Licking County Pro-Active Citizens

Political Fact Checking

We liked it when the Dispatch and other Ohio newspapers began doing critical reviews in print of political ads, and now the feature has evolved -- and improved.

This from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

"Starting today, The Plain Dealer officially kicks off PolitiFact Ohio, a new way to examine the claims, ads and statements of players in the political world. Once distilled, the newspaper's findings are posted on the fanciful Truth-O-Meter, whose ratings are True, Mostly True, Half True, Barely True and False. There's a special rating for claims that are downright ridiculous: Pants on Fire."
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/07/the_plain_dealer_forms_partner.html

PolitiFact is a feature used elsewhere but now being brought to bear on Ohio politics -- and not a moment too soon.  It provides more information and covers speeches and other campaign statements, not just the television ads.  Check it out.

And remember, we expect you to be paying attention to what our candidates are saying - not Sarah Palin, as much fun as that might be.  (Who, after all, is qualified to refudiate Mama Bear!).

PROUD PARENTS OF A POLITICIAN

In my quarterly column for The Advocate, I reach for humor in my mock distress at suddenly becoming "father of the politician" when my daughter, Diane, became a candidate for the Georgia state assembly.

"Ever wonder why you don't see bumper stickers boasting, 'Proud Parents of a Politician?,' " I asked.

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20100627/OPINION02/6270310/Behind-each-new-candidate-are-the-parents

But all kidding aside, let me add here not only my appreciation for her willingness to serve - but equal measures of gratitude for all of our candidates in Licking County and elsewhere who step up to the challenge at considerable expense to their personal lives.

In Diane's case, her challenge to a well-entrenched Republican incumbent in Georgia's 41st House District is at the expense not only of her own resources but those of her husband and children as well.  A self-employed businesswoman with three children, she's having to juggle three lives at once: that of a business consultant, that of a mom and that of a candidate.  Her business clients don't need less attention just because she's running for office, and neither can her children get along with less.  But she's running a strong progressive campaign in a conservative county in a conservative state because she still believes in the kind of change we all voted for in 2008.

Check out her web site at http://dianelore.org

And while I don't agree with their politics, I respect the same effort and sacrifice being made by other first-time candidates challenging the establishment, including insurgent Republicans or Tea-Baggers or Greens.  As much as we might wish the occasional extremist would just shut up and go away, democracy depends on involvement and commitment in our politics by all of us.

So if there was a "Proud Parents of a Politician" sticker available, my bumper is available.

-- David Lore

ARE DEMOCRATS UP TO THE TEST?

Democrats aced the test in 2006 and 2008 but this year's election is the party's final exam, Senatorial Candidate Lee Fisher told local supporters here today.

"This is our test, the final exam, a measure of how committed we really are," Fisher said during brief remarks during an appearance at the Licking County Courthouse Square.  Democrats face a tough challenge this year but the party can bring home victories on Nov. 2 if both candidates and volunteers double and triple their effort, he said.  "This year the wind is in our face, so we have to work four or five times as hard."

Fisher, currently Lieutenant Governor in the Strickland administration, is running against Republican Rob Portman for the Senate seat now held by retiring Republican George Voinovich.  He won the Democratic nomination this spring by defeating Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

In Newark, Fisher said he's encouraged by the support he's getting from many Democrats who voted for Brunner.  He acknowledged that Portman is raising record amounts of cash but said the Republican has to since he'll need to overcome his record during the last Bush administration.  As Bush's trade representative, Portman negotiated unfair and often dangerous trade agreements with China and as Bush's budget director, Portman engineered tax breaks for the wealthy and promoted investing Social Security funds on Wall Street, Fisher said.

In a year when incumbents are at a disadvantage, Fisher noted Portman's nickname as "Mr. Washington."

Responding to questions, Fisher said both short-term and long-term strategies are necessary to deal with the Recession and the current high rate of unemployment.

In the short term, he said, Congress should extend tax credits to business which hire new workers and transfer the $30 billion in "bail-out" repayments by major banks to small banks and credit unions willing to extend credit to small businesses.  "Congress should also take the lead to stop tax breaks to companies that send jobs overseas," said the candidate.

In the long term, however, "the best economic development strategy in the world is not tax credits but the development of an educated citizenry," he added.

For more information about the Fisher campaign, see www.FisherForOhio.com

-- David Lore

How Lee Fisher Got Started

How great would it be to have two (TWO!) Democrats representing Ohio in the United States Senate?

Elect Lee Fisher this November and we'll find out.

But don't just dream - get out and support Fisher and the Democratic ticket this Saturday morning when he comes to Newark to address the community.  Here are the details:

Community coffee with Lee Fisher, Candidate for US Senate

10 to 11 a.m., Saturday, June 12

Courthouse Square Gazebo  Newark OH

This will be a great chance to meet with Lee and hear about his plan to bring jobs to Ohio and rebuild the middle class.  If you would like more information please call Jon Bray at (614) 299-9630.   Come for Coffee & pastry

Fisher, as you probably know, is a former state legislator, Ohio attorney general and (in the Strickland administration) lieutenant governor and development director.

But, you might ask, why should he earn the support of progressives?

Let's look at his roots.  Did you know that Fisher was inspired to get into politics in the first place by the Kent State shooting in 1970? Then an 18-year-old student at Oberlin College, Fisher sensed immediately that a great crime had been committed and that he needed to get involved.

"There are moments in our lives...that have the ability to change your mindset and cause a paradigm shift," he told activists last year at Rootscamp.  "And that was the moment for me."

Read more about this at:

http://www.licopac.org/licking_county_issue_pac/2009/02/lee-fishers-progressive-roots.html#tp

and check out Fisher's complete biography at:

http://www.fisherforohio.com/about_lee?id=0001

and join us at the Square on Saturday and make up your own mind.

-- David Lore

MUDDY TRACK FOR POLITICAL RACES

My newspaper was damp this morning but that was fitting since some of today's news and news makers also came across as wet behind the ears.

• The Dispatch editorial page was caught "Right" handed by making a fuss about Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Brown hosting a Facebook page. "Friend of the Court?," asked a May 27 editorial, suggesting the new Democratic chief justice would tilt in favor of his Facebook "friends."  The only Republican justice the Dispatch said it could find on Facebook was Evelyn Stratton. But State Democratic Chair Chris Redfern responded today with a hard Left to the chin, pointing that that even a minimal Facebook search also found Facebook pages for Republican justices Judith Lanzinger and Robert Cup and Maureen O'Connor.

"If the Dispatch wants to offer criticism of one Ohio Supreme Court justice, that criticism should  apply across the board," said Redfern in today's Letters column.

 As a newby Facebook user, I thought it would be fun to determine how long it would take me to find pages for Lanzinger, Cup and O'Connor.

About two minutes.

The next question is how many of the Dispatch editorial staff have ever used Facebook.  Evidently, not many.

• State Sen. Bob Gibbs has finally been declared winner following the recount in the Republican primary for the 18th Congressional District.   The Republican lawmaker is seeking the seat now held by Democrat Zack Space.

  Gibbs is probably the best of the sorry bunch of GOP extremists and Tea Party activists who popped up for the primary.  To avoid being lynched by this crowd, he wound up begging for forgiveness at a March town hall in Mt. Vernon for once voting for a sales tax increase.  See our prior coverage on this at http://www.licopac.org/licking_county_issue_pac/2010/03/space.html#tp.

• Republican Gubernatorial Candidate also is running scared of his party's hard Right Wing, pledging to Grover Norquist's GOP Purity Inquisition that as governor he would "oppose and veto and and all efforts to increase taxes."   In reporting this story, the Dispatch notes that this means if he wins "he would be left with only the option of making reductions in state services and programs to close the massive budget hole that likely will face the next governor." 

The newspaper signals its disdain for such pledges by noting that retiring U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, a Republican, always refused to take the Norquist pledge, explaining it " is inconsistent with the oath of office."  Kasich's opponent, Gov. Ted Strickland, has voiced the same objection.

Let's hope Kasich's irresponsible pledge will backfire with voters and relieve him of ever having to take the oath.

• Unfortunately, many voters want new taxes off the table, regardless of the state of the budget and the damage mindless budget cuts would do to social services.

Chatting with area citizens - Republican and Democrat - at the Strawberry festival on Friday, I found almost all of them want better schools, better roads and more government programs to create jobs and improve the economy. Oh, and most all of them think this can happen by cutting spending without raising taxes.

I'm looking forward to hearing Gibbs and Kasich explain how to do this.

-- David Lore

 

LIFE IS A PARADE

Fire and Ice, the Utica Ice Cream Festival Parade kicked off today as temperatures soared into the 80s.

If you missed this traditional start to the campaign season, too bad.  Lot of Democrats and progressives turned out to support their candidates, bringing early enthusiasm to the local, state and federal races.

Here are some of my snapshots of the day:

• 12th District Congressional Democratic Candidate Paula Brooks showed up with an impressive platoon of young and energetic marchers and sign-wavers.  Kudos to campaign spark-plug Emily Samhammer for turning out the troops!
• Her opponent, Republican Pat Tiberi, was there as well with a respectable crowd, not all of whom -- to be fair -- are necessarily on his Congressional payroll.  But somebody needs to tell Pat to get a valve job on that truck - it smoked up the parade route I am told.
• Mary Ellen O'Shaugnessy, Democrat for Ohio Secretary of State, had some new credentials to share.  Spotting some parade horses, O'Shaughnessy said she grew up on a farm and rode horses all her life.  Can we convince her to mount up for the next parade?  She actually did a good job balancing (and waving) from the empty bed of her moving GMC truck without so much as a hay bale or support bar to hang on to. Promises next time to bring a bigger flag.
• Utica crowds were friendly, and graciously accepted all literature and stickers regardless of party affiliation.  Kids should get the vote; they're all non-partisan.  They don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican (or a Communist) as long as you're handing out candy and bubblegum.
• Lots of Franklin County and other urban volunteer types turned out to enjoy a warm spring day in the country.  They learned fast to hop-scotch around the horse droppings on the parade route.  You could tell which ones forgot to look down.  They were the ones shuffling their shoes across the suburban lawns, hoping nobody noticed.
• Naomi Compton, candidate for county commissioner, also had a full compliment of volunteers.  Her crew - and Brooks' - are out of the gate early with matching campaign t-shirts. Better get one before they're all gone!
• Either Utica (and it's parade route) is growing, or I'm a year older.  The walk seemed longer than I remember.  But it's a great warm-up for the Granville parade in July and the "long march" Pataskala parade in August (also described by one wag as the Trail of Tears).
• So how come the old guys like me are still walking (actually running, to keep up) while the cars and trucks are driven by 20-somethings? Could be we need the exercise more than they do.
• Chatting up one Ohio House Republican, I learned there's no small amount of nervousness among House GOP members about the guns-in-bars bill just passed by the Senate.  Everybody thinks extending unlimited gun rights to bar patrons (and road ragers on the highway) is crazy, but everybody's scared of being blacklisted by the National Rifle Association.  Don't expect House Repubs to complain much if the House Democratic leadership puts the bill in a lock-box, at least until after November, I was told.
• If the gun bill passes, it may come to pass that Ohio will allow shooting from cars but arrest you for tweeting while behind the wheel.  I feel safer already.
• What did I miss?  Share your comments, and
• Remember our Veterans and have a great Memorial Day weekend.

Next UP:

 June 4 to 6: Strawberry Festival, Courthouse Square, Newark; Club booth.  Contact Ann at annmrader@gmail.comto work at the booth. Be There!

-- David Lore

JEN SMACKS ZACK

If you support both Jennifer Brunner and Zack Space, this spat is one you'd just as well avoid, like an ugly family feud.

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Dec. 17):

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Jennifer Brunner came to Washington on Wednesday and uttered things that the Ohio media only wishes she'd said to them. But sorry, Buckeyes, Ohio's secretary of state saved her dish for National Journal's Hotline, which has about the same penetration in Ohio as, say, the Bakersfield Californian. 

So here's what Ohio voters missed: Brunner thinks she'd make a stronger candidate for U.S. Senate than Lee Fisher, who is now Ohio's lieutenant governor -- and at least one Ohio Democrat in Congress, Marcia Fudge, feels the same way, despite her stated neutrality. Brunner also said that another congressional Democrat, Zack Space, has an ulterior motive for supporting Fisher: He's trying to save his seat during the coming round of redistricting.

Brunner and Fisher are vying to run in next November's election to replace U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, who is retiring. Former congressman and Bush budget director Rob Portman is expected to be the Republican on the ticket.

But Fisher is getting more fund-raising support and endorsements, including those of congressmen such as Space. Why is that? Here's how it was described to National Journal:

"The Buckeye State, Brunner noted, is expected to lose two congressional districts after the '10 Census, and she said each party can expect to shed one. For that reason, Brunner said that when she met with Space, he 'admitted his endorsement of Fisher had to do with the governor's potential role in determining which districts would be eliminated after the census.'

"Brunner also said several mayors backing Fisher told her they were doing so to protect money headed to their cities.

"And though Rep. Marcia Fudge (D) is neutral in the primary, Brunner said Fudge told her that she would make a better candidate than Fisher."

Some Democrats in Washington are mighty unhappy over Brunner's comments. The National Republican Senatorial Committee is giddy, on the other hand.

Did Brunner, Space and Fudge really say these things? In Space's case, no, or so says the spokesman for his congressional reelection committee.

"With all due respect to Secretary of State Brunner, Congressman Space never said that at all," said Brent Parrish, spokesman for Zack Space for Congress. "What the Congressman told her was that while he has the utmost respect for her, he believed that Lt. Governor Fisher's efforts to bring about new economic development and jobs is precisely what Ohio needs at this moment when the national economy has devastated Ohio's workers and industries."

We're awaiting additional responses, with u

pdates to follow.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2009/12/jennifer_brunner_dishes_in_dc.html

POLITICAL PRIZE FIGHT

THE KNOCKOUT  RALLY

The Ohio Democratic Party''s blueprint for victory

Monday, November 23, at 6:30pm
Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St. in Downtown Columbus

At a time when many Democrats are hoping for at least a split decision in 2010, the state party is rolling out an aggressive pugilistic-themed pitch for a sweeping "knockout" victory over Republicans in next year's critical and state and federal elections. In coming weeks, party leaders will rally the troops during campaign warm-ups at 11 cities, including the Columbus rally on Monday.

As with any theatrical (pardon the mixed metaphors!), there was an out-of-town opening to work out the kinks before the premiere on "Broadway" -- in this case Columbus' Lincoln Theatre -- on Monday. 

So about 60 of us showed up last night at a union hall in Cambridge, Ohio, to get an early look at the game plan for holding on to -- and adding on to -- those seats picked up during the Democratic resurgence of 2006 and 2008.

It's certainly not giving away any secrets to report that:

• Party Director Doug Kelly and Deputy director Lauren Groh-Wargo are confident 2010 will again be a Democratic year, despite widespread predictions the GOP elephant will come stomping back given the poor economy and public impatience with government at every level.  "They (the Republicans) won't work with us, they're not working for us, so we just have to knock them out," boomed Kelly.
• The Ohio Democratic Party, with two successful elections under it's belt and 62 staffers on board, is the biggest state party in the nation with a proven strategy for success.  Coming off 2008, Democratic registration is nearly a million voters high than Republican, Kelly said.  (The challenge, of course, is to keep Independents who voted with us last year in the Democratic column while energizing the base even without Obama on the ballot.)
• Actually, both Democrats and Republicans in Ohio will be pursuing pretty much the same strategy this cycle, Kelly said.  This involves focusing on voter targeting and turnout, use of all available media (old and new) and a strong emphasis on neighbor-to-neighbor recruiting.
• If there's a difference, it's a push to begin organizing Democratic activists this winter instead of waiting until next spring.  The party's core message - ie, Democrats will provide responsible leadership, invest in the future and fight for the average family -- is already being fined tuned for early distribution.

It was a good presentation, with sharp and effective graphics and just enough detail to get party activists re-engaged. 

If I have any complaint, it's that the "Knockout" program doesn't include any strategy for attacking total Republican domination of the Ohio Supreme Court.

After all, what good is a strong left hook if the seven ring judges are all Republican?

-- David Lore   

 

MAKING "NICE" WITH THE RIGHT

We complimented Democratic Congressman Zack Space this week for showing courage in voting for the health care reform bill (and earlier for the Obama energy and environmental plan) even though he faces a tough election next year to hold his 18th District seat.

But maybe -- politically -- a YES vote on these bills is the best electoral strategy, since Tea Baggers and Republicans (is that redundant?) are not likely to support Democrats anyway, no matter how they vote.

Exhibit #1: This article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

"If anyone thought Democratic Congressman John Boccieri's vote against the health
reform bill Saturday night would give him cover from the GOP, they might want a
second opinion. Boccieri, of Alliance, Ohio, is still a Republican target."

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2009/11/in_trying_to_please_constituen.html

Change, For Better or Worse

You wanted change?

Okay, Tuesday, you got change.  Some good.  Some bad.

But when it came to vital services, local voters for the most part were wise enough to stay the course.

Good Change:

• Mark Johns 129-vote win over Republican Richard Waugh in the Heath mayoral race.  Mark surfaced in 2008 as a local grassroots leader for Obama and has not only stayed involved in local Democratic politics but taken on a tough race and won it.  Kudos to Mark, his family and his campaign manager, Garry Goldsmith.
• Bryan Lenzo's election to the Pataskala City Council.  Lenzo's prior experience on the city's planning and zoning commission should help the council deal with the suburb's financial problems, aggravated by voters' rejection (again) of a city income tax.
• Janine Shipley (Licking County School Board) and Merissa McKinstry (Pataskala council) were the top vote getters in their slates, a sign of the increasingly important role of women of both parties in Licking County politics.
• Despite hard times, county voters supported the $4.5 million senior citizens levy.  Hopefully seniors, who in most cases are spared the worst of the recession because of Social Security and Medicare, will reciprocate by being equally supportive of school levies, youth recreation programs, help for the unemployed and health care reform.

Bad Change:

• Voter rejection of school issues for the career center (C-TEC) and the Lakewood, Licking Heights and North Fork districts.  The North Fork loss is particularly painful since the income tax issue was a renewal and actually passed in Licking County, only to lose in Knox County.
• Statewide victories for Issues 1, 2 and 3, loading up the Ohio Constitution with mandates better left to the Legislature to handle by statute law.  Particularly onerous was approval of Issue 3, the casino licenses, which lost in Licking County 54-46 percent.  Happily, nobody's yet proposed a Casino-On-The-Square.
• While most library funding issues were approved across central Ohio, Pataskala voters turned down their $282,000 library operating levy.  Nothing much can be expected from any community which doesn't support its schools or libraries.

Staying the Course:

• Township road and fire levies passed without exception, demonstrating that voters support those services which directly effect them.  Who would be crazy enough to thumb their nose at the local fire and ambulance crews?  (Although some of us suspect that potholes would be a better way to slow down traffic than camera surveillance of the kind just rejected by voters in Heath).
• Democrat Ed Houdeschell won his race to remain on Newark City Council and Democrat Doug Heffley won a spot on the Heath Council.  Newark Council members unopposed for re-election were Bruce Bain, Shirley Stare and Carol Floyd.
• Thanks to Newark Council Candidates Julie Barrett and Bob Ziegler as well as Newark Treasurer Candidate Cary Rader for stepping up for the team, even if they didn't win.  These local races, particularly in a red-leaning, Right-leaning county, require extraordinary commitment on the part of Democratic candidates.

Looking Ahead:

• Both Congressmen representing Licking County have cause for concern in 2010 based on Tuesday's national results.  Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, and Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Delaware County, are both incumbents and thus face the wrath of fed-up taxpayers in their re-election bids next year.

Tiberi is running in a swing district (the 12th) centered on Franklin County, which is trending increasingly Democratic.  The question is whether his loyalty to the "Party of No" which has resulted in his consistent rejection of all planks in the Obama program, including health insurance reform, will play well or just smell with Independents a year from now.

Meanwhile, Space has the opposite problem of justifying his mostly pro-Obama voting record to Independents and independent-minded Republicans in the 18th District.  Working in Space's favor is his impressive campaign war chest and the lack of a well-known challenger among the four Republicans announced so far.  With a little bit of luck, the GOP hopefuls will engage in the same sort of intra-party blood-letting which led to the election of a liberal Democrat in a similarly conservative Republican congressional district in upstate New York on Tuesday. 

 --- David Lore