Wednesday, March 08, 2000
Ted Celeste to face DeWine in Senate bid
BY MICHAEL HAWTHORNE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COLUMBUS — Ted Celeste, the brother of former Gov. Richard Celeste, defeated three Democratic primary opponents to run against U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine in the fall.
Mr. DeWine easily dispatched two Republican challengers who contended the incumbent wasn't conservative enough.
Mr. Celeste's familiar last name gave him the edge over two primary opponents who boasted endorsements from major labor unions and newspapers.
With 67 percent of the precincts reporting, Mr. Celeste had 47 percent of the vote. Former state Rep. Richard Cordray, the Democratic Party's unsuccessful candidate for attorney general two years ago, trailed with 25 percent. The Rev. Marvin McMickle, a suburban Cleveland preacher, had 20 percent of the vote. Daniel Radakovich, a temporary worker and party activist, had 9 percent.
It was much easier for Mr. DeWine. With 67 percent of the precincts in, Mr. DeWine had 79 percent of the vote to 13 percent for Ronald Dickson, an Oxford gun show promoter. Frank Cremeans, a former congressman from Gallipolis, had 8 percent.
Mr. DeWine has spent $2.5 million promoting himself since the last election in an attempt to win a second six-year term, something no Republican has done in Ohio since Robert Taft and John Bricker in the 1950s.
Swept into office by the 1994 Republican revolution, Mr. DeWine, a former congressman and state lawmaker, won with 53 percent of the vote that year against Joel Hyatt, a legal services entrepreneur and son-in-law of the man Mr. DeWine replaced, former U.S. Sen. Howard Metzenbaum.
“I'm going to run on my record,” Mr. DeWine said Tuesday. “I think he (Mr. Celeste) will be a very formidable candidate. Ohio will be a real battleground in the presidential race and that is sure to translate into our race as well. We look for a very tough campaign.”
A year ago, Mr. DeWine was considered formidable enough that several prominent Democrats declined to challenge him. Some party leaders flirted with the idea of running TV talk show host Jerry Springer, a former Cincinnati mayor.
Mr. Celeste, a suburban Columbus real estate broker, is seeking to step out from the behind-the-scenes roles he played in his brother's campaigns. Richard Celeste was one of the last Democrats elected to statewide office.
He contends that his nine-year term on Ohio State University Board of Trustees gives him the background to accomplish one of his chief goals: attracting more lucrative high-tech jobs to Ohio.
“The pendulum is turning,” Mr. Celeste said. “I'm ready to get folks back in the political process, and I think I've got a number of people across this state who can help me do that.”
It wasn't a coincidence that Mr. Celeste chose to celebrate election night at a party thrown by Ohio supporters of Vice President Al Gore. Democrats will need a huge turnout this fall for Mr. Gore, the party's likely presidential nominee, if Mr. Celeste has any chance of pulling off an upset of Mr. DeWine.
Ohio Democrats are searching for a savior after losing every nonjudicial contest in the last two statewide elections.
Mr. Celeste contends Mr. DeWine is vulnerable for his votes against an increase in the minimum wage and a nuclear test ban treaty, and for Republican-authored tax cuts that Democrats contend were tilted in favor of the wealthy.
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KENTUCKY
Kentucky leaders consider moving primary
