BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON -- Butler County Democratic Party officials are extremely upset over John Griffin's victory over Roland Duerksen in the 8th Congressional District primary election Tuesday.
The party had endorsed Mr. Duerksen, a retired Miami University English professor from Oxford, instead of Mr. Griffin, a retired farmer from Miamisburg, to run against U.S. Rep. John Boehner, R-West Chester, in the November general election.
"His election was a real disappointment to me and every Democrat I know," said Don Daiker, chairman of the Butler County Democratic Party. "I just feel sick about the outcome. Roland Duerksen would have been the infinitely superior candidate in bringing issues to the fore."
Mr. Griffin, 61, won the primary easily, claiming 53 percent of the vote, unofficial results showed. More than half of the district's population is in Butler County.
Mr. Griffin, a former member of the Ohio Board of Education, has run unsuccessfully for Congress three times. He considers himself a loyal, lifelong Democrat and has served on the Ohio Democratic Party Committee for 22 years.
He felt the sting of his party's disapproval Tuesday night at the Butler County Board of Elections, after it was apparent that he had beaten Mr. Duerksen.
He said Mr. Daiker, who teaches English at Miami University and was a colleague of Mr. Duerksen's, left the board of elections without shaking his hand.
"I've got no problem with Mr. Daiker," Mr. Griffin said. "But I thought he was very obnoxious not shaking hands with me at the board of elections."
Mr. Griffin said he hopes to reconcile with Democratic Party leaders and win the party's support for his campaign.
