It’s been a newsworthy week for Matt Lynch as he earned a prominent campaign endorsement in his race to win the Republican Party nomination for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District.

I know you'd like to read more, so I wanted to let readers know that moving forward we've come up with a slight change to where you can find my weekly political column online.

The column now will be posted on The News-Herald's main website www.news-herald.com and clicking on the Opinion tab.

Here's a direct link to this week's column titled "Column: GOP congressional primary race is in full swing":
http://www.news-herald.com/opinion/20140321/column-gop-congressional-primary-race-is-in-full-swing

I'll still continue to post political commentary throughout the week, so keep checking in and share what is posted because this blog will have lots more of the local politics you love.

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

Bainbridge Township Republican Matt Lynch, who is running in an GOP primary May 6 against incumbent U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District, announced that FreedomWorks for America would host a rally March 20 in Bainbridge Township to support Lynch and unseat Joyce.

 Below is a sampling of what was posted online by some people who attended or who were interested in the event:

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

The Lake-Geauga Young Republicans are hosting a Meet the Candidates Nights for the Lake County Republican Party commissioners candidates at 7:30 p.m. March 25 at Corks Wine Bar in downtown Willoughby. 

Jim Shaw from Americans for Prosperity will be giving a brief presentation. The LGYR meetings are free to attend and open to all Republicans.

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

Bainbridge Township Republican Matt Lynch, who is running in an GOP primary against incumbent U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District, announced that FreedomWorks for America will hold a rally March 20 that is geared to unseat Joyce.

The event will be held at 11:30 a.m. at  at Tanglewood Club House, 8745 Tanglewood Trail in Bainbridge Township.

Lynch, who decided not to seek re-election as a state representative, instead filed to run for Congress.

The winner of the May 6  primary between Joyce of Russell Township and Lynch,  faces Democrat Michael Wager of Moreland Hills and Libertarian David Macko of Solon in November.

Lynch said in an emailed announcement for the event that will include the distribution of 1,000 yard signs and other voter education materials.

Other group representatives slated to attend include: Tom Zawistowski of the Portage County TEA Party, Chuck Laughlin of the Lake County Liberty Coalition, Dana Adams of the Summit County TEA Party, Ralph Spampanato of the Stark-Tusc 9/12 Group, The Rev. Ernie Sanders of the Geauga County TEA Party, and Dom Sciria of the Cuyahoga Valley Republicans.

Lynch also said he recently received endorsement from the Ohio Right to Life Society and was given the “Honor Roll” designation reserved for candidates that have demonstrated a “lifelong perseverance and support of the pro-life mission”

Joyce’s campaign manager Kevin Benacci said in an email that voters are smart enough to figure out who the real conservative is in this campaign.

“Matt Lynch is trying to make history by being the first leopard to actually change his spots. Dave Joyce helped get Washington on a budget, and doesn’t just talk about cutting wasteful spending or standing up to President Obama — he’s actually done it,” Benacci said. “On the other hand, Matt Lynch voted against balancing the state budget and against a $2.7 billion tax cut — all while requesting millions of dollars in earmarks.”

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

Gov. John Kasich believes state income tax rates continue to be too high and he proposes lowering the rates by 8.5 percent during the next three years for all income levels.

Kasich unveiled the tax cut as a key part of his mid-biennium review, and it will be up to state lawmakers to pass legislation to carry out his proposals.

The governor also wants to expand the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit and target new increases to the income tax’s personal exemption for low- and middle-income families.

He said that would help ensure that all Ohioans share in our state’s on-going economic recovery.

The campaign for Ed FitzGerald, the Cuyahoga County Executive and likely Democratic Party nominee for governor, responded in an unusual way to make its point that the proposed income tax cut wouldn’t do much to help lower income people.

Campaign spokeswoman Lauren Hitt said pizzas were delivered to newsrooms (including The News-Herald) and TV stations across the state to illustrate their message that the tax proposal mostly benefits the wealthy.

“We are sending it not just because we care, but also to remind you that John Kasich’s income tax cut plan only amounts to a couple of pizzas for middle class families,” Hitt wrote in an email. “However, if you fall within the top one percent, his tax cut could fund a round trip to Rome to eat pizza under the Colosseum. Not to say we don’t have great pizza here in Ohio, but that just doesn’t seem fair.”

FitzGerald also told the Associated Press in a statement that he would “focus on growing our economy from the middle out, rather than top down.”

Kasich campaign spokeswoman Connie Wehrkamp replied to a Twitter post by me regarding the delivered pizza that the governor’s “tax cuts would give a single mom making $30k more than $350 in tax relief per year — 66% cut since 2011.”

The nearly $2.2 billion reduction would be made up through increases in taxes on commercial activity, cigarettes and drilling, according to the Associated Press.

What is proposed for the commercial activity tax is an increase from 0.26 to 0.30 percent on gross receipts and inventory.

That cost of cigarettes would also rise with a 60-cent per pack on cigarettes and other tobacco products and it would include subjecting electronic cigarettes to the tax.

Lake GOP Lincoln Day

U.S. Rep. Dave 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.

Deadlines

Got information to send in for this column? Email, fax or snail mail is preferred. The weekly deadline is each Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Fundies

• Chris Galloway, candidate for Lake County commissioner, hosts St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser, starts at 5 p.m. March 15 at home of Dave and Beverly Vitaz in Concord Township. See Galloway.
• Geauga County Democratic Party hosts pre-St. Patty’s Day Dinner, 6 to 9 p.m. March 15 at party headquarters in Newbury Township. See Janet Carson.
• 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.
• Kenny Yuko, candidate for Ohio Senate District 25, hosts fundraiser, 5 to 7:30 p.m. March 23 at Tizzano’s Party Center in Euclid. See Pamela Yuko.
• 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.
• Michael Wager, candidate for 14th Congressional District, hosts a fundraiser, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 27 at Little Mountain Brewing Company in Mentor. See Ashton Narzisi.
• Ron Graham, candidate for Lake County Common Pleas Court judge, hosts cocktail party fundraiser, 5:30 to 7 p.m. March 27 at LaMalfa Party Center in Mentor. See Gabe Cicconetti or David Eva.
• Mitchell D’Amico, candidate for Lake County Common Pleas Court judge, host fundraiser at 5:30 p.m. April 10 at the Patrician Party Center in Eastlake. See Lynn D’Amico.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

@newsheraldjah

The race for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District has grabbed the national spotlight and it’s looking more like there could be a lot of money spent or at least a lot of activity by the respective campaigns.

Earlier this week, the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added the seven-county congressional district’s Democratic candidate Michael Wager of Moreland Hills to its Red to Blue program as an Emerging Race.

The DCCC’s Red to Blue program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, grassroots, and strategic support.

The national program introduces Democratic supporters to new, competitive candidates in order to help expand the fundraising base for these campaigns.

Emerging Races highlights candidates and districts the DCCC considers to be increasingly competitive.
Wager, who is unopposed in his party’s primary, said he aims to stand up for the middle class and build an economy that works for everyone.

He said the DCCC news shows his campaign has demonstrated it has the support, confidence and momentum to win in November.

For the Republican Party primary on May 6, incumbent U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce of Russell Township faces state Rep. Matt Lynch of Bainbridge Township. Lynch decided not to seek re-election to his seat in Columbus.

David Macko of Solon is unopposed in the Libertarian Party primary.

Joyce’s campaign manager Kevin Benacci responded to the DCCC news by portraying Wager as a liberal who recently moved into the district from Shaker Heights.

Benacci said Joyce has worked to repeal Obamacare, get Washington on a budget, and help secure funding to preserve and protect Lake Erie.

Lynch wasn’t surprised by the DCCC news and said that’s because he along with the DCCC see Joyce as vulnerable. Lynch also believes if Joyce is the GOP nominee rather than himself, then Wager is likely to get elected because conservatives might stay home in November.

Joyce had a substantial fundraising lead over his opponents as of the last report that detailed campaign activity through Dec. 31. Joyce had $1,141,353 cash on hand and Wager had $347,645, according to their reports.

Lynch and Macko haven’t filed reports, but none of the four candidates have had to submit a report this year since the Feb. 5 deadline for partisan candidates to file to run for the position.

RNC social media blitz

The Cuyahoga County GOP has started to promote a social media campaign to encourage people to tell the Republican National Committee to select Cleveland as the site for the 2016 Republican National Committee.

People can visit http://bit.ly/NYCe5m to vote online for Cleveland, follow @CLErnc on Twitter, use #RNC2CLE in tweets, and like the official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/clernc.

Fundies

• 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 in Mentor. See LoConti.
• Chris Galloway, candidate for Lake County commissioner, hosts St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser, starts at 5 p.m. March 15 at home of Dave and Beverly Vitaz in Concord Township. See Galloway.
• Geauga County Democratic Party hosts pre-St. Patty's Day Dinner, 6 to 9 p.m. March 15 at party headquarters in Newbury Township. See Janet Carson.
• 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.
• Kenny Yuko, candidate for Ohio Senate District 25, hosts fundraiser, 5 to 7:30 p.m. March 23 at Tizzano’s Party Center in Euclid. See Pamela Yuko.
• 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.
• Wager hosts a fundraiser, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 27 at Little Mountain Brewing Company in Mentor. See Ashton Narzisi.
• Ron Graham, candidate for Lake County Common Pleas Court judge, hosts cocktail party fundraiser, 5:30 to 7 p.m. March 27 at LaMalfa Party Center in Mentor. See Gabe Cicconetti or David Eva.

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

While in Lake County, Ed FitzGerald, Democratic candidate for Ohio governor, spoke with News-Herald Staff writer Devon Turchan.
Watch videos of the interview on topics of funding public education and college, restoring the local government fund and marriage equality at www.news-herald.com.
While you’re here, leave comments or send a Tweet with your opinions.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has added Ohio 14th Congressional District candidate Michael Wager to its Red to Blue program as an Emerging Race.

The DCCC’s Red to Blue program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, grassroots, and strategic support.

The program introduces Democratic supporters to new, competitive candidates in order to help expand the fundraising base for these campaigns.

Emerging Races highlights candidates and districts that are considered to be increasing competitive.

Wager, a Moreland Hills attorney and a former chairman of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga Port Authority, is unopposed in the May 6 Democratic Party primary.

For the Nov. 4 general election, Wager is slated to face the winner of the GOP primary between incumbent U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce of Russell Township and state Rep. Matt Lynch of Bainbridge Township, and also David Macko of Solon who is unopposed in the Libertarian Party primary.

“I am honored by the outpouring of support we’ve had in Ohio’s 14th Congressional District, as Ohio residents have joined our grassroots campaign to stand up for middle class families and build an economy that works for everyone,” Wager said in a news release. “The early strength our campaign has demonstrated led us to earn a spot as an Emerging Race in the Red to Blue program, and it means we have the support, confidence, and momentum it takes to win in November, and bring commonsense solutions to Washington.”

DCCC Chairman Steve Israel said in a news release that Wager is committed to what Ohio voters care about most: growing the middle class, spurring the economy, and creating more jobs.

“Michael is working hard to put this seat in play so he can fight to lift middle class incomes and will work together to find solutions for Ohio families,” Israel said. “He is a commonsense leader who is steadfastly committed to getting Ohio’s economy moving again and helping local businesses expand and hire new workers.”

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