State Rep. Mark Mallory has filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission claiming his Republican opponent, State Sen. Janet Howard, has made false statements in her advertising.
Mr. Mallory, West End Democrat, is challenging Mrs. Howard in Ohio's 9th Senate District, which includes eastern Cincinnati and much of the city's northern suburbs.
The complaint says the Howard campaign made false statements in TV and radio ads, along with campaign literature.
A Howard TV ad, paid for by the Republican Senate Campaign Committee in Columbus, claims that Mr. Mallory voted against legislation requiring criminal background checks of nursing home workers. Mr. Mallory says that's false.
A radio ad for Mrs. Howard also says that she is the "only African-American female" in the Ohio Senate. She is not; State Sen. Rhine McLin represents a Dayton-area district.
Mrs. Howard could not be reached for comment Friday on the Mallory complaint.
Candidates endorsed
Seven candidates for state and Butler County offices got endorsements from Family First, a conservative, Ohio-based political action committee.
The group's endorsements include U.S. Rep. John Boehner, State Rep. Gary Cates, Supreme Court candidate Judge Stephen Powell, Appeals Court Judge William Young, County Judge Patricia Oney and judicial candidate Sharon Kennedy.
"Family First stands firmly against abortion and special rights for homosexuals," Family First board member and Union Township resident Roger Jeter said. "Among other issues that Family First is dedicated to are smaller government, lower taxes, back-to-basics education and religious free speech."
The group has raised more than $200,000 to the 30-plus candidates it has endorsed in the 1997 and 1998 general elections.
Campaign Notebook is compiled by the staff of The Cincinnati Enquirer and runs Tuesday-Saturday.
