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