure limiting government spending disappear from the November ballot while allowing J. Kenneth Blackwell to save face on the signature proposal of his gubernatorial campaign. Columbus Dispatch more
May 12, 2006 Blade - Noe asks Dann to assist with plea bargain In an attempt to reduce his potential prison time, Tom Noe has sought the help from perhaps the most unlikely place: State Sen. Marc Dann, the firebrand Democrat who has been the most vocal critic of Mr. Noe and the Taft administration Ohio Democratic Party more...
May 11, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Noe asks to change his pleas in U.S. case Thomas W. Noe wants to change his plea to charges that he illegally funneled cash to President Bush’s campaign. Indicted coin dealer Thomas W. Noe wants to change his not-guilty pleas to federal campaign-finance charges to resolve the case, according to a court filing yesterday. Columbus Dispatch more
May 11, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - GOP legislators take page from rivals Republican Rep. Ross McGregor’s bill to help war widows was identical to one his party refused to pass a year ago. A Republican bill extending free tuition to the spouses of fallen soldiers passed the Ohio House yesterday — after the same Democrat-sponsored proposal was defeated nine times in... Columbus Dispatch more
May 9, 2006 Plain Dealer - Confession brings investigation closer to Ney A federal corruption investigation moved closer to Ohio GOP Rep. Bob Ney Monday when Ney's former chief of staff admitted brokering deals between the lawmaker and rogue lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Ohio Democratic Party more...
May 8, 2006 News - Dann stops in Lima to talk about gas prices Sen. Marc Dann, candidate for Attorney General, recently introduced new legislation that would give the Attorney General the power to go after oil companies for price gouging. The Lima News more...
May 6, 2006 NY Times - Early intensity underscores role of races in Ohio For the Democratic Party, the road back to power in Washington begins here in Ohio. Republicans have been stung by corruption scandal, economic distress and rising voter unease. Democrats are ready to take back the state. The New York Times more...
May 5, 2006 Spotlight on Ohio...Again Job losses, a stubborn economy, and widespread corruption are just a few of the reasons an increasing number of conservatives will be supporting Democratic candidates in Ohio in 2006. Knight-Ridder Newspapers more...
May 5, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Jettison TEL? GOP may try; Party doesn’t want Blackwell hurt Ohio Republicans are exploring ways to remove a government-spending amendment from the fall ballot, saying it’s flawed and could hurt GOP gubernatorial candidate J. Kenneth Blackwell. Columbus Dispatch more
May 5, 2006 Toledo Blade - Legal papers shed light on Noe forgery investigation; Coin dealer allegedly got $440,200 through checks Nearly two dozen times over six years, Tom Noe leaned on his boyhood, business, and political friends for money, prosecutors contend. Documents released recently allege that Mr. Noe wrote checks from money in the state’s coin funds to his friends, forged their signatures, and then deposited the... Toledo Blade more
May 5, 2006 Associated Press - State's largest county still counting ballots two days later The state's largest county continued counting - and searching for - votes two days after the primary election, Ohio's first without punch-card ballots. Vote-holding memory cards from 20 polling locations were still missing Thursday in Cleveland's Cuyahoga County. Board of election workers... Ohio News Network more
May 3, 2006 Plain Dealer - Write-in campaign works for Democrat Wilson State Sen. Charlie Wilson last night won an arduous write-in campaign to appear on the congressional ballot in a district along the West Virginia border currently represented by Ted Strickland. The Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
May 3, 2006 AP - National Party leaders jump into fray in Ohio Governor's race National party leaders waded into the fray as soon as Ohioans picked their nominees for governor, signaling the intense interest in who will run the nation's bellwether political state during the 2008 presidential election. The Associated Press more...
May 3, 2006 It'll be Ted Strickland vs. Ken Taftwell Congressman Ted Strickland cruised to a easy victory in the Democratic primary, setting the stage for general election matchup with extremist Ken Taftwell. Ohio Democratic Party more
May 3, 2006 Dispatch - It's Blackwell vs. Strickland Congressman Ted Strickland rolled to an easy primary victory, setting the stage for what will be an expensive, highly contested general election battle against Ken Blackwell. The Columbus Dispatch more
May 1, 2006 Blade - Dems push for takeover in U.S. House The push to take back the U.S. House begins in Ohio, as Democrats are targeting up to five Congressional seats for victory. The Toledo Blade more
Apr 28, 2006 Plain Dealer - Rivals put aside politics - for politics Senators Marc Dann and Tim Grendell, a political odd couple running for attorney general in next week's primary on opposite tickets, got together Wednesday for a bit of legislative sport that crosses party lines -- bashing Gov. Bob Taft. The Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Apr 28, 2006 News - Phillips taking in more money than Republican incumbent Athens City Council member Debbie Phillips, who is running for state representative in Ohio's 92nd District, is so far leading incumbent Jimmy Stewart in fundraising, according to campaign finance reports filed last week The Athens News more...
Apr 28, 2006 Dispatch - Kilroy part of Democrats "Red to Blue" campaign Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy has been named part of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s "Red to Blue" fundraising program. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Apr 27, 2006 Toledo Blade - Pressure rises on secrecy ruling; Some candidates oppose Taft executive privilege decision The two Democratic candidates for governor yesterday said they support a bill to overturn the Ohio Supreme Court's decision allowing Gov. Bob Taft and future governors to cloak government records in secrecy. Toledo Blade more
Apr 25, 2006 Blade - GOP seem fine without Taft Bob Taft is keeping public appearances to a minimum in an attempt to avoid voters linking GOP scandals to Petro and Blackwell. Too bad they're both up to their ears in scandal already. The Toledo Blade more
Apr 25, 2006 Dispatch - Kilroy blasts Pryce for pay increases Mary Jo Kilroy, a Franklin County commissioner and Democratic candidate for Congress, said yesterday that she would refuse all congressional pay increases until the federal budget is balanced. Columbus Dispatch more...
Apr 25, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - New ads dismay state GOP chief As Blackwell and Petro intensified the TV ad war, U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, the presumptive Democratic nominee, stayed above the fray by unveiling a college savings plan, the latest plank in his so-called "Turnaround Ohio" platform. Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 24, 2006 AP- GOP missteps give hope to Democrats In Ohio, where President Bush’s ratings are low and support for scandal-scarred Gov. Bob Taft even lower, Republicans are in trouble. The Associated Press more...
Apr 24, 2006 Chicago Tribune - Voter anger sends tremors through Ohio For those who pay attention to what makes America tick--and what makes it dyspeptic--it's worth keeping an eye on Ohio, a state that reflects most of the major demographic components of the nation and the state that delivered a second term to Bush in 2004. While the poll numbers suggest buyer's... Chicago Tribune more
Apr 23, 2006 Blade - Sherrod Brown reveals plan to develop Ohio Sherrod Brown unveiled an economic platform for Ohio yesterday, blending trade restrictions, small business support, prescription-drug costs, and college affordability, and vowing to make Ohio "the Silicon Valley for alternative energy development." The Toledo Blade more...
Apr 21, 2006 NY Times - In the race for Governor, all sides agree on the need for change Ted Strickland is a true candidate of reform, a candidate who will Turn Around Ohio. The New York Times more...
Apr 20, 2006 Beacon Journal - 13th House hopefuls take issue Seven Democrats seeking the Democratic nomination for the 13th Congressional district seat participated in a forum in Brunswick on Wednesday night. Akron Beacon Journal more...
Apr 20, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Ohioans head for exit; Pace of departures faster than a decade ago Ohioans are leaving the state even faster than they were a decade ago, the Census Bureau says. From 2000 to 2004, 126,452 more people moved out of Ohio than moved in, according to estimates contained in a report the bureau issued today. The state lost an average of 31,613 residents each year... Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 19, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Pastor defends sending pro-Blackwell e-mail A Fairfield County pastor granted a Good Friday request from the campaign of J. Kenneth Blackwell to distribute an e-mail boosting the GOP gubernatorial candidate. Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 19, 2006 Pickerington Times-Sun - Bond issue backers start final efforts The campaign slogan "Issue 3: Build Our Future" can be seen throughout Pickerington. It's on yard signs, car stickers, promotional pamphlets and even a billboard. In less than a month, it will show up where it matters the most, on the ballot. Pickerington Times-Sun more
Apr 19, 2006 Pickerington Times-Sun - Three Republicans, two Democrats seeking Hottinger's seat Three Republicans and two Democrats are seeking to replace state Sen. Jay Hottinger in the Ohio Senate's 31st District. The two Democrats are Bob Bensonhaver and Dennis Lupher. This Week - Pickerington more
Apr 18, 2006 Dispatch - Brown, DeWine on path toward expensive race Congressman Sherrod Brown and Sen. Mike DeWine have raised millions, putting them on the path towards Ohio's most expensive Senate race ever. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Apr 18, 2006 Democrats continue to fight for adequate school funding Thirty nine Democrats in the state legislature signed a friend-of-the-court brief Monday, arguing the state is moving backwards on school funding. Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Apr 16, 2006 Blade - Blackwell defends campaign donations The 'pay-to-play' allegations continue to surround Ken Blackwell, as new analysis shows that Blackwell has received over $1 million in contributions from companies contracted do to work for his state office. The Toledo Blade more...
Apr 16, 2006 New York Times - In New Jersey, Spending Cap Pinches Schools As residents of New Jersey prepare to vote on their school budgets on Tuesday, educators and parents say that they are struggling with a major crisis forcing districts to cut programs, shed staff and charge fees for things that were once free. The chief culprit, they say, is not a public opposed... New York Times more
Apr 15, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Opposition to tax limits grows; Blackwell sticks by initiative as opposition grows Despite rising opposition that includes churches, business organizations and local government officials, Republican gubernatorial candidate J. Kenneth Blackwell is standing by his plan to limit government spending. Blackwell’s campaign acknowledges feeling the heat 2 1 /2 weeks before the... Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 15, 2006 Associated Press - Most Americans Still Say Tax System Unjust People think the middle class, the self-employed and small businesses pay too much in taxes, the poll found. And they think those with high incomes and big businesses don't pay enough. The survey was conducted in the days before the mid-April deadline for filing income tax returns. Associated Press more
Apr 14, 2006 Beacon Journal - Our Choice: Ben Espy in the Democratic Primary The Akron Beacon Journal joins a growing list of newspapers to endorse Ben Espy for the Democratic nomination for the Ohio Supreme Court. Akron Beacon Journal more...
Apr 12, 2006 News Sun - 3 Democrats seek nomination for Ohio House seat Two former Springfield mayors and a community activist are running in the May 2 Democratic primary for the 72nd Ohio House District. The Springfield News Sun more...
Apr 12, 2006 Globe - Missteps threaten House GOP rule The Iraq war, gas prices, scandals, and now simple ineffectiveness -- most recently the failure to reach an immigration deal and budget accord -- have put the Republican Party in serious danger of losing its majority status in the House of Representatives this year. The Boston Globe more...
Apr 12, 2006 AP - Quill leaves state treasurer's race Democrat Hugh Quill dropped out of the race for Ohio treasurer on Tuesday, leaving Franklin County Treasurer Richard Cordray to run unopposed in the May 2 primary. The Associated Press more...
Apr 12, 2006 Plain Dealer - Cordray rips officials who own stock Rather than buy and sell individual stocks, candidates for statewide office who want to dabble in the market should own mutual funds, says Richard Cordray, the Democrats' candidate for state treasurer. The Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Apr 12, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Fairfield Christian Church leader denies Secretary of State's visits were political The leader of Fairfield Christian Church on Tuesday denied the Internal Revenue Service is investigating his church or its political conduct. Pastor Russell Johnson made the claim during a press conference at the church, 1965 N. Columbus St., in response to a second complaint filed Thursday with... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Apr 11, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Taft in trouble with the lawyers A complaint says Gov. Bob Taft violated Ohio’s Code of Professional Responsibility for lawyers by failing to disclose gifts. Gov. Bob Taft is guilty of misconduct as a lawyer because he failed to disclose free golf outings and other favors that led to four ethics convictions this past summer, a... Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 11, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Quill dropping out of state treasurer’s race Democrat Hugh Quill is pulling out of the race for state treasurer. Quill, 49, Montgomery County treasurer and a longtime political activist, will make the announcement this morning at the Statehouse, accompanied by Richard Cordray, his opponent in the May 2 primary, and Ted Strickland,... Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 11, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Blackwell in blind-trust bind; Ohio has no provision to mask stock holdings Republican gubernatorial candidate J. Kenneth Blackwell has said he’s moving his investment portfolios to a blind trust to avoid any potential conflicts of interest. But there’s a problem with that plan: Ohio law doesn’t allow fully blind trusts, according to a 2005 Ohio Ethics Commission... Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 10, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Election cycle brings flurry of rules It's springtime in Fairfield County, with grass beginning to turn green again and flowers starting to sprout up through the ground. Also sprouting are another spring tradition - campaign signs. The signs symbolize more than just who is running for which office; they also mark the beginning of... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Apr 10, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Student protesters want Lancaster Board of Education members to resign; Students question manner of staff cuts Car horns sounded every few minutes as motorists showed support for Lancaster High School students protesting Monday. Students held signs that read messages such as "Kids Count, but our board can't" at the gazebo in downtown Lancaster. The students are unhappy with the way cuts have been made... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Apr 9, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Blackwell’s office spent less tax money but budget soared When he lists his accomplishments as secretary of state, J. Kenneth Blackwell proudly says he has improved service while reducing the office’s reliance on tax dollars by 61 percent. What he doesn’t say is that the office has increased overall spending by 73 percent since he arrived in 1999, by... Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 9, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Petro efficient manager, but critics allege ethical lapses Critics said Petro also waited too long to act after MDL Capital Management of Pittsburgh lost $215 million of bureau investments in 2004. Petro didn’t sue MDL to recover funds until June 2005, saying he wasn’t told until then. "It’s an abysmal record of being asleep at the switch when tens of... Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 9, 2006 Eagle-Gazette - Congress culpable if it can't stand up to Bush President Bush's secret intercepts of American citizens' communications are "more serious abuses" than President Nixon perpetrated in Watergate, according to an informed observer. John Dean, counsel to Nixon during Watergate, was on target when he told the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing March... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Apr 9, 2006 Toledo Blade - Ohio probes Noe's gifts to charities On the charity circuit in Toledo, Tom Noe was considered a guy you had to have at your event. He would be a sponsor, buy a table - and then fill it with well-heeled friends willing to bid on auction items or raffles. Fairfield County Democratic Party more...
Apr 7, 2006 Blackwell's Financial Disclosure Form View Blackwell's investment list from his recently submitted financial disclosure form. Ohio Democratic Party more
Apr 7, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Slots opponent Blackwell owns stock in manufacturer Secretary of Sate J. Kenneth Blackwell is on record opposing any constitutional amendment to expand gambling. Although he opposes potential November ballot initiatives to permit slot machines at Ohio’s horse-racing tracks, Republican gubernatorial candidate J. Kenneth Blackwell holds stock in... Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 7, 2006 New York Times - Church Group Calls I.R.S. Unfair on Political Violations of Tax Code A group of religious leaders accused the Internal Revenue Service yesterday of playing politics by ignoring its complaint that two large churches in Ohio are engaging in what it says are political activities, in violation of the tax code. New York Times more...
Apr 5, 2006 News Journal - Democrats rally to get out the vote, increase support State Party Chairman Chris Redfern told Richland County Democrats on Tuesday that the party's chances of winning statewide offices are good. Mansfield News Journal more...
Apr 4, 2006 Toledo Blade - Kaptur weighs Congressional investigation of Noe U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur yesterday demanded answers about what happened behind the scenes that led to Tom Noe’s federal appointment to a U.S. Mint advisory committee. Toledo Blade more
Apr 4, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Blackwell reports shares in Diebold Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell revealed yesterday that he owned stock in Diebold, a voting-machine manufacturer, at the same time his office negotiated a deal that critics have said was an attempt to steer business to the company. Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 4, 2006 Dispatch - Four Democrats see chance to Tiberi Political scandals, an unpopular president and opposition to the war in Iraq could spell trouble for majority Republicans in Congress in this year’s midterm elections. Ohio Democratic Party more...
Apr 3, 2006 Dispatch - Scandal sparks Ney's rivals Rep. Bob Ney's Democratic challengers are emboldened by Ney’s ties to Jack Abramoff, a Washington lobbyist who has pleaded guilty in a widening political-corruption scandal. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Apr 3, 2006 Blade - Brown criticizes DeWine's vote on health care issue Rep. Sherrod Brown attacked Sen. Mike DeWine yesterday for casting a decisive committee vote for a bill that would allegedly reduce health-care costs for small employers. The Toledo Blade more...
Apr 3, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - opinion: Blackwell freezing out competition SECRETARY of State Kenneth Blackwell has effectively told Ohioans they only need to hear the message he chooses. They don't need to question him or even see him face questions. That's the message Blackwell sends by refusing to debate Attorney General Jim Petro before the May 2 gubernatorial... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Apr 3, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Scandal sparks Ney’s rivals; Congressman’s links to Abramoff help bring on challenges from one Republican and four Democrats When Bob Ney ran for his sixth term in the U.S. House in 2004, he stomped his Democratic opponent by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. Two years earlier, he ran unopposed. This year’s election promises to be much different. For that, the Heath Republican can thank Jack Abramoff. Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 3, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Church says it wants ‘decent people’ elected It doesn’t hurt to have a few thousand friends in faith when seeking public office in Fairfield County. Fairfield Christian Church, the county’s largest, has been accused of using its pulpit to promote the statewide gubernatorial candidacy of Republican Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell. Columbus Dispatch more
Apr 2, 2006 Advisory post gave Noe voice in U.S. Mint policy; In the months before Tom Noe came under scrutiny for his state-funded rare-coin venture, he used a federal appointment to forge relationships with U.S. Mint officials that opened doors for him on Capitol Hill, documents obtained by The Blade show. Toledo Blade more
Apr 2, 2006 The Other Paper - Facing reality, Petro thinks of his dignity Petro's preliminary ad strategy is to slam Blackwell as a big spender while warning that the TEL will cripple the Ohio economy. Then Petro will probably wrap up the campaign with warm, fuzzy ad about himself. The Other Paper more...
Apr 2, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Democrat begins uphill climb as write-in At Sonny Boy restaurant, where the coffee is strong, the cream pie is 6 inches high and the air is stained blue with smoke, the customers like Charlie Wilson a lot. As a store owner and funeral director, he’s sold them furniture and buried their loved ones. "He’s a 100 percent straightup guy,"... Columbus Dispatch more
Mar 27, 2006 Dispatch - Bush showing signs of losing support among Ohio Republicans Almost a third of Ohio’s registered Republicans now dis-approve of Bush’s handling of Iraq, a new Dispatch Poll taken in the days surrounding the war’s third anniversary shows. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Mar 27, 2006 Blade - Noe casts troubling shadow over campaigns Nearly a year after scandal erupted at the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Tom Noe's shadow follows the campaigns of key Republicans. The Toledo Blade more...
Mar 26, 2006 Plain Dealer - Ohio 'ground zero' in critical House battles Buoyed by President Bush's weak poll numbers and Republican corruption and scandal run amok, Democrats are banking heavily on terrific Congressional candidates to gain seats needed to take control of Congress. Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Mar 26, 2006 Toledo Blade - Lawyers who gave to GOP got state work; $170M in legal fees went to contributors Lawyers who contributed more than $1.8 million to an obscure Ohio Republican Party fund that backed the campaigns of Jim Petro and Betty Montgomery for attorney general have received more than $170 million in legal fees working for the attorney general's office since 1998, a Blade investigation... Toledo Blade more
Mar 26, 2006 Toledo Blade - Strickland says he's the fighter who can win governor's job A young man walked up to Ted Strickland shortly after a candidate forum this week in Canton. He identified himself as a Republican, shook Mr. Strickland’s hand, and delivered a quick but harsh message. “You’ve got to add details to your answers,” said the Republican, Matt Miller, who is an... Toledo Blade more
Mar 24, 2006 Beacon Journal - Plusquellic to help lead Sawyer's run for House Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic announced he would co-chair Tom Sawyer's campaign for the 13th Congressional district seat. Akron Beacon Journal more...
Mar 23, 2006 Enquirer - Barrett leaves run for Senate Hamilton County Democrats avoided a primary election battle Wednesday night, when state Rep. Catherine Barrett announced she will not challenge state Sen. Eric Kearney for an Ohio Senate seat. The Cincinnati Enquirer more...
Mar 21, 2006 Toledo Blade - Coins acquired by Noe to be auctioned; at least $7.5 million sought for 3,400 items Coin dealers will get their first public shot today to buy the coins and currency acquired with state money by Tom Noe. An estimated 3,400 items will be on display in an undisclosed Columbus location where bidders can check out pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, dollars — even $10,000 bills.... Toledo Blade more
Mar 20, 2006 AP - Hundreds protest at Statehouse More than 800 people met at the Ohio Statehouse on Saturday to call attention to their opposition to the war in Iraq, one of dozens of such protests around the country. The Associated Press more...
Mar 20, 2006 Enquirer - McEwen censured over false statements Congressional candidate Bob McEwen got a public reprimand Thursday for making false statements during last year's campaign. But his legal problems aren't over. Cincinnati Enquirer more...
Mar 19, 2006 Plain Dealer - Blackwell defends way funds were raised Ken Blackwell preaches the need for transparent fund-raising in his campaign for governor, but in his 2001 race for state treasurer, much of the money he received could not be directly traced to specific donors Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Mar 19, 2006 Dispatch - Noe facing Aug. 29 trial date Already facing a July 24 trial on federal campaign-finance charges, coin dealer Thomas W. Noe learned yesterday that he is to stand trial a month later on state charges related to his handling of a rare-coin investment. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Mar 19, 2006 Dispatch - Family ties forged Strickland's spirit The Dispatch profiles Ted Strickland, endorsed Democratic candidate for Governor. The Columbus Dispatch more...
Mar 19, 2006 Cleveland Plain Dealer - Blackwell defends way funds were raised; Contributions came via party accounts Secretary of State Ken Blackwell preaches the need for transparent fund-raising in his campaign for governor, but in his 2001 race for state treasurer, much of the money he received could not be directly traced to specific donors. Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Mar 17, 2006 Plain Dealer - Blackwell plan called flawed Had Ken Blackwell's TEL Amendment been in place over the past three years, most school taxes that passed would have failed, critics of the amendment contend. Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Mar 14, 2006 Toledo Blade - Noe trial is July 24 on federal charges of laundering funds Former GOP fund-raiser and one-time Republican appointee Tom Noe will stand trial on political money-laundering charges just three months before Ohio's most contested statewide elections in more than a decade. Toledo Blade more
Mar 14, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Blackwell to settle suit, remove data from Web Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell has bowed to legal and political pressure to remove thousands of Social Security numbers from business records posted on his official Web site. Columbus Dispatch more
Mar 14, 2006 AP - Republicans face awkward identity theft fix Republicans clamping down on a potential identity theft crisis must tread carefully because the issue is full of controversy because of social security numbers posted on Ken Blackwell's SOS website. The Associated Press more...
Mar 14, 2006 Plain Dealer - Strickland wants to close Ohio's digital gap Ted Strickland proposed to connect Ohio's poorest communities to the Internet by increasing use of existing high-speed fiber-optic lines that crisscross the state but remain largely "dark," or unused. Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Mar 12, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - GOP foes both did no-bid deals; Blackwell denied it, but he takes money he rips Petro for taking Despite one-sided charges, both Republican candidates for governor have taken campaign cash from those they awarded no-bid state contracts, records show. J. Kenneth Blackwell has criticized rival Jim Petro repeatedly in recent weeks for using lawyers who received unbid specialcounsel work from... Columbus Dispatch more
Mar 9, 2006 Enquirer - Prentiss' bill aims to secure our data Social Security numbers would have to be removed from all public records in Ohio, including those posted on the Internet, under legislation introduced by Senate Minority leader C.J. Prentiss. Cincinnati Enquirer more...
Mar 8, 2006 Toledo Blade - Wage boost added to bill on BWC cuts; Democrats say GOP aims to evade higher raise House Republicans yesterday stunned Democrats by attaching a 90-cents-an-hour increase in Ohio’s minimum wage to a controversial bill reducing workers’ compensation benefits for injured workers. Toledo Blade more
Mar 8, 2006 The Other Paper - 'Toxic' Petro was lt. guv material for Blackwell Last week, Ken Blackwell described Jim Petro as "a clear and present danger to the health and well-being of the Ohio GOP ticket." Blackwell said Petro's seedy reputation "threatens to spread its toxic influence across the entire GOP ticket." Blackwell didn't mention that just a month ago,... The Other Paper more...
Mar 8, 2006 Toledo Blade - Ohio chief justice finds no bias by judge in Noe case Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Moyer today rejected a request from former Maumee coin dealer Tom Noe that Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Osowik be disqualified from hearing his criminal case. Toledo Blade more
Mar 7, 2006 Toledo Blade - GOP bill presses benefit cuts for injured workers Democrats are seeking to delay a GOP-backed bill to slash the amount of time injured employees receive workers' compensation wage payments while looking for jobs from nearly four years to one. Toledo Blade more
Mar 5, 2006 Plain Dealer - Brown stumps for votes in GOP bastions Sherrod Brown is writing off nowhere, campaigning in conservative Ohio counites, spreading a positive Democratic economic message. Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Mar 5, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Voting machine support costly The cost of service contracts for new touchscreen voting machines has left county elections officials across Ohio in sticker shock. Many say they need the extra — and expensive — technical support to program and run the machines properly and ensure the integrity of elections. Columbus Dispatch more
Mar 5, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Insider dealings at BWC probed, Prosecutors search for evidence bureau officials got kickbacks A handwritten list directing that state money go to select brokers is a key element of a probe into whether top officials at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation got favors for steering agency investment business. Columbus Dispatch more
Mar 5, 2006 Ohio News Network - Governor Candidates' Ads Focus On Attacks Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell has unleashed another television ad attacking his rival in the race for the GOP nomination for governor. Blackwell's opponent, Attorney General Jim Petro, has responded with an ad that quotes newspaper editorials calling Blackwell "sinister" and "scummy." Columbus Dispatch more
Mar 3, 2006 Plain Dealer - Redfern questions Petro endorsement of Montgomery Party Chair Rep. Chris Redfern publicly questioned why Jim Petro has endorsed Betty Montgomery if he believes she ran a corrupt, "Tammany Hall-style" office while Attorney General. Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Mar 2, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - GOP embraces challenger, Incumbent Kiger couldn't win support of party Fairfield County Republicans have chosen not to endorse incumbent Republican County Commissioner Mike Kiger. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Feb 27, 2006 Washington Post - Democrats look for historic shift in Governor's races Republicans face a potential upheaval in the states this November, with Democrats positioned to capture a majority of the governorships for the first time since 1990. The Washington Post more
Feb 27, 2006 Slashdot - Diebold Whistle-Blower Charged With Felony Access An employee of law firm Jones Day found legal memos showing that their client, Diebold Election Systems, had used uncertified voting systems in Alameda County elections beginning in 2002 - violating California election law. The whistle-blower turned over the memos to the Oakland Tribune, which... Slashdot. more
Feb 27, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Next election results could take weeks "I think it is possible that we may not know whether a candidate has been elected or an issue has passed or failed until all the provisional ballots cast are verified and counted," Nicolia said. "That could be three weeks later during the certification." Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Feb 25, 2006 Toledo Blade - Witnesses say they funneled donations, Effort led to ‘Pioneer’ status for coin dealer Tom Noe was so eager to become a Bush “Pioneer” that he used a pair of former top aides to Gov. Bob Taft to launder campaign contributions to the President’s re-election bid, documents released yesterday by prosecutors show. Toledo Blade more
Feb 25, 2006 Toledo Blade - Ex-Taft aides fined for ethics breaches A pair of former high-ranking aides to Gov. Bob Taft and former Gov. George Voinovich were convicted yesterday for not publicly disclosing thousands of dollars they received from Republican fund-raiser Tom Noe, who was indicted last week for stealing from a $50 million state rare-coin investment Toledo Blade more
Feb 25, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Wal-Mart workers costing taxpayers Taxpayers are picking up the tab for health-care costs of more Wal-Mart workers and dependents than for any other Ohio employer, long-awaited state figures show. And McDonald’s has the most workers and family members getting food stamps and cash assistance. Columbus Dispatch more
Feb 24, 2006 Beacon Journal - Bill would bar Ohio adoptions by GOP If Sen. Hagan's (D-Youngstown) proposal becomes Ohio law, Republicans would be barred from being adoptive parents. The bill is, of course, a joke, meant to illustrate the stupidity of Rep. Ron Hood's(R-Youngstown) bill barring adoption by gay partners. Akron Beacon Journal more
Feb 24, 2006 Associated Press - Two former Taft aides in court today over Noe ties As revelations continue over a coin dealer's alleged mishandling of a $50 million state investment, two former aides to Gov. Bob Taft are scheduled to appear today in Franklin County Municipal Court. Columbus Dispatch more
Feb 24, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Campaign gifts from Noe raise eyebrows. 20 of the donations came within a week of siphoning money Coin dealer Thomas W. Noe made at least 20 campaign contributions on the same day or within a week of paying himself from a state rare-coin investment he managed, a Dispatch analysis shows. Columbus Dispatch more
Feb 23, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Down the drain? Bureau ripped for ‘remarkable lack’ of oversight The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation completely mishandled Thomas W. Noe’s rare-coin investment, according to a state audit released yesterday that determined more than $13.5 million of the $50 million deal was spent in violation of the law. Whether it was simple incompetence or criminal... Columbus Dispatch more
Feb 22, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Board of elections needs more employees The Fairfield County Board of Elections could be going to court soon to get the Fairfield County Commission to pay about $500,000. If the board does not get additional allocations it needs to operate elections and for four more full-time employees, the board plans to take action, said Board of... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Feb 22, 2006 The Columbus Dispatch - $13.6 million missing from coin fund, audit reveals Coin dealer Thomas W. Noe used state money for work on his homes in Florida and Ohio, appliances, golf outings and other personal items and covered up the improper expenditures through phantom transactions, according to a new state report released today. In all, $13.6 million is missing from the... Columbus Dispatch more
Feb 22, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Vote expected on funding elections in Fairfield County The elections board blames the state and federal governments for imposing new voting laws but not fully funding them. Elections officials say they’re left to pay the rest, including increased expenses for equipment, employees and training. Columbus Dispatch more
Feb 22, 2006 Buckeye Lake Beacon - New middle school on hold Don't expect to see a new Liberty Union Middle School until at least 2009 or 2010, even though voters approved funding for it in 2002. Liberty Union Superintendent Paul Mathews said that the state won't divvy up its share of the school’s $12 million price tag any sooner, and there's a chance... Buckeye Lake Beacon more...
Feb 20, 2006 Daily News - Tax scofflaws may get off the hook Tax cheaters who don't pay their tax bill after 10 years could get off the hook under a bill introduced by the Ohio GOP's candidate for State Auditor. Dayton Daily News more...
Feb 20, 2006 Blade - ODP screening panel backs Strickland for governor A screening committee of the Ohio Democratic Party yesterday recommended that the party endorse U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland Toled Blade more
Feb 20, 2006 Blade - When, where will the next shoe fall in Noe case? Who's next? With key GOP figure Tom Noe now indicted on 53 felony counts, it's anyone's gues. Toledo Blade more
Feb 20, 2006 Ohio News Network - Ohio Has Worst Foreclosure Rate in the U.S. Ohio's overall foreclosure rate is the worst in the nation and now numbers show another trend. More Ohioans who live in small towns and rural areas are losing their homes because of high-interest mortgage loans. Ohio News Network more
Feb 17, 2006 Vindicator - State Democrats ready to take on GOP This year's election is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Democrats to win statewide offices. The Youngstown Vindicator more...
Feb 17, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Candidates and issues filed for May primary Fairfield County voters will choose candidates in seven contested primary races May 2...Candidates who filed petitions for the primary election include: Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Feb 16, 2006 Vindicator - 'Coingate' may be tip of corruption iceberg The BWC-Noe investment scandal has been dubbed "coingate" and could well be the tip of a corruption iceberg in the state of Ohio. The Youngstown Vidicator more...
Feb 16, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Lancaster treasurer to call it quits Lancaster City Treasurer Jack Rupe announced on Wednesday he plans to step down from his office as soon as the Fairfield County Republican Party can find a successor. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
Feb 16, 2006 Columbus Dispatch - Blackwell’s blast at Petro suggests rough campaign With today’s filing deadline for statewide offices looming, Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell launched a new attack yesterday on Republican rival Jim Petro in a potential preview of the type of gubernatorial campaign that lies ahead. Blackwell accused Petro, the attorney general, of... Columbus Dispatch more
Feb 16, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - Stoutsville man will run for state rep Kirk is co-owner of Sleep Care of America LLC. He's a member of the New Beginnings Assembly of God, an evangelical Christian church in Columbus. He is a member of the National Rifle Association. Politically, Kirk is the chair-person of the Business Outreach Committee for the Fairfield County... Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more...
Feb 15, 2006 Toledo Blade - Noe accused of stealing from funds until May 26. Petro, Montgomery waited to act The 53-count indictment filed Monday against Tom Noe claims the coin dealer continued to defraud Ohio's $50 million rare-coin funds long after Attorney General Jim Petro and State Auditor Betty Montgomery first learned about problems with the investment. Toledo Blade more
Feb 15, 2006 Plain Dealer - Ohio's leaders must focus on urban woes Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman details many of the solutions to fixing urban woes that have occured under 16 years of Republican one-party rule. Cleveland Plain Dealer more...
Feb 15, 2006 Lancaster Eagle-Gazette - County could see its first female judge Fairfield County Domestic Relations Court Magistrate Laura Smith will ask Republicans in the May primary election to give her a promotion. Smith has announced her candidacy for Fairfield County Domestic Relations Court judge. Lancaster Eagle-Gazette more
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