On the Lake Metroparks first-ever controlled archery deer hunt front, the weekend saw only one deer - a doe - get shot.

Park officials were on hand at the agency’s River Road Reservation in Madison Township to check on the hunters and their progress. These officials were somewhat surprised to see that one of the first 10 hunters selected for the lottery hunt was a no-show.

They were even more stunned when on Saturday the majority of the field left the woods with 60 to 90 minutes of legal shooting time still left.

Likewise the officials were chagrined to see that on Sunday evening fewer than four or five of the selected hunter stuck around after a thunderstorm passed to finish out the second day of hunting.

And a couple of hunters said they passed on animals, not wanting to launch an arrow the first thing out of the gate.

However, the purpose of the hunt is not solely to provide recreational opportunities but mainly to assist in reducing the deer herd size at the 492-acre reserve.

By not showing up to hunt, by leaving the field early, and by passing on deer the program won’t achieve its goal of helping to relieve the area in and around the River Road Reservation site of too many deer.


This sort of inactivity could most certainly hurt the future of the program.


- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald

With Ohio Senate and House of Representatives districts poised to change due to reapportionment, it sets up many possibilities for who might run for the newly shaped districts.

The new Senate District 18 would contain about half of Lake County, two-thirds of Geauga County and all of Portage County.

First, there is a vacancy for the current Senate District 18 — all of Lake and Geauga counties, plus a portion of eastern Cuyahoga County — emerged recently when former state Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chester Township, was appointed Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court judge.

Interested in an appointment by Ohio Senate Republicans are state Rep. Ron Young, former state Rep. Jamie Callender and Concord Township Trustee Christopher Galloway.

If Young gets the appointment, another appointment would be needed to fill a vacancy for his Ohio House District 63 seat that currently is comprised of Mentor and eastern Lake County, but not Concord Township.

If Galloway or Callender were to be appointed they would need to take up temporary residence in the district until reapportionment changes the boundaries.

Or someone like Lake Commissioner Raymond E. Sines of Perry Village could be appointed as state representative, a position he held years ago.

What will term-limited state Rep. Lorraine M. Fende, D-Willowick, do next year, as she can’t seek re-election to her seat that currently represents western Lake County and Concord Township.

She’s mentioned as a possible Ohio Senate candidate, but since she would live in a new Ohio Senate district, she might have to run against other strong Democrats including an incumbent or two.

Maybe Fende decides to run for something else like county commissioner?

Perhaps Lake Commissioner Daniel P. Troy of Willowick would be interested in the Ohio Senate seat too?

Who will run for Ohio House District 76 next year? The current district, now called the 98th district, is comprised of Geauga County, plus portions of eastern Cuyahoga County.

However, the new district would lose the Cuyahoga portion and gain a portion of Portage County.

Plus, incumbent state Rep. Richard Hollington, R-Hunting Valley, has filed as a candidate for mayor, so if he’s sworn in, a vacancy will be created and an appointment needed.

Perhaps Ohio House Republicans pick someone like attorney John Eklund or Chardon Councilwoman Nancy McArthur?

Appointment

Concord Township resident Amy Sabath, a GOP state central committee member and former executive director of the Lake County GOP, was appointed to the Lottery Commission for a term expiring Aug. 1, 2014.

Fundies

n John Murphy, candidate for Ward 4 Painesville Council, meet the candidate with complimentary buffet from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 29 at Rider’s Inn in Painesville. See Murphy.

n Commissioner Troy will host Fall Classic golf outing and clam bake with 12:30 p.m. shotgun start Sept. 30 at Madison Country Club in Madison Township. See Troy or Kip Molenaar.

n U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette will host a clam bake from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 1 at Cappelli’s in Mentor. See Matt Riehl.

n Geauga County Republican Party Steak Roast, featured guests Ohio Auditor Dave Yost and LaTourette. Social hour begins at 2 p.m. Oct. 2 at Troy Township Pavilion. See Frank and Bernadette Gliha.

n State Rep. Kenny Yuko hosts Rat Pack Revival from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 2 at Nido Italia in Cleveland. See Pamela J. Yuko.

n Tammy Gibson, Willoughby Municipal Court candidate, hosts a fundraiser from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Lake County Yacht Club in Eastlake. See Elyssa Georgian.

n Gabe Cicconetti, candidate for Painesville Township trustee will host a spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 16th at Park Road Bar in Painesville Township. See Cicconetti or Tom Hill.

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

It's official: Tim Grendell has left the Ohio Senate to become the new judge for Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court.

The Chester Township Republican certainly has made headlines during his career in the Ohio General Assembly that included time as a state senator and state representative.

He is never one who has shied away from headlines, that's for sure. But he's also had a track record of taking up issues that people talk about, so love or hate his politics, Grendell was always active on some cause.

It could be oil and gas well drilling, property rights for Lake Erie shore property owners, or E-check.

Here's a story written by Associated Press Writer Jule Carr Smyth that recaps his career (for now) in the Ohio General Assembly:

Click here to read it.

-- John Arthur Hutchison/JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: newsheraldjah

New maps were unveiled this week to shrink the number of congressional districts in Ohio to 16 from 18.

The redistricting issue is not without controversy as Republicans want to approve the maps quickly and are poised to do so shortly, in part, so potential candidates know what the districts will look like.

With a majority in both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly, the GOP, which essentially is in charge of the redistricting process, doesn’t necessarily need Democrat support.

Democrats are not happy with the proposed maps and they say their party voters are crammed into four districts, meaning there would be 12 districts that strongly lean Republican. But it was voters who in 2010 essentially put Republicans in charge of redistricting as GOP Ohio General Assembly members rode a wave of support.

Ohio House Republicans also say the maps are constitutional and comply with federal voting rights.

One point of fairness that might get lost in the bickering is Democrats and Republicans each are likely to lose a congressional member because potential incumbents might have to face each other in new district.

An example: longtime Democratic U.S. Reps. Dennis Kucinich and Marcy Kaptur in a primary in the Cleveland area.

Using what leverage they feel they have, Democrats pledged to withdraw support for a potential emergency bill that would move the primary election from March to May. As many as seven votes from Ohio House Democrats would be needed to achieve a two-thirds majority to pass the bill on an emergency basis despite an election reform law that passed this summer that contained language to move the primary date to May. 

Emergency legislation could be needed because there is a strong possibility of a referendum vote of the election reform law and that means it wouldn’t take effect unless voters approved it in November 2012.

If that bargaining chip fails, the state Democratic Party could also consider gathering signatures for a referendum vote on the redistricting bill itself, Ohio House Bill 319.

In the meantime, new maps unveiled Tuesday showed the 14th Congressional District, now represented by U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette, R-Bainbridge Township, would still consist of Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties, plus portions of Cuyahoga, Summit, Trumbull and Portage counties.

Preliminary maps show that the 14th District would gain territory in Cuyahoga and Trumbull counties and a tiny portion of Portage County.

Communities in Cuyahoga County added to the district are Lyndhurst, Independence, Brecksville, Valley View and Walton Hills.

The 11th Congressional District represented by U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Warrensville Heights, would also expand beyond Cuyahoga County to include parts of Summit County.

GOP mapmakers have indicated they wanted to increase that territory further south to keep the district as one with a majority of the residents who are of the minority population.

Fundies

n Hors d’oeuvres fundraiser for Geauga County Recorder Sharon C. Gingerich from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Cleats Club Seat Grille in Chardon. See Michele Lane.

n Tim Snyder, candidate for Chardon Municipal Court Judge, hosts a clambake at 2 p.m. Saturday at Pine View Lake in Munson Township. See Tiffany J. Holzheimer.

n Lake County Democratic Women’s club hosts annual fall luncheon with Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish and local author Mildred Dennis at noon Saturday at Cappelli’s in Mentor.

n John Murphy, candidate for Ward 4 Painesville Council, meet the candidate with complimentary buffet from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 29 at Rider’s Inn in Painesville. See Murphy.

n Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy will host Fall Classic golf outing and clam bake with 12:30 p.m. shotgun start Sept. 30 at Madison Country Club in Madison Township. See Troy or Kip Molenaar.

n Geauga County Republican Party Steak Roast, featured guests Ohio Auditor Dave Yost and LaTourette. Social hour begins at 2 p.m. Oct. 2 at Troy Township Pavilion. See Frank and Bernadette Gliha.

n Tammy Gibson, Willoughby Municipal Court candidate, hosts a fundraiser from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Lake County Yacht Club in Eastlake. See Elyssa Georgian.

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Ohio House Bill 319, introduced today as the first measure to map out redistricting in Ohio, shows the 14th Congressional District would still consist of Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties, plus portions of Cuyahoga, Summit, Trumbull and Portage counties.

The district is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette, R-Bainbridge Township.

Those seven counties currently comprise the district, so it’s just a matter of where the new lines will be drawn.

Ohio must shrink from 18 to 16 congressional districts due to the state’s lack of substantial population growth.

Below is a copy of the proposed map for the district.

Proposed Ohio Congressional District 14

-- John Arthur Hutchison/JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: newsheraldjah

What might trickle down if Lake County Commissioner Raymond E. Sines doesn’t seek re-election next year?

Sines as a free agent opens up a lot of possibilities for him and others.

One thing is, if state Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chester Township, is appointed judge for Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court, an appointment to the Ohio Senate would be needed.

Perhaps state Rep. Ron Young, R-Leroy Township, is given the first option to be appointed as state senator, then someone would need to be appointed to fill Young’s 63rd Ohio House District seat.

How about Sines?

The Perry Village resident served for years as a state representative for eastern Lake County and later was a state lobbyist before he became county commissioner in 2003.

If Young didn’t get the appointment, maybe Sines is appointed state senator?

With Republican Gov. John Kasich now in office, don’t be surprised to see Sines perhaps get appointed to a state board or commission in Columbus, if he was interested either prior to his term’s expiration or afterward.

If Sines stepped away early as a commissioner, the county Republican Party would make an appointment to replace him and perhaps give a candidate a leg up on the race next year.

Maybe Leroy Township Trustee Linda Burhenne or even Elections Board Director Janet F. Clair, who will retire from her post after the November election?

Clair, also the county GOP’s chairwoman, would have name recognition and connections as someone involved in county politics for decades. Speaking of GOP county chairs, what about Dale Fellows, a former county commissioner?

If Burhenne or Clair decided to run next year for the seat currently manned by Sines and one was to win the Republican Party nomination, perhaps it would set up Lake County to have its second female commissioner.

That is if Willowick Council President Judy Moran, a Democrat, takes another run for commissioner for that Sines’ term and won the Democratic Party nomination.

Ohio Turnpike director?

There remains a vacancy for this position after the commission wanted to hire David O. Regula earlier this summer to replace the retired L. George Distel. But Regula declined the job. What if Lake County Engineer James R. Gills was appointed? Might he have an interest?

Fundies

n Brian Wollet, Mentor City Council Ward 2 candidate, fundraiser from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the Branding Iron Cookhouse in Mentor. See Carolyn Anderson or Rick Zaleski.

n Harry Field, Willoughby Municipal judge candidate, fundraiser from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Italian American Hall in Wickliffe. See Russ Meraglio, Mark Ziccarelli or Judy Moran.

n Eastlake Council Ward 3 candidate Cindy Quinn-Hopkins hosts Pasta and Politics dinner from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Surfside Towers Party Room in Eastlake. See James T. Overstreet.

n Fundraiser for John Krueger, candidate for Mentor Council Ward 4, from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Deeker’s in Mentor. See Krueger.

n Spaghetti dinner fundraiser for Willowick Councilman Charlie Malta from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at Willowick American Legion Hall. See MaryBeth Malta.

n Hors d’oeuvres fundraiser for Geauga County Recorder Sharon C. Gingerich from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at Cleats Club Seat Grille in Chardon. See Michele Lane.

n Lake County Democratic Women’s club hosts annual fall luncheon at noon Sept. 24 at Cappelli’s in Mentor.

n John Murphy, candidate for Ward 4 Painesville Council, meet the candidate with complimentary buffet from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 29 at Rider’s Inn in Painesville. See Murphy.

n Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy will host Fall Classic golf outing and clam bake with 12:30 p.m. shotgun start Sept. 30 at Madison Country Club in Madison Township. See Troy or Kip Molenaar.

Deadlines

The weekly deadline for candidates or other items to appear in this column is each Wednesday at 5 p.m. Emails or faxes are preferred.

To leave a comment or to read this column online, visit: NorthernOhioLocalPolitics.blogspot.com.

JHutchison@News-Herald.com,

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Lake County commissioners were asked this week to consider a 0.25 percent raise to the county’s sales tax rate.

Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap, a Republican, wants the increase to help generate additional revenue for the county to help departments, including his, deal with budget cuts and maintain service levels.

Auditor Edward H. Zupancic, a Republican, agrees with the idea, as does Treasurer John S. Crocker, a Democrat. Other elected officials and department heads might also agree.

Each commissioner — Robert E. Aufuldish (D), Raymond E. Sines (R) and Daniel P. Troy (D) — says he isn’t ready to raise the rate. They cite a belief there are cuts that still can be made to services not mandated by state law.

Of the 6.25 percent rate total, the county receives 0.5 percent. The state receives 5.5 percent and 0.25 percent supports Laketran.

But the decision isn’t just a matter of dollars and cents.

Lake County was one of the first counties to implement the sales tax back in the 1960s, and the county’s share has never been raised.

So if you’re a commissioner, do you want to be the person associated with increasing that tax in this environment? 

That might leave them vulnerable to future opponents who could say “he voted to raise taxes.”

That’s another reason commissioners are likely to hold off on any increase for now until they feel there is no choice or unless there is bipartisan support on the Board of Commissioners.

Dunlap and others know that the level of service their offices provide in the future may be lessened unless there is more revenue available. The sheriff feels like he has nothing left to cut.

So may bipartisan pressure from county office holders be enough to persuade commissioners to change their minds? If not now, perhaps next year when the terms of two commissioners — Aufuldish and Sines — expire?

Fundies

n Lake County Coroner Dr. Lynn Smith, picnic from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Painesville Elks Club. See Dr. Ron Taddeo or Sheila Smith.

n Kimberly Evers, Eastlake Council candidate, fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Captain’s Club in Eastlake. See Evers.

n Cocktail reception for Concord Township Trustee Christopher Galloway, an Ohio Senate candidate, from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday at Bev and Dave Vitaz residence in Concord Township.

n Brian Wollet, Mentor City Council Ward 2 candidate, fundraiser from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Branding Iron Cookhouse in Mentor. See Carolyn Anderson or Rick Zaleski.

n Harry Field, Willoughby Municipal judge candidate, fundraiser from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Italian American Hall in Wickliffe. See Russ Meraglio, Mark Ziccarelli or Judy Moran.

n Eastlake Council Ward 3 candidate Cindy Quinn-Hopkins hosts Pasta and Politics dinner from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at Surfside Towers Party Room in Eastlake. See James T. Overstreet.

n Fundraiser for John Krueger, candidate for Mentor Council Ward 4, from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 14 at Decker’s in Mentor. See Krueger.

n Spaghetti dinner fundraiser for Willowick Councilman Charlie Malta from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at Willowick American Legion Hall. See MaryBeth Malta.

n Hors d’oeuvres fundraiser for Geauga County Recorder Sharon C. Gingerich from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at Cleats Club Seat Grille in Chardon. See Michele Lane.

n Lake County Democratic Women’s club hosts annual fall luncheon at noon Sept. 24 at Cappelli’s in Mentor.

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah