Submitted by Wendy Chappell-Dick

Why is it that on years when we don't elect a president, voter turnout is so low? Voter understanding of state and local offices and candidates are often woefully inept. I say that because I hate my own ignorance when I stare at a list of people running for office and have no idea what I am voting for when I make that mark on the ballot.

This year I've decided to do some research in the hope that it could help people who just don't have the time to wade through the candidates. I've spent a few days looking at websites, blogs and online articles so that I can make a few judgments and get to know the people I plan to support on November 4.

How does one find out who is running for state offices and their websites? Here's one private, non-partisan source on the internet: http://www.politics1.com/oh.htm.

Our District 4 local candidates, not included on the above website, are:
for Ohio State Representative: Matt Huffman, Republican and Connie Miller, Democrat.

for Allen County Clerk of Courts (for the unexpired term): Margie J. Miller, Republican and David M. Winters, Democrat.

My Candidates of Choice:

Doug Litt, Democrat, US House of Representatives
He has no website. He has only 82 friends on facebook. He'll never beat Jordan. but...
From Ohio Daily: "I don't expect voters of the 4th District to send Jordan home in 2010, but it would be nice if they could rein him in a bit. When a leader fights so passionately to deny people civil liberties, it's only a matter of time before he begins trying to criminalize thought and speech. Those aren't conservative values, and they certainly aren't liberal values. They're Stone Age Values and Jim Jordan is going "old, old, old school" in his efforts to push us there. Way to represent Ohio, Jim."

Connie Miller, Democrat, Ohio State Representative
I met Connie Miller about a month ago when she was walking Bluffton door to door for her campaign. We got to speak for quite awhile and had a great conversation. Connie started the Community Garden project in Lima. She is a small business owner, a Bluffton University grad, and a progressive Democrat. Does she have a chance to beat Matt Huffman? Not really. I know Matt's sister and she says he's a really nice guy. But, his politics are straight up right wing Republican and he needs to know he is not unchallenged.

David Winters, Democrat, Allen County Clerk of Courts
Andy and I met David and his wife on Election Day 2008. Our impression of him was that he was a man of integrity, a down to earth, salt of the earth, progressive Dem. I spoke to him again at the Allen County Fair this year.

Some of you know the mess about Gina Staley-Burley who just "resigned" from Clerk of Courts. She was fired for not showing up to work, various kinds of fraud, etc. She was a Republican. David's opponent is another Republican, Margie Murphy Miller, who has been in the office for a long time, and who David says is just bringing more of the same lackadaisical attitude.

From the Lima News: "Granted, it's not a position the voting public tends to get fired up about, electing as we do here in Allen County whichever person, potted plant or other object with a name has an R behind his or her name. Most people probably can't even say what the clerk of courts does."

Let's care and vote in a Dem for once. Says Winters: "I'll show up every morning at 8 o'clock and get to 4:30. I'll do the best job I can. I'm going to learn as much as I can about the job."

Eric Brown, Democrat, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice
Appointed by Gov. Ted Strickland to serve out the remainder of the term of Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer, who died in office on April 2, 2010. Not much to comment on.

Mary Jane Trapp, Democrat, Ohio Supreme Court Justice
If elected, Mary Jane would be only the second Democrat on the Ohio Supreme Court! She is a very pleasing candidate, with a history of supporting children at risk, small business, education and labor.

Kevin Boyce, Democrat, Treasurer
Here is a video of an eloquent speech by Boyce on the topic "why vote"? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoTRcIgLmpw&feature=player_embedded
The Honorable Kevin L. Boyce was sworn in as the 47th Treasurer of the State of Ohio on January 7, 2009. Boyce was raised in Columbus by his mother and his grandmother. They taught him that hard work and responsibility create opportunities to succeed in life. These lessons are the foundation for Boyce's social and political philosophy. His family helped him develop an understanding of the importance of community service and, even more importantly, the belief that each of us has a role in making tomorrow better than today.

Boyce sees his role as Ohio Treasurer of State as an opportunity to make a bigger impact than ever before-"Since being appointed Treasurer by Governor Strickland in 2009, I have worked tirelessly with people across Ohio to create and retain 60,000 jobs, cut Treasury costs by 10%, and invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Ohio's small businesses and family farms. I've even taken two voluntary pay cuts myself.

These are steps in the right direction, but there's more to do as Ohioans face the aftermath of a global recession and 16 years of Republican mismanagement."

My letter to Kevin: I've decided to vote for you and I'm working hard to influence the people in my life. I want you to know that the single most important issue for me is local economies. I want to help keep our small town alive and I am active in helping to support SMALL family farms. I believe small enterprise will help get us through the recession. Please continue to keep these things in the forefront of your campaign. Sincerely, Wendy Chappell

Lee Fisher, Democrat, US Senate
Of course I supported the wonderful Jennifer Bruner in the Democratic Primary. She did not have money. She was very progressive. She lost to Lee last spring. Here is an argument from a blogger that didn't win me over to Lee Fisher:

"Polls show him in a tight race for retiring George Voinovich's (R) open U.S. Senate seat against Rob Portman (R). Besides being a former congressman from the Cincinnati area, Portman worked under the Bush Administration.

Although 2010 should be a good year for Republicans, Fisher has a chance of actually picking up a Republican Senate seat by beating Portman. Fisher will soon have to face Portman's deep pockets (an $8 million dollar war chest) but Fisher can still win this race. Here's how. Win the progressive base that supported Jennifer Brunner (D) before Fisher beat her in the Senatorial primary.

This should not be too hard for Fisher even though Brunner said she will not endorse him. This should not impact Fisher strongly because there is not a large progressive base in Ohio. Many of the Democrats here are more liberal on issues like the economy but are not the environment liberals you find in California or the social liberals you find in New York City.

Columbus and Athens are two of the few areas where progressives are strong. Fisher is trying to appeal to the base by highlighting his work on civil rights."

But reading more about Republican nominee Rob Portman made Fisher seem like a lamb.

Portman's website issues included "Stronger Israel," "Pro-life"(as if they are!). My Dem Friend Jen says, "He is in total agreement with the Birther movement (which is nuts) and he is fond of the tea party movement. We can't have him in there also shipping away more jobs overseas. I know Fisher might not be exciting to folks but he will vote along with Sherrod Brown (and Bruner pushed him to lean more to the left)."

David Pepper, Democrat, Ohio State Auditor
The Auditor serves as the taxpayers' financial watchdog for government at all levels. As a Councilmember and Commissioner, he (Pepper) has been a proven, independent-minded reformer and leader-with a history of challenging government to do more with less, eliminating waste, and pushing for accountability and needed reform. He says: "To succeed, some basic building blocks are essential. First rate education generating a top-flight workforce. Modern infrastructure and transportation. The ability and agility to take advantage of the new economic opportunities of the 21st century. A competitive environment that stimulates private sector job growth. A quality of life that attracts and retains families and young people."

The state has 3,800 local government jurisdictions, 250 cities, 695 villages, 1308 townships and 88 counties. Measured by percentage of per capita income, Ohioans face the 6th highest local tax burden in the United States. This fragmentation keeps the cost of government high, raises Ohio's taxes unnecessarily high and hurts Ohio's ability to compete for companies and jobs when we're up against more unified communities.

Wendy's Question: does this mean he wants to consolidate small town councils to save money? I'll have to ask him about that. Less local control doesn't seem good.

According to his opponent David Yost's website it seems like this race comes down to labor. He says, "Unions alone have already dumped over $500,000 into David Pepper's campaign. Why? Because they desperately want the Auditor's office so they can draw new legislative districts that will ensure their big-government sacred cows will be spared, and because they're trying anything they can to keep their stranglehold on state government to maintain the policies that have us on the brink of bankruptcy."

Also on Yost's site is an ad that ridicules Pepper for voting for a "jock" tax on sporting events. Personally, I think that's not a bad idea!

Richard Cordray, Democrat, Attorney General
Attorney General Richard Cordray's campaign announced Thursday that four more law enforcement organizations have declared their formal support and endorsement for Cordray's re-election this November. The four groups include the Toledo Police Patrolman's Association, Toledo Police Command Officers Association, Canton Police Patrolman's Association, and Troopers for a Safer Ohio.

Cordray has now earned the endorsement of every law enforcement group in the state.

In general I think that Law Enforcement endorsements mean a lot!
My Letter to Cordray: Hello Richard, I want you to know that you have my support in November. However, I have one concern. You say on your website that you want to reform death penalty jury selection. What does that mean to you? As a Mennonite I am strongly against the death penalty, and in Ohio we have plans to kill 10-11 more people next year! Can you assure me that you don't support this barbaric practice? Sincerely, Wendy Chappell

Yvette McGee Brown and Ted Strickland, Democrats, Governor and Lieutenant Governor (one vote for both)
Brown is very likable. She is a social worker, lawyer, child/family advocate who works for abuse protection. Unfortunately she also gets an A plus from the NRA along with Strickland. As Governor, Ted Strickland supported concealed carry as a common-sense extension of the 2nd Amendment rights of Ohioans. He is also standing by while record numbers of prisoners are being killed by the State.
But listen to this inspiring speech from Yvette Brown on why it matters for us to vote for them in November. It will make a difference. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbS0cCEwsj4&feature=player_embedded#!

Maryellen O'Shaughnessy, Democrat, Secretary of State
As Chair of the Public Service and Transportation Committee on the Columbus City Council, O'Shaughnessy worked to restore "Complete Streets" to the city's transportation grid, advocating comprehensive sidewalk policies, safe bikeways and better public transit options. As former chair of the Utilities Committee and chair of the Development Committee, she worked toward better, more sustainable growth policies, including the city's "21st Century Growth Strategy."

Maryellen is running for Secretary of State because she is passionate about our democracy and wants Ohio to continue to have free, open, and fair elections. As Ohio's next Secretary of State, she will advocate greater participation and more civic awareness. She will push to make it easy for Ohioans to register to vote by allowing applicants for driver's licenses and social services to be provided assured voter registration, unless they opt out, and promote changes to make it possible for citizens to securely register to vote on the Internet. She will also enhance programs targeted at increasing voter participation among Ohioans of all ages, particularly young people.

"We have an opportunity to continue to provide fair elections, and also jumpstart that business services section," O'Shaughnessy said. "This is about making sure we draw the lines of districts [in an upcoming apportionment] in a fair way." This is an absolutely essential statement! If the Democrats control 2 out of the three positions of Secretary of State, Governor and State Auditor they will be able to control the apportionment process for the first time in 20 years. If not, Republicans can gerrymander the precincts to cheat the poor and minorities out of their votes!

Ohio Secretary of State Candidate Maryellen O'Shaughnessy issued the following statement on Women's Equality Day: "On this 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we reflect on the great strides that women have made in this country. We have three women on the United States Supreme Court, a woman as Speaker of the House and as our nation's Secretary of State. The passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Act to ensure equal pay for equal work marked another great victory for the women of America.

The great strides and milestones achieved by women in this country only make us stronger and eager to reach for more. However, we have not yet finished our fight for equality. We need to encourage more women to run for office and help them to be leaders in breaking the glass ceiling in corporate America. On this day we recommit ourselves to continuing to work toward full equality."