So what will term-limited state Rep. Lorraine M. Fende do with her final term set to expire next year?

The Willowick Democrat would seem to have a number of options should she seek to run for elected office.

She could choose not to run for anything, but some fans may like to see her run for Ohio Senate in Columbus because that seat will be up for grabs in 2012 as Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chester Township, cannot run again due to term limits.

Ohio Senate District 18 currently consists of Lake and Geauga counties, plus Gates Mills, Highland Heights and Mayfield Village and portions of Mayfield Heights in Cuyahoga County.

But that landscape may change as state officials work to draw new district boundaries now that the U.S. Census data for 2010 has been released. It’s possible that the Ohio Senate may have a new look and encompass just Lake and Ashtabula counties.

If that’s the case, there are many formidable Democrats from Ashtabula County who could emerge or show interest, including former state Rep. Deborah Newcomb, D-Conneaut, or Roaming Shores resident Robert Boggs, who was the state senator for Lake and Ashtabula counties in the 1990s and is a former county commissioner, state representative, and most recently state agriculture director.

If the Ohio Senate doesn’t suit her liking, as a former longtime mayor, Fende could file by Aug. 10 to run for her old Willowick mayor job — up for grabs this November.

Willowick Mayor Richard Bonde has not announced yet whether he will seek a new four-year term for the office. He did have a fundraiser last fall.

What if Fende won election as mayor (or even if she ran and lost) and then decided later to run for county commissioner or another county office in 2012?

The terms of Commissioners Raymond E. Sines, a Perry Village Republican, and Robert E. Aufuldish, a Wickliffe Democrat, expire at the end of 2012.

It seems like Aufuldish intends to run again for his position, and assuming he does and there isn’t a Democratic challenger for him, would Fende run against Sines?

But don’t forget about Willowick Council President Judy Moran, who ran against Sines in 2008 and made the race close in her first attempt at a countywide office. Note that all Willowick Council seats are on the ballot Nov. 8.

Candidates ranked by bar

Three Geauga County Republicans — Daniel E. Bond, Dennis Coyne and Matt Lynch — are vying to be their party’s candidate in November after a May 3 primary for Chardon Municipal Court judge. The winner takes on Democrat Terri Stupica during the Nov. 8 election.

The Geauga County Bar Association this week completed poll results by their members for the three Republican primary candidates.

Here are the results:

Bond: 15 Highly Recommended; 27 Recommended; 35 Not Recommended; seven No opinion

Coyne: 34 Highly Recommended; 35 Recommended; 11 Not Recommended; four No opinion

Lynch: one Highly Recommended; seven Recommended; 44 Not Recommended; 32 No opinion

Fundies

Concord Township Trustee Connie Luhta will host a fundraiser from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 28 at Hellriegel’s Inn in Painesville Township. See Chris Galloway, Paul Malchesky or Luhta.

Willoughby Hills Council President Kevin Malecek: Annual Cinco De Mayo party from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 5, Willoughby Hills Community Center. See Katherine Malecek or Nora Colburn.

Kirtland Councilman Doug Davidson, a candidate for Kirtland mayor: Meet the Candidate Night from 7 to 9 p.m. May 11, Kirtlander Party Center. See Jim Yarborough or Gina Davidson.

John Arthur Hutchison's column runs each Sunday in The News-Herald.

JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah