John Schlichter

The ODP mailer against Schlichter: Ohio Democratic PartyState Rep. John Schlichter (R-Washington Court House) is coming under attack by Democrats through direct mail over unpaid taxes.

In a mailer sent by the Ohio Democratic Party, Schlichter is accused of not paying $434,000 in taxes after voting to raise state taxes by $2.5 billion.

As the Chillicothe Gazette reports, next week Schlichter will go to municipal court to see if it will appoint a trustee to attend to his debt, which is listed as $418,000. If one is appointed, Schlichter will have a quarter of his monthly net pay garnished to pay creditors and the Internal Revenue Service.

Ray Pryor (far right): with wife, Jennifer, and host Norman ShirkeyThe char-grilled smoke of pork chops and rib-eye steaks billowed underneath one of three tents set up in the backyard of Sue Shirkey-Raypole and Norman Shirkey. The table opposite the grill offered cups of macaroni and potato salad, baked beans and an assortment of barbeque and steak sauces. Cornhole was set up in one corner of the yard, and a dessert table complete with homemade apple pie in the other.

This all-American scene was the setting of a barbeque benefit for Ray Pryor (D - Chillicothe), who is making his second bid for Ohio's 85th House district after a narrow defeat last cycle. Pryor, who lost to incumbent state Rep. John Schlichter (R - Washington Court House) by 51.41 percent to 48.59 percent in 2006, said last cycle they were "the new kids on the block" and they learned a lot that will help them this time around.