Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has heard arguments on President Barack Obama’s health care law, justices are expected to render a decision in June.

It will be interesting to see exactly how that works. Will the court throw out the individual mandate for people to have health insurance? Or might justices decide to keep parts of the law or scrap the whole thing?

What might the political fallout be if justices vote on strict party lines with the five Republican appointed justices holding a 5-4 majority?

Would that ramp up the partisan divide within the country more than it already is?

Or might any decision provide the opportunity for closure on the law and allow Congress to begin to work in a more bipartisan fashion?

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy asked tough questions that left supporters of the health care law believing they may have some hope for the law to remain intact.

One thing for sure is after the decision is made, there will still be five more months until the November election. It remains to be seen how important the decision will be to determine who wins the presidency.

The last time the spotlight shined this brightly on the Supreme Court was in 2000, when justices made a decision on the Bush vs. Gore case involving the election in Florida, and that case had a direct impact on who became president.

Bipartisan attempt

U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette and a group of bipartisan members of Congress offered a federal budget alternative that failed to get much traction before it was voted down Wednesday night.

The proposal aimed to lower the federal deficit by $4 trillion during the next 10 years. LaTourette, R-Bainbridge Township, said everything was on the table and the plan would reduce the deficit through spending cuts and tax reforms.

The House of Representatives did pass a budget offered by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., but the Democrat-controlled Senate is not expected to consider the legislation.

At some point, Congress will have to pass a budget because there are issues that need to be dealt with, such as expiration of the Bush tax cuts, a one-year extension of the Social Security tax credit and increased spending on programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.

Even though the LaTourette-backed legislation went down, perhaps it was a way for federal lawmakers to begin talking about a plan that can be passed?

Candidate forum

The Lake County TEA Party plans a series of candidate forums for the state and county offices for the Nov. 6 election. The first forum is for Ohio House of Representatives District 61 and will be held at 7 p.m. April 10 at Harvey High School in Painesville.

Party reorganization

Every two years after the primary election, the Democratic and Republican parties within the county meet to reorganize, which basically means they select a party chairman and/or chairwoman and other officers.

The Lake County Republican Party will have its meeting at 7 p.m. April 2 at the organization’s headquarters in downtown Painesville. The Lake County Democratic Party will meet at 9:30 a.m. April 7 at Bricklayers Hall in Mentor.

The Geauga County Democratic Party meeting is Monday night with dinner at 6:15 p.m. followed by the meeting at 7:15 p.m. at party headquarters in Newbury Township. The Geauga County Republican Party will meet at 7 p.m. April 10 at Munson Township Hall.

Might there be any changes in top party leadership? For the Lake Democrats, its Chairman Tom Tagliamonte; for the Lake GOP, it’s Dale Fellows. For the Geauga GOP, it’s Edward Ryder; for the Geauga Democrats, it’s Janet Carson.

Fundies

n Fundraiser for Susan McGuinness, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 61, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 16 at Match Works Tavern in Mentor. See Eddy Eckart or Ray McGuinness.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Lake County appears to be moving closer to establishing a county land bank to help deal with foreclosed and abandoned properties.

Land banks have a mission to accumulate these properties by various and versatile methods. The property can be held by the county land bank, tax free, until the land can be put back to productive use.

How times have changed in just a few short years. Not long ago, many people took on enormous debt convinced they could make money by flipping or quickly selling the house for a higher price as the demand seem unsatisfiable. For others, good jobs allowed many homeowners to buy a nice home, but when the economy tanked, they lost their job and could no longer afford the mortgage. Others were provided loans that never should have been made.

But the value of property had never been higher, and now that all has changed.

Many people have discovered they live in homes with mortgages higher than what their property is worth.

Suppose you or someone you know lives next to or near an abandoned property. It’s likely you already know what an eyesore it might be or perhaps it’s a place that attracts crime. Housing leaders often note that once one property in a neighborhood is abandoned due to foreclosure it’s often not long before are as well.

Property values in Lake County are again expected to accumulatively drop when the county Auditor’s Office finishes property appraisals this year. That means less tax revenue for local governments, but it also means many investments people made for their future have taken a hit.

Some properties are now virtually worthless, so much so that homeowners simply walked away from their mortgage and in many cases the bank doesn’t want the property because it doesn’t want to pay to maintain the home or parcel.

The concept of a county land bank is fairly new in Ohio and has been championed by former Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis as a way for governments to tackle the foreclosure crisis that developed in ways never imagined. Land banks already are in place in Cuyahoga and other counties.

Lake County commissioners asked the county Prosecutor’s Office to draft the appropriate resolution to create a land bank and after that action is taken the county treasurer would need to incorporate it.

Geauga Elections Board tie

Look for the Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted to make a decision soon on what to do about the tie vote made March 5 by the Geauga County Elections Board in regards to hiring a deputy director.

The four-member board voted 2-2 to name Chardon Councilwoman Deborah Reiter, a Democrat, as deputy director. But since a majority vote is required, a tie vote means it could be up to Husted to break the dispute.

Democrat Arch Kimbrew had been the Elections Board director, so Husted ordered Kimbrew to be the deputy director until the tie was broken.

Reiter was nominated to serve as deputy director by the two Democratic board members — Janet Carson, the county party’s chairwoman, and Dennis Pavella. Board members Edward Ryder and Dorothy Strange voted against Reiter’s nomination resulting in the tie vote.

Lake-Geauga Young Ds

Lake-Geauga County Young Democrats will meet at 6:30 p.m. April 3 at the Geauga County Democratic Headquarters in Newbury Township. Geauga County Sheriff Daniel McClelland will attend to share information about his office and recent events in the county. Membership in the organization is open to anyone who lives or works in Lake or Geauga counties and is younger than age 37. “Like” the group’s page on Facebook for more information.

Fundies

n Campaign kickoff for 11th District Court of Appeals Judge Mary Jane Trapp, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday at The English Pub in Ravenna. See Mike Apicella.

n Continue the Flow fundraiser for Willoughby Hills Mayor Robert Weger from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Willoughby Hills Community Center. See Joe Zawatski.

n Fundraiser for Susan McGuinness, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 61, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 16 at Match Works Tavern in Mentor. See Eddy Eckart or Ray McGuinness.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

A classic childhood toy has made its way into the campaign for the Republican presidential candidate. Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney this week compared it to an Etch A Sketch: "You can kind of shake it up and we start all over again."

Other politicians jumped on this remark and interpreted it in their own way, while major stores reported a jump in sales and the stock's value nearly tripled today.

My favorite part about the incident was the company's marketing director's comment: "We have a left knob and a right knob, so we neutrally speak to both parties."

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum holds
an Etch A Sketch. (Associated Press photo)

Full story from John Seewer of The Associated Press:

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Pushed to the bottom of the toy box by video games and other high-tech gadgets, Etch A Sketch is suddenly drawing lots of attention, thanks to a gaffe that has shaken up the race for the White House.
Ohio Art Co., maker of the classic baby boomer toy, is sending a big box of Etch A Sketches to the presidential campaigns to say thanks for the publicity and a boost in sales.
It all started when Mitt Romney strategist Eric Fehrnstrom was asked Wednesday about the candidate’s politics now versus next fall, and he likened the campaign to an Etch A Sketch: “You can kind of shake it up and we start all over again.”
Democrats and Republicans alike seized on the remark as evidence that Romney is a flip-flopper willing to alter his positions for political gain.
GOP rival Newt Gingrich told voters in Louisiana that “having an Etch A Sketch as your campaign model raises every doubt about where we’re going.” Rick Santorum brandished an Etch A Sketch and told voters he is a candidate who stands “firmly on the rocks of freedom, not on the sands of an Etch A Sketch toy.” Santorum’s staff also handed out miniature Etch A Sketches to reporters.
While Romney’s opponents are hoping the remark will erase his momentum and reframe the debate, the biggest winner might be Ohio Art.
Its stock, which trades over the counter, nearly tripled on Thursday, closing at $9.65, and major stores reported a jump in sales, said chairman Bill Killgallon.
“We’re proud that one of our products is shaking up the debate,” he said.
Ohio Art has sold more than 100 million Etch A Sketches worldwide since its introduction in 1960. The toy, with its familiar gray screen and bright-red frame, allows youngsters to draw things by twisting two white knobs. A quick shake erases the image and lets you start over.
Etch A Sketches were made in Ohio until 2000, when the company moved production to China because of increasing costs.
Over the years, Ohio Art and Etch A Sketch have benefited from millions of dollars in free advertising from movies and television. The company saw a big jump in sales after Etch A Sketch landed a role in “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2.”
In fact, the toy gets so much free publicity that Ohio Art spends very little on advertising it.
The company, based in Bryan, doesn’t release annual sales figures but says Etch A Sketch has a steady market. It’s most popular with grandparents and mothers who are looking for a bit of nostalgia.
How long the latest bump will last is anybody’s guess.
“I’m not sure that just because the candidates are talking about Etch A Sketch that kids are going to tell their moms to go out and buy one,” said Martin Killgallon, the company’s marketing director.
One thing the Etch a Sketch won’t do is pick sides in the presidential campaign, he said.
“We have a left knob and a right knob,” he said, “so we neutrally speak to both parties.”
———
Associated Press writer Lisa Cornwell in Cincinnati contributed to this report.

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

Now that Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy has won the Democratic Party nomination to run Nov. 6 for the Ohio House of Representatives District 60 seat, what might happen if he is elected to serve in Columbus?

First of all, Troy must defeat Painesville Councilwoman Lori DiNallo, who was unopposed in the Republican Party primary. 

The Nov. 6 election is several months away so anything can happen as the new campaign season begins.

But it’s time for speculation and if Troy does win, there would be another opening on the three-member Lake County Board of Commissioners. If not, Troy still has two years remaining on his four-year term as commissioner.

Regardless, the county Commission will be different next year, no matter what, because Commissioner Raymond E. Sines, a Perry Village Republican, chose not to seek re-election.

Willoughby Hills Councilman at large David M. Fiebig and Willowick Councilwoman Judy Moran will square off to see who wins that seat.

Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish, a Wickliffe Democrat, won his primary and faces Madison Village Councilman John Hamercheck, a Republican.

So what if Troy wins? The Lake County Democratic Party would then get to appoint a new county commissioner to replace him.

I believe whoever gets the appointment greatly depends on how the Nov. 6 election unfolds.

What if Fiebig defeats Moran? She’s run twice for commissioner, so it’s no secret she would like the job.

Say state Rep. Lorraine M. Fende, a candidate for Lake County treasurer, is unsuccessful in her bid for the position against former Concord Township Trustee Bob Patterson, a Republican. She would most likely be interested in the appointment.

If Fende wins election as treasurer, how about Mentor-on-the-Lake Mayor John Rogers or Eastlake Councilwoman Laura DePledge, who both just lost a three-way primary to Fende?

Word is that former state Rep. Mark Schneider, a Mentor Democrat, might be interested especially after he just won election to the Ohio Democratic Party’s state Central Committee.

How about Willoughby Hills Councilman Kevin Malecek, a Democrat who is the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce executive director and Laketran Board of Trustees chairman? Malecek is a member of the county Democratic Party’s executive committee and has worked on numerous campaigns to help other candidates win, so maybe now it’s his turn?

Heck, it’s not inconceivable that if Aufuldish lost his race against Hamercheck, Democrats could appoint him to finish the last two years of Troy’s term.

Ohio GOP state central committee

Unofficial results from the Portage County Elections Board show there is just a 91-vote difference for the GOP 18th Senate District state Central Committeeman race between former state Rep. Jamie Callender of Concord Township and Portage County Republican Party Chairman Andrew Manning. Callender currently trails, but outstanding ballots will be added into the mix and the official count of the race takes place March 27, so it’s possible the results could change.

The district includes parts of Lake and Geauga counties and all of Portage County, where the results will be certified.

The winner of the race could play an important role in who is the next Ohio Republican Party chairman because the 66-member committee will make that decision. It’s noteworthy because of a ongoing feud reportedly between Gov. John Kasich and Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine.

Fundies

n Fundraiser for state Rep. Ron Young, 6 to 8 p.m. March 19 at Stadium Grill in Mentor. See Jini Gorg.

n Spring Fever Celebration for Fiebig, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 21 at the Willoughby Hills Community Center. See Joyce Hribar Fiebig or Cindy Quinn-Hopkins.

n Fundraiser for Werner Barthol, candidate for Lake County prosecutor, 6 to 8 p.m. March 22 at the Croatian Lodge in Eastlake. See James Falvey or Kelly Barthol.

n Campaign kickoff for 11th District Court of Appeals Judge Mary Jane Trapp, 4:30 to 7 p.m. March 29 at The English Pub in Ravenna. See Mike Apicella.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Now that Tuesday’s primary election is over, we know the local candidates for the Nov. 6 election.

One of the more surprising results is that Geauga County will have a new county commissioner.

That’s because Munson Township Republican Ralph Spidalieri defeated incumbent Commissioner Mary Samide in the GOP primary for the commissioner term commencing Jan. 3.

In November, Spidalieri faces Christopher John Lacny, a Burton Township Democrat. As a Democrat in a heavily Republican county, Lacny likely faces a tough but not impossible challenge as there no longer will be an incumbent for the position.

Also in Geauga County, Matt Lynch, a Bainbridge Township Republican, easily got his party’s nomination for the Ohio House of Representatives 76th District as he defeated three opponents. Lynch will face Democrat Tom Warren of Russell Township in November.

Based on what Ohio House of Representatives GOP officials have previously said, Lynch is now in line to be appointed as the new state representative for the 98th House District to complete the two-year term that expires at the end of this year.

State Rep. Mary Brigid Matheney, R-Bainbridge Township, was appointed last month by the Ohio House Republican Caucus with the understanding that she would step down after the results of the 76th House District Republican primary were official.

That temporary appointment was designed by officials as a way to help 98th House District Republican voters have a say in who represented them for now because their representative had been appointed since former state Rep. Matt Dolan resigned in early 2010 to run for Cuyahoga County executive.

The reason the two House districts are numbered differently is because the boundaries will change next year due to reapportionment, but the current 98th district and the new 76th district each include territory in Geauga County.

In Lake County, Commissioner Daniel P. Troy, a Willowick Democrat, won his party’s nomination for the 60th House District. He faces Painesville Republican Lori DiNallo in November.

After Troy cleared that hurdle, there are likely to be some Democrats maneuvering for a potential commissioner appointment by the Lake County Democratic Party if he does, in fact, win. More later on this.

Prediction recap

If you followed my 10 predictions last week about who I thought would win, you may have noticed I got six out of 10 correct.

Missed picks were Rick Santorum for GOP presidential primary in Ohio, Linda Burhenne for the GOP Lake County commissioner term commencing Jan. 3, John Rogers for Democratic Lake County treasurer, and Samide for GOP Geauga County commissioner.

Instead the winners respectively were Mitt Romney, John Hamercheck, Lorraine M. Fende and Spidalieri.

Fundies

n Campaign kickoff for Emilee Teresczuk, candidate for Lake County Clerk of Courts, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Frank and Pauly’s in Mentor. See Brian Wollet.

n St. Patrick’s Day Celebration for Robert E. Aufuldish, candidate for Lake County Commissioner, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites LaMalfa in Mentor. See Kathie Aufuldish-Freshour, Ernie Koenig.

n St. Patty’s Day Celebration for Nancy McArthur, candidate for Ohio Senate District 32, from 4 to 8 p.m. March 17. See Michael McArthur.

n Fundraiser for state Rep. Ron Young, 6 to 8 p.m. March 19 at Stadium Grill in Mentor. See Jini Gorg.

n Spring Fever Celebration for David Fiebig, candidate for Lake County commissioner, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 21 Willoughby Hills Community Center. See Joyce Hribar Fiebig or Cindy Quinn-Hopkins.

n Fundraiser for Werner Barthol, candidate for Lake County prosecutor, 6 to 8 p.m. March 22 at the Croatian Lodge in Eastlake. See James Falvey or Kelly Barthol.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: newsheraldjah

The primary election Tuesday is just a few days away and there are many candidates for partisan voters to decide.

There will be some tough choices and some voters might not make up their mind until the last minute.

With that said, several of the contested primaries in Lake and Geauga counties and Ohio were tough for me to pick winners and I could be wrong on quite a few, but here are my predictions (not meant to imply endorsement) for some of them.

GOP nomination for president

Candidates: Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum,

Comment: Should be a tight race between Romney and Santorum.

Prediction: Santorum

Lake County commissioner
Democrat

(Term commencing Jan. 2)

Candidates: Ted Andrzejewski, Judy Moran

Comment: Another very close race, could go either way, but Moran ran countywide in 2008, and in 2010 for state central committee.

Prediction: Moran

Lake County commissioner
Republican

(Term commencing Jan. 2)

Candidates: David M. Fiebig, Richard Shreve

Comment: Classic battle between western and eastern Lake County. Winner of Mentor vote should win race.

Prediction: Fiebig

Lake County commissioner
Democrat

(Term commencing Jan. 3)

Candidates: Robert E. Aufuldish, Daniel W. Tharp

Comment: Hard to see Aufuldish lose the primary.

Prediction: Aufuldish

Lake County commissioner
Republican

(Term commencing Jan. 3)

Candidates: Linda Burhenne, John Hamercheck

Comment: Two elected officials from eastern county communities, perhaps Burhenne a little more known countywide.

Prediction: Burhenne

Lake County Treasurer
Democrat

Candidates: Lorraine M. Fende, Christine J. Page, John M. Rogers

Comment: Difficult pick, but I think Rogers wins a squeaker followed by Fende, then Page.

Prediction: Rogers

Lake County Treasurer
Republican

Candidates: Belinda Grassi, Bob Patterson

Comment: A former Concord trustee, Patterson may have higher name ID.

Prediction: Patterson

Geauga County commissioner
Republican

Candidates: Mary Samide, Ralph Spidalieri

Comment: It will be difficult to knock out the incumbent.

Prediction: Samide

Ohio House District 60 Democrat

Candidates: Laura A. DePledge, James Helmink, Daniel P. Troy

Comment: Troy should prevail, but it might be close with Helmink nipping at Troy’s heels.

Prediction: Troy

Ohio House District 76 Republican

Candidates: Matt Lynch, Mary E. O’Toole, Kristina Port, Mark E. Porter

Comment: Tough to predict the order of finish, but Lynch’s name still in mind after a close race in November for Chardon Municipal Court.

Prediction: Lynch

Fundies

n Campaign kickoff for Emilee Teresczuk, candidate for Lake County Clerk of Courts, 5 to 7:30 p.m. March 14 Frank and Pauly’s in Mentor. See Brian Wollet.

n St. Patrick’s Day Celebration for Aufuldish, 5 to 7:30 p.m. March 15 at Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites LaMalfa in Mentor. See Kathie Aufuldish-Freshour, Ernie Koenig.

n St. Patty’s Day Celebration for Nancy McArthur, candidate for Ohio Senate District 32, from 4 to 8 p.m. March 17. See Michael McArthur.

n Fundraiser for state Rep. Ron Young, 6 to 8 p.m. March 19 at Stadium Grill in Mentor. See Jini Gorg.

n Spring Fever Celebration for Fiebig, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 21 Willoughby Hills Community Center. See Joyce Hribar Fiebig, Cindy Quinn-Hopkins.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: newsheraldjah