March 30, 2006

The Futures Market: Ohio

What's the Hotline Futures Market? It's our exclusive look at the up-and-comers in every party in every state. You won't a list like this anywhere else. If you've missed a state, check out our archives.

After making in-roads into Toledo-based Lucas Co., GOPers suffered major set-backs when coin dealer Tom Noe was indicted for his role in both statewide and federal probes. In fact, GOPers around the state are in trouble, and not just thanks to Noe or disgraced Gov. Bob Taft (R). A number of GOPers laughed when we read them names of some of our '03 stars and told us that we needed a new list. Dems are giddy with anticipation for the election, and they seem to think they've got the candidates to pull out some big wins. Whether they follow through remains to be seen. [REID WILSON]

The stars we've been watching since '03:

• Ex-Hamilton Co. Prosecutor Mike Allen (R): After a personal scandal, he resigned from office.
• Sec/State Ken Blackwell (R): Perceived as the front-runner for the GOP Gov. nod after playing a big role in the Bush campaign in '04.
• State Treasurer Jeanette Bradley (R): The former LG was appointed Treas. and is running for the seat in '06. She's a liberal GOPer, and might face problems in a primary if she seeks higher office.
• Perry Co. Auditor Larry Householder (R): The former Speaker of the House, Blackwell once called Householder the "Prince of Darkness." He narrowly beat the incumbent auditor in his county after being forced out by term limits.
• Toledo Auditor Larry Kaczala (R): After getting trounced in OH 09 against Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D), Kaczala is now running for judge. While the Toledo Co. GOPers have been particularly hard-hit by the Noe investigation, Kaczala is one of the very few not to be implicated in any way in the investigation, which raises his stock.
• Auditor Betty Montgomery (R): She's "got a great future" after dropping a Gov bid and aiming instead for a return to the AG's office she once held.
• AG Jim Petro (R): Running for Gov this year, he's declared that he's "up or out."
• Lucas Co. Commis. Maggie Thurber (R): According to the indictment of Noe, she's one of 24 "conduits" Noe used to funnel money into the BC '04 campaign. Rumors among GOPers suggest she's "singing like a bird."
• Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell (D): After losing her bid for re-election in '05, she "fell off the radar screen fairly quickly."
• Parma Mayor Dean DePiero (D): The former Min Leader is "a real player" in NE OH. "An excellent politician," he's considered a bid for statewide office and was on Rep./Gov. candidate Ted Strickland's (D) short list for LG.
• Cuyahoga Co. Commis. Peter Lawson Jones (D): The Dems' LG nominee in '94, he's a "sharp guy, talented guy" but "he's not on a rocket to the top."
• Franklin Co. Commis. Mary Jo Kilroy (D): "A rock-star," she's running against Rep. Deborah Pryce (R) in OH 15. After being "recruited heavily" by the DCCC, she's raising good money.
• Cuyahoga Co. Prosecutor Bill Mason (D): "Has one of the strongest political organizations in" Cuyahoga Co. and gave a lot of thought to the AG's race. As 1 of 16 kids, Mason has "a profile that's going to be more and more important to" Dems. He could be a Gov candidate in '10.
• Franklin Co. Clerk of Courts John O'Grady (D): Many think O'Grady doesn't have his eye on a statewide race yet, but that he's considering a race for Co. Commis.
• State Rep. Chris Redfern (D): The new chair of the OH Dems and a close ally of Strickland, "he's going to run for something." His job with the party will let him maneuver himself into position to run for Congress or statewide in the future. He's also an "aggressive fundraiser."
• Ex-Cincinnati Vice Mayor Alicia Reece (D): After getting knocked out of the Cincinnati mayor's race early and after publicly considering several statewide bids, she's got "a reputation as being kind of out there."

• State Rep. Jon Husted (R): The Speaker of the House is in his early 40s. "He's got room to grow" and "he can go a lot of different places." Because his term limits are approaching, his choice to run for higher office may be forced sooner rather than later.
• State Sen. Jeff Jacobsen (R): The Pres Pro Tem is "considered a very sharp political mind," and like Husted, encroaching term limits may force his hand.
• State Sen. Jim Jordan (R): Running for Rep. Mike Oxley's (R) OH 04 seat he's more of a rural conservative and is seen as the frontrunner for the seat. He's got a very impressive warchest for a State Sen.
• State Rep. Mary Taylor (R): After just a few terms in the House, she's running for Auditor unopposed in the GOP primary, which is "a feat in and of itself."
• State Rep. Todd Book (D): The State House Asst Min Leader, he'd considered a bid for OH 02 and is expected to run for higher office. "A solid fundraiser," he will play a big role in '06 races.
• State Sen. Kim Zurz (D): The Asst Min Leader is the odds-on favorite to be the next Min Leader. She's "smart. Very smart."
• State Sen. Marc Dann (D): A candidate for AG, Dann is doing the most to attack GOPers for scandals they've been involved in. He's "very aggressive, very good with the press." However, some think his shelf-life on the up and comers list may be short.
• State Rep. John Boccieri (D): A member of the Air Force Reserve, after multiple tours in Iraq, he's running for State Sen. and is seen as a potential Cong. candidate. He'd been urged to run for Sec/State but "just waited too long" because he was only recently decommissioned. The DCCC had encouraged him to run for Strickland's OH 06 seat. A great retail politician, he "takes control of a room when he walks in."
• Franklin Co. Commis. Rich Cordray (D): The heavy favorite to win the Dem nod for State Treas., he "really wants to be gov some day, and he's making the right moves."

Posted at 10:53 AM

Comments

With all the GOP corruption and scandals and a star lineup of their own Democrats could sweep the 2006 elections in Ohio. Democrates have a pefect statewide ticket for 2006.. Ted Strickland (for Governor) who is from southern conservative part of the state and Sherrod Brown (for Senate) who is from Northern heavily Democratic part of the state is like a dream ticket.

Kelly | 03.30.06 12:06 PM

Did you foregt Paul Hackett? He is not done yet. He will jump into Senate race against unpopular Vinovich next time around.

Kelly | 03.30.06 12:07 PM

Putting Jim Jordan in this list was a smart move. I've watched him campaigning this spring, and he's going to make his mark on Ohio politics.

Daniel J. Mount | 03.30.06 01:53 PM

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