Monday, March 06, 2000
State House races are hotly contested
Term limits spur GOP competition
BY MICHAEL HAWTHORNE
Enquirer Columbus Bureau
COLUMBUS — Term limits are taking a toll on fingernails of the folks who run the Hamilton County Republican Party.
With most of the region's state legislative delegation forced out of office by term limits this year, the predomi nantly Republican county faces contested primaries Tuesday in four races for the Ohio House.
Two of the contests are considered nail-biters, drawing a late blitz of TV ads and mailings as party factions fight to influence the next generation of leaders.
“I frankly don't think anybody knows any of these candidates right now,” State Treasurer Joe Deters said last week. “Unfortunately, people in Cin cinnati don't understand the power of these positions and how important they are to the region.”
At stake are jobs that help determine how much state money schools get and legislation concerning everything from taxes and environmental regulations to gun control and outlays for construction projects like the Reds and Bengals stadiums.
Mr. Deters took over as chairman of the local GOP late last year following a dispute over party endorsements of Steve Adams in the 37th District, Madeira Mayor Michelle Glass Schneider in the 36th District and Princeton School Board member Tawana Keels Simons in the 32nd District.
Anti-tax conservatives are challenging all three party-endorsed hopefuls. Given the dominance of Republican voters in each district, whoever wins the primary effectively wins the seat in November.
Soon-to-be-gone Rep. Jackie O'Brien, R-Anderson Township, tried to sway voters during the weekend in the 37th District with a letter endorsing Mr. Adams. He faces Tom Brinkman Jr., head of the Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes.
Ms. Schneider is running against Charles Tassell, a Pleasant Ridge resident who is governmental affairs director at the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Apartment Association, and Mrs. Simons faces Jim Raussen of Springdale, a former Hamilton Township trustee.
Republican voters in western Hamilton County must choose between Bill Seitz, a Green Township trustee, and Randy Shank, a Harrison accountant, in the 34th House District.
There also are contested GOP primaries in other counties. In Butler's 60th House District, three candidates hope to succeed Rep. Gene Krebs, R-Camden. Warren's 2nd House District has three people seeking the seat being vacated by Rep. George Terwilleger, R-Maineville. In Clermont, three candidates want to replace Rep. Rose Vesper, R-New Richmond.
Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, who is chairman of Mr. Tassell's campaign, said more than personality and policy may influence Tuesday's legislative races, especially the turnout for tax levies sought by the Cincinnati public schools.
It appears leaders of both GOP factions have pumped most of their campaign resources into the Adams-Brinkman and Raussen-Simons contests.
The local party has financed TV spots for Mr. Adams and Mrs. Simons starring Gov. Bob Taft, Senate President Richard Finan and U.S. Rep. Rob Portman. Moreover, the state party paid for mailings for candidates endorsed by the local party.
“We are the underdog, but we are scrappy,” Mr. Blackwell said.
Statewide, there are 36 open House districts. While Cincinnati-area races are competitive, 54 of the 99 House districts will not have a contested primary.
“We've taken a lot for granted with Finan and (former Senate President Stanley) Aronoff up in Columbus for us,” Mr. Deters said. “When they are gone our area is going to feel it. That's why these legislative races are so important.”
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