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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > January > 11 > Entry
Voinovich expected to announce retirement plans Monday
U.S. Sen. George Voinovich is expected to announce Monday, Jan. 12 that he does not plan to seek a third term in the U.S. Senate.
Voinovich, a Cleveland Republican, had planned to seek a third term in 2010 and had roughly $2.7 million in the bank for a re-election bid, but in the weeks after Christmas began reconsidering his plans, according to Republican sources close to Voinovich.
He is expected to announce that he’ll finish the two years remaining in his term before retiring at an afternoon press conference in Washington, D.C.
Robert Bennett, chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, said he had yet to talk to Voinovich about his decision, but said that he wasn’t surprised by it.
Despite a gloomy year for Republicans in 2008 and the defeat of U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, a Republican, in 2006, Bennett said if Voinovich were to resign, it would be for personal reasons.
Voinovich is 72. At the end of a third term, Bennett said, Voinovich would be 81. His wife, Janet, who is four years older than him, would be 85.
Bennett said the last time he met with Voinovich was during a lunch meeting on Dec. 23. During that meeting, Voinovich had said he would run. During a staff Christmas party, Voinovich also said he would run. It wasn’t until later that he began to reconsider.
“I think it’s basically family,” Bennett said. “His re-elect numbers are terrific, and he was just dynamite in northeast Ohio.”
Voinovich is expected to announce his decision Monday in a call with supporters and fundraisers.
An open seat in 2010 could make for a barn-burner.
Among Republicans, former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, is thought to be a front-runner, and has indicated interest in serving in the U.S. Senate in the past. Portman left Congress to serve as U.S. trade representative and later as the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, former U.S. Rep. John Kasich of Columbus or state Auditor Mary Taylor are also thought to be contenders for statewide office, though many have been mentioned as possible opponents for Gov. Ted Strickland.
Among Democrats, several names have been tossed around: Among them, U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan, D-Niles and Zack Space, D-Dover, Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray and Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.
Voinovich has spent four decades in Ohio politics, beginning as an Ohio state representative from 1967 through 1971, then later as lieutenant governor of Ohio in 1979. But it’s his time as mayor of Cleveland, from 1979 through 1989 and governor of Ohio from 1991 to 1998 that he most frequently refers.
Voinovich is the third Republican U.S. senator to announce plans to retire in 2010. U.S. Sens. Kit Bond of Missouri and Mel Martinez of Florida have all signaled they don’t plan to run in 2010, and Sam Brownback of Kansas is expected to run for governor.
A Voinovich spokesman would not comment Sunday night.
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Comments
By Old Scratch
January 12, 2009 10:15 AM | Link to this
Good riddance. The most useless RINO of all is walking before he gets run out of town. No conservative could vote for that old fraud. He saw what happened to Mike DeWhiner and knew he is next.By Jim 5
January 12, 2009 9:58 AM | Link to this
Finally, Jerry Springer is going to get his big break. Unless he is bested by a Democrat with less integrity. Stay tuned.By Tommy
January 12, 2009 9:34 AM | Link to this
All I have got to say is It is about damn time. Another useless “George” gone. Thank God!!!By Marley
January 12, 2009 8:35 AM | Link to this
Good Riddance!!!! When you look up RINO in the dictionary, there should be a photo of Voinovich.By JB
January 12, 2009 8:31 AM | Link to this
1 down - 99 to go http://www.kickthemallout.com/By B-rad
January 12, 2009 4:29 AM | Link to this
All I can say is “Thank You” and “Good Riddance!” A “Cleveland Republican?” Isn’t that the same thing as a Democrat? Voinovich is no real Republican. I will be glad to see him replaced by a REAL Republican in 2010!By jon
January 12, 2009 12:12 AM | Link to this
Jessica, Headline should read ” Voinovich not to seek re-election” or something along that line. I found the article was well wrote and informative.By Michael
January 12, 2009 12:02 AM | Link to this
Thanks for serving, George.By Jessica
January 11, 2009 10:14 PM | Link to this
My apologies, Grumpy, I’m trying to get this out there quickly. Thank you for your input.By Grumpy
January 11, 2009 10:01 PM | Link to this
Jessica, Who writes your headlines? Retiring Monday and retiring at the end of the term are hardly the same thing.