2010 Election

The economy is Ohio’s most important problem, voters say in a new poll, with Gov. Ted Strickland’s campaign promise to reform education a distant second.

Seventy-seven percent of voters say the economy is the state’s biggest problem according to a survey from Quinnipiac University’s Polling Institute released Thursday. Only five percent of respondents said education was the most important issue facing the state.

Corrected - All but three of Ohio’s Republican U.S. representatives voted against giving General Motors and Chrysler $14 billion in loans so they do not run out of money.

U.S. Reps. Steve LaTourette (R-Bainbridge Twp.) and Ralph Regula (R-Navarre) voted in favor of the loans. Regula is retiring and will be replaced by John Boccieri (D-Alliance). U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Columbus) didn’t vote at all. Pryce is retiring and will be replaced by Mary Jo Kilroy (D-Columbus).

Ohio voters want to cut spending and keep taxes at the same rate to balance the state's budget, according to a new poll released by the Quinnipiac University's Polling Institute on Thursday.

The state's budget faces a $640 million deficit for 2009 and at least $4 billion for the biennial budget covering 2010 and 2011.

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D) has weak approval ratings but potential challenge Jon Husted is mostly unknown to Ohioans.

Brunner's job approval rating stands at 39 percent, according to a poll from the Quinnipiac Polling Institute. Thirty-three percent said they didn't know and 28 percent have an unfavorable opinion.

U.S. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Cleveland) has a healthy approval rating but has other weaknesses in a new poll released Wednesday.

Voinovich's approval rating stands at 51 percent, according a poll from the Quinnipiac Polling Institute. This and his August approval rating (51 percent) are the highest since March 2007.

Gov. Ted Strickland's approval rating has fallen but he still has a majority of support from voters, according to a poll released by the Quinnipiac Polling Institute.

Strickland has a 54 percent approval rating, down from ratings in the high 50s and 60s earlier this year.

Montgomery Co. Recorder's office

Blackshear

Montgomery County Recorder Willis Blackshear (D) said he would like to run for statewide office, namely treasurer.

Blackshear ran unsuccessfully in the 2002 Democratic primary for state treasurer but said he would like to take another crack at the job. It’s not known who will be treasurer when the position is up for election 2010 as Gov. Ted Strickland must appoint a successor to Richard Cordray who’ll become attorney general in January.

Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis will run for county commissioner if current Commissioner Jimmy Dimora decides against running for re-election in 2010.

Commissioner Dimora and County Auditor Frank Russo are under federal investigation for allegedly offering jobs in exchange for favors, receiving personal work in exchange for public contracts, and trying to influence the outcome of judicial proceedings. Rokakis said he expects Dimora’s seat could become vacant prior to 2010 due to the federal investigation and that he'll definitely run for it if it opens.

U.S. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Cleveland) is working on an alternative to a Democratic plan to give U.S. automakers $25 billion in loans to prevent bankruptcy.

Voinovich's office announced Wednesday that he is drafting legislation to allow previously authorized $25 billion for re-tooling to be used as a general loan. Democrats want the loan money to come from the multibillion bailout passed earlier this year.

Last week Voinoivch wrote a letter with Michigan's two Democratic U.S. senators support of the Democratic plan to make auto companies eligible for bailout money. Voinovich also voted for the $25 billion for re-tooling. 

voinovich.senate.gov

Sen. Voinovich

U.S. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Cleveland) has come out in support of a bailout of for the auto industry.

Voinovich, who will likely run for reelection in 2010, will join both Democratic senators from Michigan in writing to their senate colleagues asking them to make auto companies eligible for some of the $700 billion in the bailout package passed earlier this year.