I came across this graphic on Visually about who would be leading the presidential race if it were based on social media and Web traffic. No stock should be put into this whatsoever, but I found it interesting how the number of followers/fans differs among the Republican candidates.

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-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Longtime Lake County Treasurer John S. Crocker announced that he won’t seek re-election and intends to serve out the remainder of his term.

Regarded as a kind man to people who know him, Crocker’s term officially expires Sept. 2, 2013.

However, the filing deadline to run for a four-year term as treasurer is in just a few weeks — Dec. 7.

Most potential candidates were likely waiting for Crocker to decide what he wanted to do, and now he has.

Only two people had officially taken out candidacy petitions as of Thursday: Mentor Democrat John McCallister and Eastlake Mayor Ted Andrzejewski, who is a Democrat.

Among other Democrats who might have an interest in taking out petitions?

To name a few, how about state Rep. Lorraine M. Fende, Mentor-on-the-Lake Mayor John Rogers, Crocker’s son John Crocker Jr., and former state Rep. Mark Schneider.

No Republicans had officially taken out petitions as of Thursday, but that will likely change in the upcoming weeks as the deadline to file approaches.

Mentor Councilman Scott Marn might generate some interest as a potential GOP candidate, as a vote-getter in the county’s largest city with a financial background.

If he isn’t interested, how about someone like former state Rep. Carol-Ann Schindel of Leroy Township, who is a CPA, or Charles Huebner of Mentor who ran against Crocker in 2008?

Bar Association verdict

Members of the Geauga County Bar Association recently took a poll as to what level they recommended three candidates for Chardon Municipal Court judge. The six-year term begins Jan. 1.

n Terri L. Stupica received 40 votes as highly recommended, 26 recommended, 11 not recommended, 11 had no opinion.

n Tim Synder received eight votes as highly recommended, 19 recommended, 32 not recommended, 29 had no opinion.

n Matt Lynch received three votes as highly recommended, 10 recommended, 56 not recommended, 19 had no opinion.

Possible Geauga candidates

Geauga County residents who have recently taken out candidacy petitions with the county Elections Board are Skip Claypool for U.S. Senator, U.S. House of Representatives Ohio’s 14th Congressional District, Ohio 18th Senate District, and county commissioner commencing Jan. 2 and Jan. 3, 2013; Diane Grendell for 11th District Court of Appeals judge term commencing Feb. 10, 2013; John Eklund for Ohio 18th Senate District; Tim Grendell for Probate and Juvenile Court judge unexpired term commencing Feb. 9, 2015; Mark E. Porter for Ohio House of Representatives 76th District; Gregg Soltis for commissioner term commencing Jan. 2, 2013, and for term commencing Jan. 3, 2013; Denise Kaminski for Clerk of Courts; Daniel McClelland for sheriff; Chris Hitchcock for treasurer; John M. Urbancic for coroner.

Geauga candidate filings

Forrest Burt filed petitions with the Geauga County Elections Board for Common Pleas Court; Tracy Jemison filed for commissioner term commencing Jan. 2; Mary Samide filed for commissioner term commencing Jan. 3, 2013; David Joyce filed for prosecutor; Sharon Gingerich filed for recorder; and Joseph A. Cattell filed for engineer.

Blessings and deadlines

Candidates, who — though email, fax or mail — would like to submit written lists of endorsements for the Nov. 8 election may do so and they will be published online until Nov. 4 at the Northern Ohio Politics Blog, where this column is also published each week. 

Please note, these are not endorsements by The News-Herald.

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: newsheraldjah

Madison Township Trustee Pete Wayman announced endorsements from: U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette, state Rep. Ron Young, Lake County Commissioners Robert E. Aufuldish, Daniel P. Troy, Raymond E. Sines, Madison Village Councilman Sam Britton Jr., Madison Township Trustee Bill Brotzman, Madison School Board President Rex Reigert, Geneva Township Fiscal Officer Tony Long, Perry Township Trustees Rick Amos, Nancy Steele, Phil Haskell, Perry Township Administrator Wally Siegel, Concord Township Trustees Christopher Galloway, Paul Malchesky, Connie Luhta, Leroy Township Trustees Richard VanPelt, Sr., Chuck Klco and Painesville Townsnhip Trustee James Falvey.

Wayman also announced endorsement by Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 673, Pipefitters Local 120, Northeast Ohio Carpenters Political Action Committee Bricklayers Local #16.

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

Gabe Cicconetti, candidate for Painesville Township trustee, announced endorsements from Painesville Township Fiscal Officer Mike Patriarca, state Rep. Lorraine Fende, Lake County Commissioner Raymond E. Sines, Concord Township Trustee Paul Malchesky, Fairport Harbor Councilman Doug Harrison, Perry Township Law Director/Solicitor Jim Loiacono, Painesville Township Board of Zoning Appeals member Tom Hill, and the Lake/Geauga AFL/CIO.

* Please note, these listings are not endorsements by The News-Herald.

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

Willowick Ward I Councilman Michael Vanni announced endorsements from Willowick Mayor Richard Bonde, Council President Judy Moran, and Councilmen Andrew Allan, Tom Wells, Dan Salesky, Charlie Malta and Robert Patton.

* Please note, these listings are not endorsements by The News-Herald.

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

Euclid Mayor Bill Cervnik announced endorsements from U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge, state Sen. Nina Turner, state Rep. Kenny Yuko, County Council President C. Ellen Connally, County Councilwoman Sunny Simon, Euclid Council President Kirsten Holzheimer-Gail, Euclid Councilmen Michael O’Neill and Greg Van Ho and Euclid School Board Member Kent Smith, Cleveland Construction and Building Trades, and North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor.

Cindy Quinn-Hopkins, council candidate for Eastlake Ward 3, announced endorsements from U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette, Lake County Commissioner Raymond E. Sines, Lake County Prosecutor Charles E. Coulson, Lake County Engineer James R. Gills, state Rep. Ron Young, Willoughby Mayor David Anderson, Kirtland Mayor Mark Tyler, Willoughby Hills Councilman at Large David M. Fiebig, Willowick Mayor Rich Bonde, former state Rep. Jamie Callender, Eastlake Board of Architectural Review Member Anthony Linc, and Eastlake Board of Zoning Appeals John LeRoy.

Kirtland Mayor Mark Tyler announced endorsements from Gills, Coulson, Anderson, Waite Hill Mayor Art Baldwin and  Highland Heights Mayor Scott Coleman.

Mike DeLeone, Ward 3 Painesville City Council candidate, announced endorsements from Coulson, Lake County Clerk of Courts Maureen Kelly, Painesville Council President Joe Hada, Jr., and Ward 3 Painesville City Councilman Robert H. Fountain.

* Please note, these listings are not endorsements by The News-Herald.

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

Is Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy looking to head back to Columbus to serve in the Ohio General Assembly?

Troy, a Willowick Democrat, took out petitions this past week to run in 2012 for state representative for Ohio’s new 60th House District.

He has a record in the Ohio House of Representatives, where he served seven terms in Columbus from 1983 through 1996.

Of course, Troy hasn’t yet filed those candidacy petitions and he may never do so. Maybe he’s just stirring the pot or thinking out loud.

But as a commissioner who is not up for re-election until 2014, Troy could run from cover, so why not?

Troy would be a formidable foe for anyone who would run against him in either a Democratic primary or as Republican Party nominee.

The new Ohio House 60th District also leans Democratic, which also makes a potential bid attractive.

The district boundaries will consist of Eastlake, Fairport Harbor, Grand River, Lakeline, Mentor Ward 4, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Painesville, Painesville Township Precinct J and Precinct D (part), Noncontiguous portion circumscribed by Painesville Precinct 2b, Timberlake, Wickliffe, Willoughby and Willowick.

If Troy runs and wins, someone would need to be appointed as commissioner to serve the final two years of the unexpired term.

Depending on who runs for commissioner or other offices in 2012 and the results of that election, perhaps these names are considered for appointment?

Willowick Council President Judy Moran, who ran for commissioner in 2008; Willoughby Hills Council President Kevin Malecek; term-limited state Rep. Lorraine M. Fende; attorney Ryan Callender, who ran for commissioner in 2004; Mentor-on-the-Lake Administrator Kip Molenaar; and former state Rep. Mark Schneider.

With the terms of county Commissioners Robert E. Aufuldish and Raymond E. Sines also on the ballot next year, it’s possible that if Troy won an election as state representative, there could be a completely new board of commissioners beginning in 2013.

Bar Association verdict

The Lake County Bar Association recently endorsed two candidates for municipal court judge as “highly recommended” and one candidate as “recommended.”

A poll of membership asked members whether candidates were qualified to hold the judicial office they seek.

Candidates the association considered highly recommended are:

n Painesville Municipal Court Judge Michael A. Cicconetti, a Democrat who is unopposed, received a 99.4 percent favorable vote, securing 178 of 179 ballots cast.

n Harry Field, Democratic candidate for Willoughby Municipal Court, received a 96.9 percent favorable vote,securing 161 of 166 ballots cast.

The Republican candidate for Willoughby Municipal Court, Karen Lutz Kowall, received “recommended” as she received a 76.9 percent favorable vote, securing 97 of 126 ballots cast.

Independent candidates Tammy Georgian Gibson and Katica Markulin received less than 50 percent of ballots cast, so the Bar Association did not express an opinion.

Possible candidates

People who recently took out petitions at the Lake County Elections Board were Republican Painesville Councilwoman at large Lori DiNallo for Ohio House District 60; Mentor Democrat John McCallister for county treasurer; and Concord Township Democrat Ann Radcliffe for county recorder.

Candidate filing

Lake County Prosecutor Charles E. Coulson filed petitions for re-election.

Blessings and deadlines

Candidates, who — though email, fax or mail — would like to submit written lists of endorsements for the Nov. 8 election may do so and they will be published online until Nov. 4 on this Northern Ohio Politics Blog, where this column is also published each week. 

Please note, these are not endorsements by The News-Herald.

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: newsheraldjah

The Mentor Rotary Club will offer a candidate and issues forum Thursday at noon at LaMalfa Party Center in Mentor.

Each candidate will be given 3 minutes to offer his/her platform. Questions from audience will be taken if time permits.

-- John Arthur Hutchison
Twitter: newsheraldjah

The Ohio Senate Republican Caucus has accepted applications for the 18th Senate District vacancy created by the appointment of Tim Grendell as Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court judge.

Among three candidates rumored to be the front-runners for the appointment are former state Rep. Jamie Callender and Trustee Christopher Galloway, both of Concord Township, and state Rep. Ron Young of Leroy Township.

Currently the 18th District consists of all of Lake and Geauga counties, plus a portion of eastern Cuyahoga County.

Regardless of who gets the appointment, what if there is a Republican primary in March for the new 18th Senate District, that will consist of half of Lake County, two-thirds of Geauga County and all of Portage County?

Suppose Young gets the appointment, would Callender or Galloway run against him next year? Remember, the filing deadline for candidates to turn in candidacy petitions for the March primary is Dec. 7.

With Young potentially appointed as a senator, there would also be a need for someone to be appointed to become the new state representative for Ohio House District 63, which currently consists of Mentor and eastern Lake County. Concord Township is not part of that district.

Perhaps Callender or Galloway is appointed as state representative? Would the person not selected then run against Young in an Ohio Senate Republican primary?

If Galloway gets the appointment, Young most likely seeks re-election as state representative, but does Callender continue his campaign for Ohio Senate and potentially run against an appointed Galloway?

If Callender gets the appointment and Young stays in the Ohio House, does Galloway then run in a Republican primary against appointed Callender?

Congratulations

To state Rep. Lorraine Fende and Willoughby Municipal Court Judge Larry Allen, who plan to marry and live in Kirtland.

Fende, who now lives in Willowick, will move to the new Ohio Senate 18th District when she moves to Kirtland.

As a resident of Willowick, she would not have been eligible to run in the 18th District for the 2012 election because Willowick will part of the new Ohio Senate District 25, which will consist of the new Ohio House District 60 in Lake County and Districts 8 and 12 in Cuyahoga County.

Because she is in her fourth term as a state representative, Fende cannot run for Ohio House of Representatives in 2012.

Potential candidates?

People who have recently requested candidacy petitions from the Lake County Elections Board include Prosecutor Charles E. Coulson; Coroner Lynn A. Smith; Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap; Common Pleas Court Judge Vincent A. Culotta; Clerk of Courts Maureen G. Kelly; Eleventh District Court of Appeals Judge Mary Jane Trapp; Leroy Township Trustee Linda Burhenne, who took out petitions for commissioner; and Eastlake Mayor Ted Andrzejewski, who took out petitions for commissioner and county treasurer.

Deadline

For candidates or others who would like to submit information for this column, the deadline is 5 p.m. each Wednesday. Email and faxes are preferred.

Fundies

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

n Willowick Council President Judy Moran, fourth Annual Oktoberfest, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at Regovich’s Catering in Eastlake. See Kathy Russo or Kevin Malecek.

n Tim Snyder, Chardon Municipal Court candidate, hosts a clambake Oct. 22. Doors open at 2 p.m. at Pine View Lake, Munson Township. See Snyder or Tiffany Snyder.

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: newsheraldjah

It would probably help politicians to look at these infographics to see what voters are thinking.

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-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

The Ohio Apportionment Board recently made a change to the adopted boundaries for one of the two new Ohio Senate Districts that take effect in 2012 in Lake County.

The new Ohio House District 60 will be part of Ohio Senate District 25, rather than part of Ohio Senate District 21, as the Apportionment Board originally approved Sept. 28. Boundaries of Ohio House districts were not changed.

House District 60 will consist of Eastlake, Fairport Harbor, Grand River, Lakeline, Mentor Ward 4, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Painesville, Painesville Township Precinct J and Precinct D (part), noncontiguous portion circumscribed by Painesville Precinct 2b, Timberlake, Wickliffe, Willoughby and Willowick.

By law, each of Ohio’s 33 Senate districts must contain three Ohio House Districts.

So along with House District 60, the new Ohio Senate District 25 will contain House Districts 8 and 12 from Cuyahoga County.

House District 8 will consist of Beachwood; Cleveland Ward 10 Precincts H, P, Q, R, S, T; East Cleveland; Euclid; Richmond Heights; South Euclid and Woodmere.

House District 12 will consist of Bedford, Bedford Heights, Ward 1 Cleveland, Highland Hills, Maple Heights, Mayfield Heights, North Randall, Orange Village, Pepper Pike and Warrensville Heights.

There were no changes to Senate District 18, which consists of the other half of Lake County, plus about two-thirds of Geauga County and all of Portage County.

New district boundaries might also affect where potential candidates will file their candidacy petitions for the two Ohio Senate Districts.

Filing locations are typically located at the Elections Board in the county with the largest population of voters. With two of the three House Districts for Senate District 25 located in Cuyahoga County, potential Ohio Senate candidates for that district will likely need to file with the Cuyahoga County Elections Board.

Potential Senate District 18 candidates will likely need to file in either Lake or Portage counties as elections officials are waiting for word on the matter.

Potential candidates?

People who have recently taken out petitions for various Lake County races next year include Engineer James R. Gills, Common Pleas Court Judges Richard L. Collins Jr. and Eugene A. Lucci, and Recorder Frank A. Suponcic.

For Ohio House District 60, Wickliffe Republican Jessica Forsythe and Willowick Democrat James Helmink have taken out petitions.

Deadline

For candidates or others who would like to submit information for this column, the deadline is 5 p.m. each Wednesday. Email and faxes are preferred.

Fundies

n Tammy Gibson, Willoughby Municipal Court candidate, hosts a fundraiser from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Lake County Yacht Club in Eastlake. See Elyssa Georgian.

n Mentor Councilman Ed Walsh hosts a spaghetti dinner fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at Capelli’s in Mentor. See Walsh, Edward Hughes or Cindy Hughes.

n Fundraiser for Willowick Council candidate Patrick Jesberger from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Stadium Grill in Mentor. See Jesberger.

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

n Willowick Council President Judy Moran, fourth Annual Oktoberfest, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at Regovich’s Catering in Eastlake. See Kathy Russo or Kevin Malecek.

n Tim Snyder, Chardon Municipal Court candidate, hosts a clambake Oct. 22. Doors open at 2 p.m. at Pine View Lake, Munson Township. See Snyder or Tiffany Snyder.

To read this column online or to leave a comment visit: http://northernohiolocalpolitics.blogspot.com.

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: newsheraldjah

If you want to vote in November's election, time is running out to register to vote. Absentee voting began this week, and is available to anyone who wants to vote before the Nov. 8 election or is unable to vote on Election Day. But to cast a vote - either in person or absentee - you must be registered. Deadline for registration is Oct. 11.

You can register to vote in Ohio on the Secretary of State's website by downloading the voter registration form and mailing it to your county board of elections. For more information on eligibility and submission information, check out the voter registration information form.

You also can look up your voting information on the Secretary of State's website. Fill in the required fields to see your voting history and polling location information. You can learn a lot more about the voting process, eligibility and more on the Secretary of State's Voter Information page.

Additionally, the county boards of elections provide details about whether you are registered, where to cast your ballot, and what you'd be voting on. Visit the websites for the Lake County Board of Elections, Geauga County Board of Elections and Cuyahoga County Board of Elections for more information.

Not sure if you're going to vote in this year's election? Find out what's on the ballot. You can also read the ballot language, official explanation, and arguments for and against the three issues on the statewide ballot. That information is also available as a 60-page PDF titled State Ballot Issues Information for the November 8, 2011 General Election. If those documents are too much jargon for you, read the layman's terms version: An Associated Press article titled Ohio to decide 3 issues after heated fall campaign.

In addition to the statewide issues, several local issues and candidates are on the ballot. The News-Herald is publishing election previews of the contested races, so check back daily for more information on the candidates and different sides of the issues. You can also check out the election filings to see what issues and candidates made it onto the ballot in each municipality in Lake, Geauga and eastern Cuyahoga counties. Additionally, we have published the candidate questionnaires, which are forms we ask those running for office to fill out to give us and voters a better idea of what they would like to do if elected.


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

With Lake County divided into two Ohio Senate districts as part of the changes approved Wednesday by the state Reapportionment Board, new names and faces might represent the area and not live in the county.

The new Ohio Senate District 21 will include House Districts 8 and 10 in Cuyahoga County and District 60, which will include parts of western and northern Lake County and Painesville.

Districts 8 and 10 stretch into parts of Cleveland, plus Beachwood, East Cleveland, Euclid, Richmond Heights, South Euclid and Woodmere.

Term-limited state Reps. Kenny Yuko, D-Richmond Heights, and Lorraine M. Fende, D-Willowick, may have an interest in Senate District 21 although with two-thirds of the district’s population living in Cuyahoga County, it might make it hard for Fende, whose base is in Lake County. Perhaps she may move?

The new Senate district might also open the door for someone like former state Rep. Ed Jerse, a Euclid Democrat.

Any state representative candidates for House District 8 would have to likely have to challenge state Rep. Armond Budish, D-Beachwood, who is the Ohio House Minority Leader. District 10 includes parts of Cleveland, plus Bratenahl Village.

With Willoughby Hills moved to House District 61, who might take a shot at House District 60 with Fende unable to seek re-election?

District 60 will consist of Eastlake, Fairport Harbor, Grand River, Lakeline, Mentor Ward 4, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Painesville, part of Painesville Township, Timberlake, Wickliffe, Willoughby and Willowick.

The changes takes Willoughby Hills Councilman David Feibig, a Republican who ran against Fende two years ago, and Council President Kevin Malecek, a Democrat, out of the running, since they won’t live in the new district.

Mentor Ward 4 will be part of District 60 and also is the home of Mentor Councilman Ronald L. Micchia.

If they wanted, the door is also open for Willowick residents such as Council President Judy Moran and even Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy, a former state representative who served in Columbus for years.

Running for commissioner?

So far, four people have officially taken out candidacy petitions to run for Lake County commissioner next year: Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish, former Eastlake Councilman Derek W. Elshaw; Madison Village Council President John R. Hamercheck; and Robert Murphy, who ran in 2010 against Troy.

The terms on the ballot in 2012 are currently held by Aufuldish and Commissioner Raymond E. Sines.

Fundies

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

n Yuko hosts Rat Pack Revival from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Nido Italia in Cleveland. See Pamela J. Yuko.

n Becky Lynch, candidate for Mentor Council, hosts a fundraiser from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Toth’s Place in Mentor. See Lynch or Christina M. Dubeansky.

n Tammy Gibson, Willoughby Municipal Court candidate, hosts a fundraiser from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Lake County Yacht Club in Eastlake. See Elyssa Georgian.

n Mentor Councilman Ed Walsh hosts a fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. at Capelli’s in Mentor. See Walsh, Edward Hughes or Cindy Hughes.

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.

n Tim Snyder, Chardon Municipal Court candidate, host a clambake Oct. 22 doors open at 2 p.m. at Pine View Lake, Munson Township. See Snyder or Tiffany Snyder.

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: newsheraldjah