Madison graduation 2012
Warren County CC graduation
New Miami graduation 2012
Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > June > 30
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Ganley launches U.S. Senate campaign; GOP chairman DeWine objects
Cleveland-area car dealer Tom Ganley on Wednesday, July 1, is to launch his campaign for the Republican nomination for the U.S Senate in 2010
Ohio Republican Chairman Kevin DeWine doesn’t think much of the idea. DeWine said that the state GOP leadership has unanimously recommended endorsing former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman for the Senate nomination.
In a press release, Ganley, 65, said he is a businessman who never had thought much about becoming a “professional politician.”
“But that’s what’s needed in Washington now - someone who understands financial responsibility and what it takes for a business and a country to be competeitve,” Ganley said. “Someone who has built a business from scratch. Someone who knows how to create jobs….”
Ganley started with a Rambler dealership in 1968 and now has 32 dealerships in the Ganley group, the release said.
“Ohio and American have been good to me,” Ganley said. “What I want is a chance to repay that by using my 41 years of experience in the business world to help solve the problems we face today.”
In an e-mail, Chairman DeWine, who no doubt would like to avoid a primary, said that he met with the party leadership last week and “they made a unanimous recommendation that we endorse Rob Portman,” former budget director and trade representative for President George W. Bush.
DeWine did not mince words:
“With all due respect to Tom, I don’t believe a seat in the United States Senate is an entry-level position, and I don’t think it’s something you can buy.”
He cited Portman’s public service record and consensus-building ability.
“That’s something we desperately need right now,” said DeWine.
Jeff Longstreth, a Ganley spokesman, responded:
“An endorsement from the party won’t do anything to scare Tom Ganley out of the race.”
Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher are seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment |
Husted defended by Harris
Ohio Senate President Bill Harris released a statement Monday, June 29, supporting Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, who faces an investigation by elections officials over whether he lives at the house in Kettering where he is registered to vote.
State law requires that legislators live in their districts. It would be up to the Ohio Senate to determine if Husted is a 6th District resident or if he should forfeit his seat.
“Jon Husted is a duly elected Senator from Kettering; end of story,” Harris, R-Ashland, said in the written statement. “After eight months of foot dragging and wasting tax dollars, it is time to put an end to this political witch hunt and let Jon Husted get on with the job his constituents elected him to do, especially considering the great challenges this state is facing.”
The news release from Maggie Ostrowski, spokeswoman for the Senate Majority Caucus, also quoted the Ohio Constitution, saying, “Each House shall be the judge of the election, returns, and the qualifications of its own members”. It went on to call the residency investigation “prolonged” and “politically-motivated.”
On Monday the Montgomery County Board of Elections deadlocked along party lines for a second time on the matter of Husted’s residency for voting purposes, again sending the question back to Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat.
The investigation was prompted by two complaints filed last year just prior the the November General Election.
Husted says he lives in Kettering but stays with his wife and children in her Upper Arlington home because the demands of his Statehouse job keep him in Columbus. He said his home is in Kettering and he intends to return there once his public service ends. Husted has been in the legislature since 2001 and is running for secretary of state.
Permalink | Comments (12) | Post your comment |
UPDATED: Strickland signs budget - House approves 7-day budget, sends to Strickland
Gov. Ted Strickland on Tuesday, June 30, signed a temporary seven-day state budget.
He acted after the House approved the budget 94-2 earlier on Tuesday.
The Senate approved the interim budget 32-0 on Monday.
The budget will keep state government operating while negotiators try to end an impasse between Strickland and Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, over video slot machines at Ohio’s seven racetracks.
The gap hadn’t narrowed on Tuesday. Strickland blamed Harris and Republicans for forcing him to sign an interim budget.
“It is time for the Senate majority to stop avoiding hard choices and say what taxes they would increase or what services they would further reduce if they will not support the budget proposal,” Strickland said in a press release.
Harris told reporters Strickland has the authority to set up slots at the tracks without the legislature’s approval and that’s what he should do.
“I’m hoping the governor does what he said he was going to do,” Harris said.
The budget will be in effect until July 7. It funds most state agencies at 70 percent of current spending levels. However, there are no cuts to debt service and big-ticket budget items including K-12 education, higher education and Medicaid.
Also Tuesday, Budish said a bill was introduced to authorize a second, seven-day budget. He said legislators were “just being prepared.” The second bill, which would require approval by the House and Senate, would continue state government operations through July 14.
He said the situation on slots was a “stalemate.” Strickland wants the legislature to authorize putting slots at the tracks. Harris says Strickland has the authority to do it on his own.
Strickland projects that the slots would raise $933 million over two years.
