CAMPAIGN TRAIL NOTES
During election seasons, reporter Michael D. Pitman will report on various aspects of activity happening on the campaign trail in races that you will be deciding — from the crowded 8th Congressional District race to city council and township trustee elections.
While former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has his sights set on the man he wants to replace in the U.S. Senate, Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld continues to hammer his primary opponent on his gun stance.
On Friday, Strickland’s Senate campaign touted another endorsement, this one from the Transport Workers Union, Ohio-Michigan State Conference, which has members that work for the Akron Metro RTA, American Airlines, Central Ohio Transit Authority, CSX Railroad, Envoy Air, Mainstream, Norfolk Southern Railroad and Southwest Airlines.
But a couple days earlier, Sittenfeld's campaign released a new video about Strickland's record on guns and gun control. This video highlights audio recordings, video and TV news footage about Strickland's history with the NRA and gun control legislation.
Strickland and his campaign has touted to news media, including this outlet, he has “re-evaluated” his position on gun safety.
On Monday, Strickland focused on Portman at the Akron Press Club in a speech that highlighted on the topics of the middle class, the auto rescue, college affordability, retirement, trade and wages. Not one mention of Sittenfeld was made in that speech.
Derickson campaign teams
State Rep. Tim Derickson, R-Hanover Twp., announced this past week a few leadership teams for his congressional bid to represent the state’s 8th District.
On Tuesday, the state lawmaker’s campaign released his Darke County Leadership Team, which will be led by fellow Statehouse member Rep. Jim Buchy, R-Greenville, and county Clerk of Courts Cindy Pike.
Also on the Darke County team include: Greenville City Councilwoman Dori Howdieshell, Darke County GOP Women president JoEllen Melling, Darke County GOP Women member Betsey Erwin, and business owners Tom Zitter (Big K Mills) and Jerry Kaub (Kaup Pharmacy).
Then on Wednesday, the campaign announced its Family Business Coalition, which consists of small business owners across the district.
Ty Wagner, owner of Mike and Rosy’s Deli in Springfield, and Stephen and Sheri Jackson, owners of Jackson’s Market in Hamilton, are the co-chairs of the coalition.
Others on the team include three Butler County businessmen — Chad Oberson, owner of Oberson Landscaping in Fairfield, Marty Creech of ReMax Realty in Oxford and Mike Yoakum of Gary’s Guns and Tackle in Fairfield — and business professionals from other parts of the district (Dennis Gamble of PCC Internet Group in Preble County, as well as Zitter and Kaup).
Portman snubbed by Greene Co. GOP
The Greene County Republican Central Committee chose to endorse the primary opponent of Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and not the former budget director for President George W. Bush.
Earlier this month, the committee chose to endorse Don Eckhart for U.S. Senate, a conservative from Franklin County.
The Citizens for Community Values Action, the legislative arm for CCV, applauded the endorsement decision and said Portman’s position change on same-sex marriage had “disappointed” its base, and a big reason why he didn’t get the county party’s endorsement.
"Eckhart may be a protest candidate, but conservatives want a place to put their vote on March 15, so that it can be counted," according to a press release from CCV Action.
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