The Enquirer
Canton is the largest city in Ohio with a Republican mayor, so perhaps it's natural that the GOP would groom Mayor Janet Weir Creighton for higher office.
But the more that Republicans in Columbus drop her name as a possible replacement for Ohio Treasurer Joe Deters, the more emphatic she is that she's not interested.
"I'm the mayor of Canton for four years," she told the Enquirer. Pressed further, she said, "Do you want me to repeat it?"
But Orest Holubec, a spokesman for Gov. Bob Taft, told the Canton Repository the next day: "Janet has expressed an interest in the treasurer's position should it open and said she was looking at 2006 seriously."
In any event, insiders say, Lt. Gov. Jennette Bradley is the favorite, opening up new speculation about whom Taft would pick as his lieutenant governor.
Gregory Korte
---
THEY'RE OFF: The race for the 3rd Congressional District was in full swing this week.
U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton, kicked off his campaign Thursday before supporters at the Dayton Convention Center.
"I am looking forward to a spirited campaign," Turner said.
So is his Democratic challenger, Jane Mitakides.
She embarked on a tour throughout the district Saturday, including a stop in northern Warren County. The event was a chance to encourage supporters and open new campaign offices in Wilmington and Franklin.
Erica Solvig
---
SUBURBS VERSUS CITY? Hamilton County commissioner candidate David Grossmann is reiterating the suburbs-vs.-the-city message of his March primary campaign. "Don't give it all to City Hall," read an ad by the Springfield Township resident.
The strategy helped Grossmann beat former Cincinnati Councilman Chris Monzel, his closest opponent in a five-way Republican primary.
It's hard to tell whom Grossmann is using it against this time, however. His ad tags opponent Todd Portune with the City Hall label, but also splatters two fellow Republicans: Pat DeWine and Phil Heimlich.
DeWine is the only current Cincinnati councilman - or Cincinnati resident - running for either of the commissioner seats this year.
Portune, a former city councilman, doesn't live in Cincinnati anymore. Earlier this month, Portune and his family moved to a newly built, wheelchair-accessible home in Green Township. Portune has used a wheelchair since surgery 11/2 years ago to remove tumors from near his spine.
Commissioner Heimlich, another former councilman, is not up for re-election. However, he has moved to the suburbs, too, trading in his landominium in Mount Washington for a home in Symmes Township
Cindi Andrews
---
DECIDEDLY INSULTING: Those Cincinnati-area swing voters thrown into a focus group for MSNBC during the conventions continue to get their unfair share of national ridicule.
Larry David, star of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, piled on in an op-ed piece in the New York Times last week - accusing undecided voters of engaging in a cheap ploy to get attention.
"You really liked chatting with professional pollster Frank Luntz, didn't you? He seemed very interested in what you had to say. Afterward, I could imagine all of you piling into a bus and heading for Denny's to discuss your exciting evening with Frank. I could see all of you staying friends even after the election. Maybe go on some trips together. Perhaps a wine tour of Tuscany. On bicycles! ...
"The truth is, Undecideds, you're getting on our nerves. We Decideds hate all the attention you're getting and that you're jerking us around. Anyone who can't make up his or her mind at this point in the campaign should forget about the election entirely, buy a pint of ice cream and get into bed."
Actually, Larry, we don't have Denny's, so the undecideds met in the bar of the Bistro on Elm. And some of them seemed to be getting on each other's nerves.
Gregory Korte
---
Monday
• Democratic vice-presidential nominee John Edwards to attend a "block party," Bond Hill Recreation Center, 4 p.m.
