Ohio

The newly elected Ohio House Democratic leadership for the 128th General Assembly gathered in the Statehouse Wednesday to discuss some legislative priorities for the next session. Ohio Speaker of the House-elect Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) said that his top priority was economic development and jobs, but also floated some ideas on urban revitalization.

"In 2006, the people of Ohio elected a new governor in Ted Strickland to turn Ohio around," Budish said. "It's difficult for a governor to do that by himself. He needs cooperation from the Ohio House and Senate."

Budish said he plans to work closely with Strickland, Senate President Bill Harris (R-Ashland) and Minority Leader-elect Bill Batchelder (R-Mediana) to move Ohio forward over the next two years.

"We will do our best to work with Republicans across the aisle," Budish said. "And I believe Bill Batchelder wants to do the same."

The office of U.S. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Cleveland) announced today that Ohio's senior senator has helped secure nearly $4 million in grant funds to assist workers affected by layoffs within the Wilmington Air Park at DHL Express, ABX Air, Inc., and ACS Business Process Solutions.

Earlier in November, DHL's German parent company said it would cut 9,500 jobs in the United States as well as eliminate shipping within the U.S. by land and air, but DHL spokespeople are saying the air cargo hub in Wilmington will continue to operate for now. 

However, DHL is still planning on a deal with UPS that would compromise the Wilmington hub and could result in the loss of around 8,000 jobs. DHL says it expects a decision with regard to the UPS deal by the end of the year.

At the time, Voinovich said his office would be, "tireless in their efforts to ensure that state and local governments have the full federal resources needed to cope with this economic disaster."

Mayor's office Photo

Congresswoman-elect Marcia Fudge

Former Warrensville Heights Mayor and Congresswoman-elect Marcia Fudge has won the special election to finish out the term of U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Cleveland) in Ohio's 11th Congressional District.

Fudge was unopposed in the special election on Tuesday, which Gov. Ted Strickland declared, saying that he was required to do so by law. The Democrat is a former chief of staff to Tubbs Jones, who passed away suddenly in Aug. 20 after suffering a brain aneurism at the age of 58. The election for the six-week post has been reported to have cost upwards of $5 million.

Unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State show that with 100 percent of precincts reporting, 8,694 voters turned out to vote in the special election out of 492,229 total registered voters in the district. The Secretary of State shows Fudge getting 8,450 votes.

Congressman-Elect John Boccieri (D-Alliance) released a statement following the news that he has hired Ohio Department of Natural Resources deputy director Anthony Trevena as his chief of staff in the U.S. Congress.

"I am pleased Anthony has agreed to serve as my chief of staff in the 111th Congress," Boccieri said. "This is a critical position, and I am confident Anthony's background and experience make him a perfect fit as chief of staff for the people of the 16th Congressional District."

Trevena has a Bachelor's degree in education and master's degree in business administration. He previously served on Gov. Ted Strickland's Congressional staff. Trevena will officially join Boccieri's staff in early January.

Statehouse Photo

Speaker of the House-elect Armond Budish

The Ohio House Democratic caucus held an evening session Tuesday night to select its leadership for the upcoming 128th General Assembly. Ohio House Democratic Minority Leader Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus) announced Tuesday evening that caucus members had unanimously elected state Rep. Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) as the next speaker of the house.

"I am proud and humbled to lead our Caucus into the next General Assembly as we continue the work to turn around Ohio," Budish said. "We partnered with Governor Strickland over the past two years to lay the groundwork for positive change. I look forward to working with him, President Harris, Minority Leader Batchelder, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue building the foundation for long-term prosperity and success in Ohio."

Budish's fundraising prowess and campaign efforts had helped the caucus gain at least five seats on Election Day, securing a Democratic House majority for the first time in 14 years.

Joining Budish in leadership will be state Rep. Matt Szollosi (D-Toledo) as speaker pro tempore, state Rep. Jennifer Garrison (D-Marietta) as majority floor leader, state Rep. Tracy Maxwell Heard (D-Columbus) as assistant majority floor leader, state Rep. Jay Goyal (D-Mansfield) as majority whip and state Rep. Allan Sayre (D-Dover) as assistant majority whip.

State Sen. Jason Wilson (D-Columbiana) accepted the position Tuesday of political chair for the Ohio Senate Democratic caucus.

Wilson was voted into the position of assistant minority leader for the caucus in the upcoming 128th General Assembly last week. State Sen. Capri Cafaro (D-Hubbard) will become the caucus minority leader in the new session. State Sen. Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland) will retain her position as assistant minority leader, while current minority leader Ray Miller (D-Columbus) will take the minority whip position that is currently held by Cafaro.

Wilson said that his title as political chair is a non-statutory position, but said that it exists so the caucus can have a member organizing its campaign strategy.

"We're going to have a comprehensive plan and a strategy for the next election cycle," Wilson said.

The Ohio Senate Republican caucus unanimously selected Senate President Bill Harris (R-Ashland) to continue his leadership for the upcoming 128th General Assembly on Tuesday afternoon.

Harris will be joined in leadership by state Sen. Tom Niehaus (R-New Richmond), who was selected as the chamber’s president pro tempore; Senator Keith Faber (R-Celina), who was voted majority floor leader, and Senator Mark Wagoner (R-Toledo), who was elected majority whip.  

All will officially assume these posts in January when the new session begins.

Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon that he was not interested in being appointed to the position of state treasurer.

Mallory was responding to several news reports that speculated he may be leaving Cincinnati for the position.

On Election Day, Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray (D-Pleasant Twp.) won his race for Ohio attorney general against former U.S. Attorney Mike Crites (R-Powell). Cordray's win will leave a vacancy in the state treasurer's office, which will be filled through an appointment by Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D-Lisbon).

Congressman-elect John Boccieri (D-Alliance) has hired Anthony Trevena as his chief of staff for when he heads to Washington, D.C. to represent Ohio's 16th Congressional District.

Trevena has worked for Gov. Ted Strickland in various capacities over the years and is from Guilford Lake in Columbiana County.

Trevena took a leave of absence from his position as deputy director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in order to work for the Boccieri campaign.

State Sen. Boccieri defeated fellow state Sen. Kirk Schuring (R-Jackson Twp.) in the race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Navarre) in Ohio's 16th. Boccieri got 55.26 percent of the vote in the race compared to 44.74 for Schuring.

Ohio Republicans are looking to get rid of the week-long period in which new Ohio voters can register and then immediately cast a ballot.

The window of opportunity to register and cast saw plenty of contention in the 2008 Election cycle, with Republicans arguing that the period opens up the process to election fraud.

Republicans are looking to introduce a bill that would require Ohioans wishing to vote early to be registered at least 30 days before the start of absentee voting. Currently, early voting begins 35 days before the election, and Ohioans must be registered within 30 days of the Election Day.

The bill is being sponsored by state Sen. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati).