President Barack Obama will be inaugurated for his second term in office on Monday and among those in attendance will be U.S. Rep. David Joyce.

A presidential inauguration is usually a historic event and this year it also falls on the holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Partisanship can be swept aside for a moment during an inauguration as the air is filled with pomp and circumstance and typically ushers in a spirit that better things are to come for the nation.

For Joyce, R-Russell Township, the event will be his first opportunity to witness a presidential inauguration as a sitting congressman. He plans to bring along his family and has invited someone whom you might not expect.

The new congressman set aside two tickets to attend the inauguration for his opponent Dale Virgil Blanchard, a Solon Democrat who was his party’s nominee Nov. 6 for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District.

Joyce said that when he began his campaign last August the two men agreed to keep things on high ground, and they have stayed in touch since the campaign concluded.

During this session of Congress, Joyce will serve as co-chairman to the U.S. House of Representatives Nursing Caucus.

The caucus meets on a regular basis to discuss issues related to the nursing profession and to help develop ideas and solutions to any challenges facing nursing professionals.

Joyce said it is a natural fit as his wife, Kelly, has been a registered nurse at University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center for 22 years.

Filed petitions

John Trebets filed petitions Tuesday to seek re-election for Mentor Municipal Court judge. There would only be a need for a May 7 primary if two or more candidates from the same party file petitions by the Feb. 6 deadline to run for the position. If there is no primary, the position will only appear on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Painesville City Schools has filed petitions for a May 7 special election to seek a five-year, 6.06-mill renewal levy.

Picked up petitions

Recently taking out petitions with the Lake County Elections Board are Dennis Morley for Eastlake mayor, T.R. Hach for Painesville Township trustee, Nancy Fellows for Willoughby Hills at large Jan. 2, 2014, term, Steven Komarjanski for Willoughby-Eastlake School Board, David Anderson for Willoughby mayor, and Michael Zuren for Eastlake Council at large.

Potential fall primaries?

If three or more people file to run for certain offices in a few Lake County communities there will be nonpartisan primaries on Sept. 17 with the top two vote getters running against each other Nov. 5.

Those races involve Eastlake mayor and three city council at large seats; Mentor-on-the-Lake mayor; Wickliffe mayor, council president and wards 1, 2, 3, 4. Because of potential primaries, the filing deadlines for these races is July 19, rather than Aug. 7 for most other races this year.

Carson named Ohio Democratic County Chairs Association president

Geauga County Democratic Party Chairwoman Janet Carson was recently elected as president of the Ohio Democratic County Chairs Association.

The association’s goal is to work to increase the Democratic vote percentage in all of Ohio’s counties.

The newly elected officers will serve through the 2014 gubernatorial statewide election cycle, when all statewide offices will be on the ballot.

Power 100

Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy along with Lakeland Community College President Morris Beverage; Classic Auto Group owner and president Jim Brown; James Hambrick, chairman, president and CEO of Lubrizol; and Cynthia Moore-Hardy, president and CEO of Lake Health; were recently selected in the January Power 100 issue of Inside Business Magazine as among the region’s most influential leaders.

Fundies

n Troy hosts his annual Mardi Gras Party from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at Holiday Inn Express LaMalfa Centre in Mentor. See Kip Molenaar.

n Concord Township Trustees Paul Malchesky and Christopher Galloway re-election fundraiser is 5 to 7 p.m. March 4 at Harry Buffalo in Painesville Township. See Malchesky, Galloway or Connie Luhta.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

With about six weeks to go until the Nov. 6 election, many voters now start to pay attention.

Unless you live under a rock though, most everyone knows that President Barack Obama seeks re-election and the Republican challenger is Mitt Romney.

The race for U.S. Senate in Ohio pits incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, against Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, a Republican.

But what many people don’t realize is there are other people running for these positions as well. They come from “minor” parties or are nonpartisan. A lot of times when a voter goes to cast his or her ballot they might think ‘Who are these people?’”.

In Ohio, there actually are seven candidates on the ballot for president including Obama and Romney. The other five are Stewart Alexander, Socialist; Richard Duncan, nonpartisan; Virgil Goode, Constitution; Gary Johnson, Libertarian; and Jill Stein, Green Party.

For the U.S. Senate race, Scott A. Rupert is a nonpartisan candidate on the ballot running against Brown and Mandel.

There are four people on the Nov. 6 ballot for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District. You know, the one from which U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette decided to retire.

They are Democrat Dale Virgil Blanchard, Republican David P. Joyce, Libertarian David Macko, and Green Party candidate Elaine R. Mastromatteo.

So why do minor parties or nonpartisan candidates run when it seems so often they don’t win or have a realistic chance?

Minor party or nonpartisan candidates who run in partisan contests usually want their voice to be heard. They also want to offer voters another choice.

Perhaps their platform is a combination of what the major parties offer or maybe what they believe and stand for is far different than the mainstream and they want people to know about it.

However, it can be difficult to get that message out because so often it takes money and/or name recognition to accomplish that.

Whenever free opportunities for publicity are provided they must take advantage of that, such as a newspaper like The News-Herald asking candidates to return an election questionnaire. For this election, each of the four 14th Congressional District candidates did that.

Mastromatteo and Macko also plan to conduct their own “Third Party Candidate” debate at 7 p.m. Thursday at Elm Street School in Painesville.

Events

n John and Terri Hamila of Eastlake host an meet and greet 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday for candidates David Fiebig, John Hamercheck, Bob Patterson, Lori DiNallo and John Eklund.

n The Western Reserve Women’s Republican Club hosts a luncheon at the Hillbrook Club in Russell Township on Friday with Joyce as featured speaker. Contact Mary Ellen Schron.

Candidate forums

n The News-Herald, League of Women Voters, and Lake County Chambers of Commerce will co-host a forum for the four Lake County commissioner candidates at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lake Erie College in Painesville.

n Painesville Area Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual luncheon with candidates and issue representatives Friday at Hellriegel’s Inn in Painesville Township.

n The League of Women Voters of Geauga County will host four candidates nights: 7 p.m. Sept. 26 at West Geauga High School, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Geauga County Senior Center in Claridon Township, 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at Chardon Middle School, and 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at Kenston School in Auburn Township.

Fundies

n Fundraiser for John Patterson, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 99, with U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan as featured speaker, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at Grotto Hall in Ashtabula Township. See Michael Triozzi.

n Heidi and Jamie Callender will host a fundraiser for Ohio House of Representative Republican candidates in Lake and Geauga counties, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at their home in Concord Township. See Heidi.

n Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy hosts his Fall Classic and Clam Bake, 12:30 p.m. shotgun start, 5 p.m. dinner Oct. 1 at Lost Nation Municipal Golf Course in Willoughby. See Troy or Kip Molenaar.

n Werner Barthol, candidate for Lake County prosecutor, hosting Oktoberfest 5:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 5 at Lake Metroparks Painesville Township Park Community Center/Ballroom. See Kelly Barthol or James Falvey.

n Fall clambake for John Rogers, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 60, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Mentor Beach Park in Mentor-on-the-Lake. See Rogers or John Crocker.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Before David Joyce was named as the new Republican Party nominee for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District, there were several others who could have been selected.

However, Joyce, who has served as Geauga County prosecutor for 24 years, worked to earn unanimous support from party leaders to get the nomination. He will be a good candidate and I consider him the favorite against Democrat Dale Virgil Blanchard.

I believe if some others had expressed they wanted the nomination it would have been very interesting when the seven party chairman and seven county central committee secretaries met to cast their votes.

Judges Diane and Tim Grendell and Vincent Culotta were among those initially under consideration when U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette decided to retire.

Ultimately, they each passed on the chance to head to Washington.

One reason I think each declined is because they’d have had to step down from the bench in order to run for Congress, as they would not be allowed to run while in office.

That means they’d have to give up a paycheck for several months without any guarantee of winning, although each likely would have been the frontrunner.

Judges like Culotta and the Grendells normally are on the ballot every six years. But, Tim Grendell has an election this fall to keep his seat on the Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court bench for the next few years, because he’s filling an unexpired term.

Those serving in Congress face re-election every two years, so just as you get settled in, it’s time to think about campaigning.

I also think LaTourette’s chief of staff Dino DiSanto would have gotten strong consideration had he wanted the position, but he decided against it.

Others who were interested in the nomination such as former state Rep. Matt Dolan and state Rep. Ron Young apparently didn’t get enough support from the party chairman and central committee secretaries.

But in two years, when the position is up again, it will be all hands on deck. No matter who wins this November, Joyce or Blanchard, I think there will be primaries on both the GOP and Democratic sides in 2014, and look for some of the same names I’ve mentioned.

Lake County recorder update

With Lake County Recorder Frank A. Suponcic’s resignation effective on Friday, the county Republican Party will need to make an appointment to fill the vacant position.

Suponcic said when he announced his resignation that he recommended Jason Wuliger be appointed as the new recorder. Wuliger is the Republican Party’s nominee for the position Nov. 6 and he faces Democrat Ann Radcliffe.

The Republican Party has a meeting set Wednesday for other purposes but once Suponcic’s resignation is official it is likely the party will add making an appointment to fill the vacancy to the agenda.

Although stranger things have happened, look for Wuliger to get that appointment.

Political event

The Bolton Republican Women’s Club invites all interested ladies to attend the Cupcakes and Candidates Social from 5:30 to 7:30 Sept. 12 at The Confectionary Cupboard in Mentor. Attendees will an opportunity to meet candidates and discuss issues.

Fundies

n Fundraiser for Lori DiNallo, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 60, with guest Ohio House of Representatives Speaker Bill Batchelder, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the home of Tonja Schleicher in Willoughby. See Jan Clair or Sally DiNallo.

n Fundraiser for state Rep. Casey Kozlowski, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 99, 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the home of Tom and Melissa Pope in Saybrook Township. See Kozlowski.

n Fifth Annual Oktoberfest for Judy Moran, candidate for Lake County commissioner, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at Regovich’s in Eastlake. See Kathy Russo or Robert Leach.

n Susan McGuinness, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 61, hosts a fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at Hellriegel’s Inn in Painesville Township. See Lindsay Baruffa.

n Golf Outing and Dinner fundraiser for Nancy McArthur, candidate for Ohio Senate District 32, lunch at noon, tee-off at 1 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. Sept. 22 at Fowlers Mill in Chester Township. See Jim Flaiz or Mike Petruziello.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

There surely has been a lot of attention and partisan discussion regarding Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted’s recent directive to ensure in-person absentee voting is uniform for each of the state’s 88 counties.

Two Democratic Montgomery County Elections Board members were recently suspended by Husted because they failed to vote to implement his directive.

Critics say part of what Husted has done is aimed to suppress voting by making it tougher for some people to cast a ballot because there no longer will be in-person absentee voting on weekends or the Monday before the Nov. 6 election.

Some point to voting on the weekend and Monday before the election as a key in 2008 for President Barack Obama to win Ohio, and they say Husted, a Republican, wants to eliminate that.

Husted’s directive did extend weekday hours, when voters can cast a absentee ballot in-person at a county elections board.

He dismisses talk of voter suppression and says voting starts 35 days before the election and there are more than 750 hours to vote by mail and 230 hours to vote in person, plus 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

For the first time, the state of Ohio also will mail out absentee ballot applications to all registered voters for the Nov. 6 election.

That means if people are too busy working, or otherwise, or just don’t want to vote in person, then they can complete the application and mail it back or drop it off to their county election board, which will then mail back or give an absentee ballot to the voter to complete.

Once finished, the voter can then mail back or drop off a ballot to their election board prior to election day.

With all the enthusiasm in 2008 across Ohio regarding the presidential election one would think there was a large increase in voting turnout percentage compared to similar elections.

Plus, the Ohio General Assembly also approved no-fault absentee voting in 2005 across the state, which meant voters in 2008 no longer needed to provide a reason to cast an absentee ballot.

It turns out that in Ohio the voter turnout percentage for the 2008 presidential election was 2.14 percent lower than it was in 2004 before no-fault absentee voting was allowed. In 2008, the statewide percentage was 69.63, down from 71.77 percent in 2004.

The 2008 presidential election also ranked sixth in voter turnout percentage out of the eight presidential elections in Ohio since 1980.

Those elections generated turnout percentages of 63.73 percent (2000), 67.83 (1996), 77.15 (1992), 71.79 (1988), 73.65 (1984), and 73.87 (1980).

Hard numbers show in November 2008 that there were 5,773,387 out of 8,291,239 registered voters in Ohio who cast a ballot; 5,722,443 of 7,972,826 registered voters did in November 2004.

The data also shows the same pattern held true in Lake, Geauga and Cuyahoga counties.

In 2008, the voter turnout in Lake County was 122,793, or 76.44 percent, down slightly from 122,862, or 76.69 percent, in 2004. In Geauga County, the voter turnout was 51,674, or 77.45 percent, in 2008 compared to 51,059, or 78.00 percent, in 2004.

In Cuyahoga County, voter turnout was 672,750, or 61 percent, in 2008, down from 687,260, or 68 percent, in 2004.

Do claims of potential voter suppression really have merit? I’m not sure they really do, at least in this part of the state.

Candidate forums

n The Lake County TEA Party announced it will conduct a candidates forum for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District with Republican nominee David Joyce and Democratic nominee Dale Blanchard at 7 p.m. Sept. 11 at Harvey High School in Painesville.

Fundies

n Fourth annual Labor Day Picnic for Wickliffe Mayor Bill Margalis, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at Wickliffe Italian American Club Picnic Pavalion. See Sue Margalis.

n Fundraiser for state Rep. Casey Kozlowski, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 99, 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at the home of Tom and Melissa Pope in Saybrook Township. See Kozlowski.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Who would have thought last December when U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette filed to run for re-election that he would step down as his party’s nominee?

LaTourette’s candidacy withdrawal still surprises many people, including me, as he kept his decision close to the vest until a day or so before his news conference. There wasn’t even a hint of speculation that the congressman wouldn’t seek re-election.

As of this column’s writing, who would replace LaTourette wasn’t known, as Republican leaders were scheduled to have met Friday. Names like former state Rep. Matt Dolan and Geauga County Prosecutor Dave Joyce were considered frontrunners.

But more than a few potential candidates had to be prepared for a potentially life-changing decision. Some thought long and hard about a run for Congress, but decided not to throw their hat into the ring.

Eventually around 20 people expressed an interest in the position that if selected would create a flurry of activity as the Nov. 6 election is only 84 days away.

Running for Congress isn’t like running for a county, municipal or township position. There are seven counties in the 14th Congressional District and with so little time, it makes it tougher for candidates to get their message out to voters.

This race, however, should now attract previously unexpected media coverage of the online, print and broadcast variety so that will help the candidates.

The Republican Party’s nominee likely will be considered the favorite in November, but it’s not necessarily a slam-dunk.

Solon Democrat Dale Virgil Blanchard was unopposed as his party’s nominee and has run for this seat every two years since 2000. He won the party’s nomination in 2000, 2002, and 2012.

During those campaigns, Blanchard has never raised or spent much, if any, money. Yet, he always attended candidate events, filled out questionnaires and did whatever he could to be a responsible candidate. Because of this and other previous appearances on the ballot, some voters might remember his name this November.

When I saw Blanchard in July he said he continued to run for Congress each time because he wanted to give voters a choice especially if there was a scenario when LaTourette wasn’t on the ballot.

Now Blanchard has his best opportunity so far and he’s energized and ready to make a run. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has tried to talk Blanchard into stepping down, but as of this writing he hadn’t.

I don’t blame him.

Why should he?

Does he really owe it to the Democratic Party, which after 12 years provided little or no financial support? I’ll be curious to see if this time he raises and spends money on this campaign.

Blanchard won’t have an easy time winning against the Republican Party’s candidate, but this might be his best shot yet. Could he win or make it close?

Deadlines and blessings

The weekly deadline for people who wish to submit information to appear in this column is each Wednesday at 5 p.m. Email, fax or mail is preferred.

Candidates who would like to submit written lists of endorsements for the Nov. 6 election may do so and they will be published online only until Nov. 5 at NorthernOhioLocalPolitics.Blogspot.com. Please note, these are not endorsements by The News-Herald.

Fundies

n Summer Cookout Fundraiser for Ann Radcliffe, candidate for Lake County Recorder, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 21 at Deekers Sidetracks in Mentor. See Terri Conley.

n Seventh annual steak roast for Lorraine Fende, candidate for Lake County Treasurer, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at Wickliffe Italian American Club. See Diane Fox or Nick Cindric.

n Fourth annual Labor Day Picnic for Wickliffe Mayor Bill Margalis, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 31 at Wickliffe Italian American Club Picnic Pavalion. See Sue Margalis.

n Fundraiser for state Rep. Casey Kozlowski, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 99, 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at the home of Tom and Melissa Pope in Saybrook Township. See Kozlowski.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Lake County GOP Chairman Dale Fellows said the time of the meeting to select new nominee to replace Rep. Steve LaTourette has been changed to 2 p.m. Friday.

The meeting will be held at Willoughby Hills Community Center and will involve the seven GOP county chairman and county central committee secretaries within the 14th Congressional District.

Ohio’s 14th Congressional District consists of Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula counties, plus parts of Cuyahoga, Summit, Portage and Trumbull counties.

Whoever is nominated will face Solon Democrat Dale Virgil Blanchard; Elaine R. Mastromatteo, a Green Party candidate; and David Macko, a Libertarian candidate.

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