Nearly 200 years after becoming a state, Ohio this fall will elect its first African-American woman as lieutenant governor.

        Last week, Republican Gov. Bob Taft selected Jennette Bradley, 49, an African-American Columbus City Council member, as his lieutenant governor running mate.

        Earlier, the Democratic candidate for governor, Tim Hagan of Cleveland, selected Charleta Taveras, 47, also an African-American Columbus City Council member, to be his running mate.

        Mr. Taft had to find a replacement for Mauren O'Connor, who ran with him in 1998 but is running this year for the Ohio Supreme Court.

        It wasn't until 1998 that any African-American — Democrat Michael Coleman of Columbus — first appeared on a major party ticket as a lieutenant governor candidate. He ran with Lee Fisher of Cleveland. Mr. Coleman is now mayor of Columbus.

        The U.S. House this week voted to ban most forms of “soft money,” the unlimited and mostly unregulated contributions by companies, labor unions and individuals to political parties. That's opposed to the “hard money” to candidates, which is tightly regulated.

        The Center for Responsive Politics says that with $1.1 million in donations in the current election cycle, the chairman and affiliates of American Financial Group of Cincinnati are No. 1 in soft money contributions in Ohio.

        The center reports that chairman and chief executive officer Carl H. Lindner donated $350,000 to Republicans in 2001; American Financial Corp. also gave $350,000. The center says an affiliate, Pennsylvania Co., donated $400,000.

        Testing out his re-election themes with party faithful this Friday will be Gov. Bob Taft.

        He's the guest speaker at the annual Lincoln Day dinner of the Hamilton County Republican Party.

        The gathering will be at the Millenium Four Points Sheraton, downtown. Tickets are $60 each. Call 381-5454.

        Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, will be traipsing around the new Ohio 3rd Congressional District Feb. 25 on behalf of candidate Mike Turner.

        Mr. Turner, former mayor of Dayton, is seeking the Republican nomination in the May primary.

        Democratic incumbent Tony Hall, D-Dayton, is leaving to take a United Nations post.

        Part of Warren County will be in the new district.

        Political Notebook appears Sunday. It is compiled by Politics Editor Ron Liebau, 768-8396 or e-mail at rliebau@enquirer.com.
       

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