I think it would be great for Northeast Ohio if Cleveland is selected to host the 2016 Republican National Convention.

It would be a chance for the city to shine in the national spotlight and to show off so many of the great things Cleveland has to offer.

Seven other cities also are finalists: Cincinnati, Columbus, Denver, Dallas, Kansas City, Las Vegas and Phoenix.

It would be equally magnificent if Cleveland instead was part of the mix for the 2016 Democratic National Convention. However, that’s not the case.

Aside from the politics, a convention would bring in millions of dollars in tourism to not only the city, but also to the region.

Visitors would need places to stay, eat, and spend some cash to enjoy a little bit of entertainment during their down time.

Along with a new convention center, there are several amenities like Lake Erie, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Great Lakes Science Center, Horseshoe Cleveland casino and Progressive Field all right there downtown.

Branch out a little farther and you’ll find places such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland Natural History Museum, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and The Rainforest, and West Side Market.

Inevitably visitors will need places to stay outside of Cleveland and they will likely go to places outside the city such as Lake and Geauga counties, where there also is much for a tourist to see and do.

Let’s also not forget the weather in Northeast Ohio is among the best in the country in June when you compare the average temperatures that feature a daily high temperate near 80 degrees.

Politically speaking, wouldn’t it be fun to have the big GOP players in town in what likely shapes up to be a presidential election with Ohio again a battleground state that could determine who wins the White House?

Democrats also would be energized as they would use the event to help contrast the differences between the two major parties and I would expect lots of planned activities as part of that effort.

How interesting would it be for Ohio gubernatorial front runners John Kasich or Ed FitzGerald?

Think about this, if the Republican Kasich is re-elected, wouldn’t be fascinating if he put his hat into the ring as a presidential candidate and the convention was held in his home state? Even if he didn’t run for president or figure to be nominated for the position, he likely would be an important player at the convention.

If the Democrat FitzGerald is elected governor, the convention would take place in his back yard where he served as a Lakewood mayor and as Cuyahoga County’s first county executive. It would give him the opportunity to showcase how much different the city and region truly is from some nationally negative perspectives that I don’t need to go into here.

For me, and other people who have never attended a convention, this would be a chance to see what it is all about. It would be great to cover as a journalist along with my Digital First Media colleagues and there would be many different angles for us to pursue.

Lynch staying in race

State Rep. Matt Lynch told me late last week that he is has no plans to drop out of the GOP primary against U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce in Ohio’s 14th Congressional District. Lynch said during an interview “I’m in it to win it” and he has no intentions of doing anything other than to win.

Visit my previous blog post http://bit.ly/1dIWA9e to read more.

Lake GOP Lincoln Day

Joyce is slated to be the keynote speaker for the Lake County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner and Silent Auction on March 19 at the American Croatian Lodge in Eastlake.

Fundies

• Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy hosts Mardi Gras Party on Fat Tuesday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 4 at LaMalfa Party Center. See Kip Molenaar.
• Dennis LoConti, candidate for Lake County Common Pleas Court judge, hosts a fundraiser from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 11 at LaMalfa Party Center. See LoConti.
• Chris Galloway, candidate for Lake County commissioner, hosts St. Patick’s Day fundraiser, starts at 5 p.m. March 15 at home of Dave and Beverly Vitaz in Concord Township. See Galloway.
• Lake County Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish hosts St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, 5 to 7:30 p.m. March 20 at LaMalfa Party Center. See Kathie Aufuldish-Freshour or Ernie Koenig.
• Willoughby Hills Councilman David M. Fiebig hosts annual Spring Fever fundraiser, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 24 at Willoughby Hills Community Center. See Joyce Hribar Fiebig or John Plecnik.

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

It will be interesting to see what policy goals Gov. John Kasich unveils Feb. 24 during his annual State of the State speech in Medina.

But another key thing I’ll be watching to see is how the Republican governor portrays himself personally especially because he is up for re-election in November and the event will provide an early spotlight for him before Ohio voters.

After being elected in November 2010, Kasich appeared to lean more toward conservative ideology at first, but as his term evolved he’s taken some moderate positions, such as his push for Medicaid expansion in Ohio.

Kasich had work to do on his image and political standing after a statewide referendum repealed Senate Bill 5 in November 2011 that had aimed to strip many collective bargaining rights from workers.

Some say an apparent move toward the center that has angered some conservatives is part of an effort by the governor to attract more independent or moderate voters and even may be part of a strategy to perhaps run for president in 2016.

A Quinnipiac University poll released Feb. 19 that can be viewed online at http://bit.ly/1p1ziUh showed a majority think Kasich is doing a good job and he enjoys a 51-36 percent job approval rating, virtually unchanged in the last 12 months.

Surveyed were 1,370 registered voters from Feb. 12-17, with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. Interviewers called land lines and cell phones.

The poll also showed the gap has slightly narrowed between Kasich and his main challenger Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, a Democrat.

It revealed Kasich has a slim 43-38 percent lead over FitzGerald, closing a gap from a Nov. 26 poll by the university that showed Kasich with a 44-37 lead.

Of course, this is just one poll and still very early in the campaign so perhaps voters aren’t yet fully paying attention, but there are some other interesting points the survey highlights.

For example, it showed Kasich leads 82-6 percent among Republicans and 43-31 percent among independent voters, while Democrats go to FitzGerald 74-11 percent. Men back the Republican 49-33 percent while women back the Democrat 42-37 percent.

Ohio voters say 61-31 percent that Kasich is a strong leader and say 52-35 percent that he is honest and trustworthy, but are divided on whether he cares about their needs and problems, as 43 percent say he cares and 47 percent say he doesn’t care.

The governor gets a 42-30 percent favorability rating and voters say 46-42 percent he deserves to be re-elected.

For FitzGerald, the poll revealed that 70 percent didn’t know enough about him now to form an opinion.
But the encouraging news for FitzGerald is he still has plenty of time to make his case and he’s not likely that far behind.

Lake County Dems endorsements

Officially endorsed Feb. 15 by the Lake County Democratic Party were Thaddeus Jackson, Ed Jerse and Kenny Yuko for Ohio Senate District 25; John Rogers for Ohio House District 60; Rick Walker for Ohio House District 61; Daniel P. Troy for commissioner; Timothy P. Cannon and Cynthia Westcott Rice for 11th District Court of Appeals; Colleen A. Falkowski for Domestic Relations Court judge; Ron Graham and Dennis N. LoConti for Common Pleas Court judge; Lisa Klammer for Probate Court judge; and Mark Schneider for state central committee 18th Senate District.

Geauga GOP Lincoln Day

State Auditor Dave Yost will be the featured speaker March 29 for the Geauga County Republican Party Lincoln Day event at the E.O.U.V. in Russell Township. Further details are forthcoming.

Fundies

• Troy hosts Mardi Gras Party on Fat Tuesday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 4 at LaMalfa Party Center. See Kip Molenaar.
• Lake County Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish hosts St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, 5 to 7:30 p.m. March 20 at LaMalfa Party Center. See Kathie Aufuldish-Freshour or Ernie Koenig.

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

State Rep. Matt Lynch said Friday he has no plans to drop out of a Republican primary against incumbent U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District.

Lynch, R-Bainbridge Township, filed to run against Joyce, R-Russell Township, rather than seek re-election to his seat in the Ohio House of Representatives District 76.

“I’m in it to win it,” Lynch said. “I have no plans or intentions of doing anything other than to win.”

Sarah LaTourette, a Bainbridge Township Republican who is the daughter of former U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette, filed to run for the Ohio House 76th District seat.

After Sarah LaTourette filed to run for the Ohio House seat, Lynch would have a primary had he filed for re-election.

“My only reluctance to run for Congress was (Joyce) was a Republican incumbent,” Lynch said. "Once LaTourette showed me it was OK to challenge a Republican, I went ahead."

He said that he has begun to receive some financial support for his congressional campaign.

“I’m collecting support from liberty groups from all across Ohio,” Lynch said.

He declined to name some of those supporters specifically saying he would rather let them speak for themselves.

Lynch said the weekend after the Feb. 5 deadline to file to run in a partisan primary he received calls from Washington and was on a plane to D.C. on March 10.

“It’s really a national campaign because of the tension that has developed between the conservative wing and what some would call the establishment part of the party,” he said.

Lynch said he hasn’t spoken personally with Joyce since filing to run in the primary, but has exchanged voicemails with the congressman and anticipates seeing him throughout the campaign.

“I have no personal animosity with David,” Lynch said. “I’ve known him for over 25 years.”

The winner of the May 6 Republican primary moves on to face Democrat Michael Wager of Moreland Hills and Solon Libertarian David Macko in the Nov. 4 election.

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

State Rep. Matt Lynch decided not to seek re-election to his seat in the Ohio House of Representatives and instead filed to run for Congress.

However, there are some rumblings that Lynch, of Bainbridge Township, might not stay in the race.

What if he decided to withdraw from the Republican primary to represent Ohio’s 14th Congressional District in Washington and instead run as an independent candidate for re-election to his seat in the Ohio House of Representatives in Columbus representing District 76?

If that was the case, Lynch would have until May 5 to file as an independent candidate, as the deadline to file is one day before the May 6 primary. If he opts for the independent run, he won’t be eligible to vote in the Republican Party primary, where candidates declare their political party.

As it stands now, Lynch faces incumbent U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Russell Township, in the Republican Party congressional primary. Democrat Michael Wager of Moreland Hills is unopposed in the Democratic primary, and Libertarian David Macko of Solon is unopposed in the Libertarian primary.

If Lynch stays in the congressional race and were to lose the primary against Joyce, he would have some other options.

Perhaps he would choose to run for the Geauga County Republican Party chairmanship when the party has its organizational meeting after the primary results are certified by the county Elections Board. Chairman Ed Ryder recently announced he won’t seek re-election to the post.

There are others who also may have an interest in what develops in the 14th Congressional District race.

So far, the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee hasn’t put a lot of resources into this race to back Wager, I’m told by a Washington D.C.-based source who is familiar with the dynamics of the congressional district.

But that could change, especially if the primary between Joyce and Lynch becomes close. Many currently consider Joyce the favorite to win the primary.

The DCCC would be inclined to get more involved if Joyce leans more to the conservative side during the primary campaign. That would give Democrats more ammunition for the general election.

If Lynch wins the primary, I’m told it’s almost a guarantee the DCCC would jump in, as it would be an open-seat race.

Lake County Dems

The Lake County Democratic Party meets today at Bricklayer’s Hall in Mentor and is expected to decide on endorsements for the upcoming election. Perhaps the most interesting is the endorsement for Ohio Senate District 25. Democratic primary candidates are Thaddeus J. Jackson, and former state Reps. Ed Jerse and Kenny Yuko. How about a dual endorsement between Jerse and Yuko?

Events

Geauga County Democratic Women’s Caucus hosts a soup challenge starting at 3 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Geauga County Democratic Party headquarters in Newbury Township.

The Geauga County Republican Women host an annual Spaghetti Dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at Munson Town Hall.

Candidates forum

The Lake County Liberty Coalition hosts a candidate forum at 7 p.m. March 4 at Harvey High School in Painesville. Another forum is planned for March 18, but details aren’t yet available.

Fundies

• Dick Shreve, candidate for Lake County commissioner, hosts a fundraiser, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Willoughby Brewing Company. See Shreve.
• Lisa Klammer, candidate for Lake County Probate Court judge, hosts a fundraiser, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at LaMalfa Party Center in Mentor. See Randy Klammer.
• Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy hosts Mardi Gras Party on Fat Tuesday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 4 at LaMalfa Party Center. See Kip Molenaar.

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

The filing deadline on Wednesday saw a flurry of activity as candidates jockeyed to see who would run for different offices in Lake and Geauga counties.

Eyes focused on Sarah LaTourette to see if she would file to run for Ohio House of Representatives District 76.

The Bainbridge Township Republican, who is the daughter of former U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette, filed with the Geauga County Elections Board in Chardon less than two hours before the 4 p.m. deadline. It prompted a small chain reaction. Apparently, no Republicans wanted to challenge her.

With about 20 minutes to go before the deadline, state Rep. Matt Lynch, also a Bainbridge Township Republican, filed with the Lake County Elections Board in Painesville to run for Congress rather than run for re-election and trigger a primary against Sarah LaTourette.

Lynch’s decision then forced a Republican primary against incumbent U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Russell Township.

Rumors were that Walter “Skip” Claypool was going to run for the state representative seat if Sarah LaTourette didn’t run.

After she filed, Claypool filed to run for the Geauga County commissioner Jan. 1 term to trigger a GOP primary against incumbent Commissioner Mary Samide.

You’ll remember back in 2012 when Geauga County Commissioner Bill Young retired and the county GOP appointed Claypool as commissioner until the November election.

At that same time, the party appointed Samide, rather than Claypool, to be the party’s nominee for that election to fill the unexpired term, which she won.

It didn’t take long for the Joyce vs. Lynch Republican congressional primary race to get started as verbal fireworks quickly emerged.

Joyce’s campaign manager Kevin Benacci issued a statement Wednesday after the filing deadline bringing up Lynch’s late property tax payment in 2012 and attacked him for voting against the state budget last year.

Lynch posted a press release on his website Thursday calling Joyce a “liberal Republican” and “selling out conservatives more than any other Republican congressman in Ohio.”

Probably the person most pleased by this development would be Moreland Hills Democrat Michael Wager, who is unopposed in a Democratic primary for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District.

Perhaps with a GOP primary, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee takes a greater interest in the November race?

Sad note

I was heartbroken to learn that Deborah Setliff died this week after a long illness.

Setliff was the press secretary to former congressman LaTourette and previously worked stints as a reporter and columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and as a reporter for The News-Herald.

I didn’t work with her during her newspaper career, but I spent a lot of time talking with her on my beat when she worked for the congressman.

Setliff had a quick wit about her and sometimes her comments would just make me laugh out loud, but she was serious about work.

If ever there was a mistake, you could be assured that she would be on the phone that morning to let you know.

I’m not alone when I say she definitely will be missed.

Arrangements are being handled by the Stroud-Lawrence Funeral Home, and her obituary can be found here: http://bit.ly/1eFxVGi.

Event

Geauga County Democratic Party hosts Spaghetti Dinner Served with Hot Top doors open at 5:30 Feb. 20 at party headquarters in Newbury Township. Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica will discuss the Geauga County Opiate Task Force and what families need to know about the influx of heroin and opiates.

Fundies

• Fundraiser for Wager hosted by former Gov. Ted Strickland, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Fire Food and Drink in Shaker Heights. See Ashton Narzisi.
• Dick Shreve, candidate for Lake County commissioner, hosts a fundraiser 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Willoughby Brewing Company. See Shreve.
• Lisa Klammer, candidate for Lake County Probate Court judge, hosts a fundraiser, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at LaMalfa Party Center in Mentor. See Randy Klammer.
• Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy hosts Mardi Gras Party on Fat Tuesday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 4 at LaMalfa Party Center. See Kip Molenaar.

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