Brian C. Johnston, candidate for Geauga County commissioners, announced he’s received endorsements by Lake and Geauga Area Association of Realtors and Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association.

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

Geauga County Commissioner Blake Rear announced he's received endorsements by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, The Chagrin Valley Times and Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz.

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

President Barack Obama once again made an appearance in Cleveland, stopping Thursday at steelmaker ArcelorMittal for what was intended to be a speech about the economy.

However, the president earlier in the day had made a statement from Washington about his plan to allow health care insurers to extend current plans that would otherwise be canceled next year and to allow people whose plans have been canceled to re-enroll in the same kind of plan.

So when he came to the friendly confines of Cleveland, where he has traditionally enjoyed tremendous support in the past, Obama spent a significant part of his speech focusing on the new health care law.

No surprise, but it was interesting to see the president gave praise to Gov. John Kasich, a Republican who pushed for Ohio to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid coverage to provide an estimated 275,000 people health care coverage.

Obama said that it was the right thing for the governor to do and that sometimes leaders need to put politics aside and do what is best for the people.

Conservative Republicans have criticized the effort to expand Medicaid in Ohio and a lawsuit is pending that challenges the authority of the Ohio Controlling Board, which voted earlier to accept the federal funding.

Plus, the Ohio Republican Party has begun to ramp up efforts to make health care a central focus during the 2014 election in Ohio.

State GOP leaders will look to hold Ohio Democrats responsible for the new health care law and urge people who believe they have been harmed by the changes to share their story by visiting www.ohiogop.org/obamacare.

What I think will be interesting is how Republicans plan to push out that message while at the same time work to get Kasich elected.

It may be a delicate situation, but how the economy goes next year in Ohio will likely be an important issue and critical to Kasich as he seeks a second term.

The governor has said that he opposes Obamacare in principal, but he also felt expanding Medicaid in Ohio was the best decision for the state.

The Ohio Democratic Party this week touted a recent poll they sponsored that suggests the race for governor next year is in a dead heat between Kasich and Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, a Democrat.

It suggests that if the election were held now, Kasich and FitzGerald would each receive about 41 percent, and Libertarian Charlie Earl would receive 6 percent.

About 13 percent of those who responded said they weren’t sure for whom they’d vote.

The margin of error in the poll was plus or minus 4 percent, but again keep in mind it was sponsored by the state Democratic Party.

A lot will happen before next year’s election that will affect the governor’s race, but something I will find interesting is just exactly how the national focus on health care reform will play a role.

Would a successful implementation of Obamacare hurt or help Kasich?

Acting Geauga commissioner

A week ago, Geauga County Republicans appointed Blake Rear to serve as a new county commissioner to replace Tracy Jemison, who retired effective Oct. 31.

Rear, who is the county GOP vice president and former Chardon School Board member, learned Thursday morning that his fellow commissioners wanted to swear him in as acting county commissioner at their meeting.

At that time, the paperwork hadn’t been completely processed by the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office to official make Rear a commissioner.

So by swearing him in as an acting commissioner, the Board of Commissioners would have each of the three seats filled.

The idea was that if something should happen to either Commissioners Mary Samide or Ralph Spidalieri, the county would be able to continue have a quorum at meetings with at least two commissioners in office.

It wasn’t an unprecedented move, as Geauga County commissioners also did the same last year when Spidalieri was sworn-in as an acting commissioner prior to beginning his term in January.

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

I’ve decided to vent a little frustration that began to build after one of my colleagues shared a quick note about the voter turnout in Lake County.

Matt Skrajner tweeted Tuesday night showed the election turnout was amazingly low when compared to the past six November elections.

The voter turnout of registered voters for Tuesday’s election was a meager 30.56 percent, according to final unofficial results from the Lake County Elections Board. The official count will be completed later this month when a few hundred outstanding valid ballots are later added to the count.

But even with a slight bump in percentage, the final official turnout will lag in comparison to the five previous November elections in the county.

There was a turnout of 77.6 percent for the 2012 presidential election, 55.91 percent in November 2011, 51.23 percent in 2010, 46.06 percent in 2009 — which is a similar election to this past Tuesday regarding what candidate races were on the ballot — and 76.44 percent for the 2008 presidential election.

Granted, the recent election didn't feature an abundance of high-profile candidates races as perhaps in the past and it wasn't a presidential election when turnout is much higher. But just a tad more than 3 out of 10 registered voters bothering to cast a ballot in Lake County in November is not good.

These are the races and issues that affect people’s lives and pocketbooks closest to home, so why not take a few minutes to have a say? If not, don’t complain about your community officials’ job performance or about the rate of local taxes paid.

The city of Eastlake saw voter turnout a little higher with a race for mayor among those piquing interest.

The turnout in the 12 precincts saw the percentage of registered voters casting ballots range from as low as 29.71 percent in Precinct 1A to as high as 55.69 percent in Precinct 1C, according to final unofficial results. For the entire city, the voter turnout was 42.31 percent.

To save a little space, final official results from county elections board will be used to attribute voter turnout for the remainder of this column.

The winner in Lake County for the precinct with the highest voter turnout was North Perry Village Precinct AA with 57.39 percent. Voters there selected candidates for Village Council, Perry Township trustee, Perry School Board and Lake County Educational Service Center Board.

Painesville Precinct 4A had the lowest voter turnout with only 13.35 percent casting ballots despite three contested city council at large races, plus races for school board and Educational Service Center.

According to other county elections boards in Northeast Ohio, turnout wasn’t much better.
In Geauga County, it was 35.56 percent —  among the region’s highest. In Cuyahoga County, it was 28.99 percent and Lorain County had 28.65 percent.

A look some other counties shows turnout of 34.27 percent in Ashtabula County; 29.70 percent in Medina County; 28.85 in Portage County; 26.85 percent in Summit County; and 24.50 in Trumbull County.

Statewide voter turnout was not yet available by the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, which will post election results when county election boards certify their results. My hunch is we’ll see similar figures across the state.

Prediction recap

In last Saturday’s column I made predictions for four candidates races and three issues.

Of those picks, I managed to get three of four candidates races correct by predicting winners Dennis Morley for Eastlake mayor winner, David Eva for Mentor-on-the-Lake mayor, and Chuck Hillier and Josh Pennock out of nine candidates to win two Painesville Township trustee seats.

My upset pick of Joe Zawatski for Willoughby Hills Council at large 2-year term was incorrect as John Plecnik emerged victorious.

I went two for three with the issues selected by correctly picking passage for Laketran’s continuous 0.25 percent sales tax renewal and the Lake County Children Services 5-year, 0.7-mill renewal.

However, I failed miserably with my pick that the Willoughby-Eastlake Schools 5-year, renewal levy would not pass.

Who can it be now?

Geauga County Republicans meet today to select a new county commissioner to replace Tracy Jemison who retired effective Oct. 31. Early favorites I've heard mentioned are Geauga County GOP Vice Chairman Blake Rear, former appointed Commissioner Walter “Skip” Claypool and Chardon Councilwoman Nancy McArthur. It should be an interesting process.

How many ballots will it take to come to a decision?

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

Geauga County Commissioner Tracy Jemison surprised a lot of people this week when he announced that he would retire from the position effective Oct. 31.

Jemison has served as a county commissioner for the past five years and before that he served as the county auditor for 13 years.

He also served for eight years in the 1970s as a Middlefield Village councilman and from 1988 to 1991 as a Berkshire School Board member.

So the county will lose a lot of the governmental expertise when Jemison takes his leave.

It also means there will be another political appointment to be made by the Geauga County Republican Party — something we’ve seen a lot of during the past few years.

Last year, the county GOP appointed Jim Flaiz as prosecutor after Dave Joyce left the post to run for Congress after former U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette decided at the end of July that he would retire and dropped out as the Republican candidate.

Dr. Robert S. Coleman was also appointed to be the party’s candidate for coroner last November after Dr. John Urbancic withdrew from the race.

When former Commissioner Bill Young retired last summer, Republicans appointed Walter “Skip” Claypool to serve until the next election — held in November 2012. The party appointed Commissioner Mary Samide to be that candidate, rather than Claypool, after she was defeated in a GOP primary for her own re-election. She then defeated Democrat Jim Dvorak.

The county GOP also was part of the process after former Probate/Juvenile Court Judge Charles “Chip” Henry died. Gov. John Kasich eventually selected Tim Grendell as the new judge.

Whoever is appointed as the new commissioner will have to run in a GOP primary in May if they want to finish the unexpired term, which ends Jan. 1, 2017.

Just a few of the names I’ve heard who might express interest are Chardon Mayor Phil King, South Russell Village Councilman Mark Porter, Claypool, and perhaps someone within the party leadership like Blake Rear.

Geauga County Democrats most likely will recruit someone to run in the May primary, as well. Perhaps Dvorak will give it another try?

Along with Jemison’s retirement prompting an election next year to finish his unexpired term, Samide’s term expires Dec. 31, 2014.

So that means there will be two commissioner seats up for grabs next year. This is going to be interesting.

Candidate endorsements

Candidates in Lake, Geauga and eastern Cuyahoga counties who appear on the Nov. 5 ballot may send in listings of endorsements they receive for the upcoming election via email, fax or standard mail. They will appear online periodically on The News-Herald’s Northern Ohio Politics blog.

Fundies

n Eric Condon, candidate for Euclid Council Ward 8, hosts Cleveland vs. Buffalo Tailgate Party, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Oct. 3 at Paradise Island Saloon in Euclid. See Condon.

n State Rep. Matt Lynch hosts a clambake, 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 4 at Centerville Mills Park in Bainbridge Township. See Lynch or Kerri Quay.

n Dennis Morley, candidate for Eastlake mayor, hosts Steak Roast Fundraiser, 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 6 at Boracs Landing in Eastlake. See Donna Vaughn or Dale Bradley.

n Thomas E. Ray, candidate for Chardon Council, hosts a fundraiser 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at Morgan's Smokehouse on the Square in Chardon. See Ray.

n State Rep. John Rogers hosts fall clambake, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at Mentor Beach Park in Mentor-on-the-Lake. See Rogers or Kip Molenaar.

n Matt Jaworski, candidate for Wickliffe Council at large, hosts a bowling fundraiser, noon to 3 p.m. Oct. 12 at Wickliffe Lanes. See Jaworski or Matt Gallik.

n Lake County Commissioner Judy Moran hosts Oktoberfest 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 17 at American Legion Hall in Willowick. See Paul Miller or Kevin Malecek.

n Lake County Recorder Ann M. Radcliffe hosts spaghetti dinner fundraiser 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Park Road Grill in Painesville Township. See Terri Conley.

To leave a comment, go to NorthernOhioLocalPolitics.blogspot.com.

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

It took nine rounds and three hours of voting, but Geauga County Republicans finally selected Commissioner Mary Samide to appear on the Nov. 6 ballot as the party’s candidate to fill former Commissioner Bill Young’s term.

Samide eventually got the nod Tuesday night by one vote against Skip Claypool.

That came after candidates Jim Flaiz, Jim McConnell and Mark Porter eventually dropped out. Even then, some members won’t budge on their votes, much to the dismay of party leaders.

No candidate could get 25 votes by secret ballot even when it came down to just Claypool and Samide, as some members refused to vote for either.

Chairman Ed Ryder finally called for a roll call vote that gave Samide the victory.

Claypool didn’t come away empty-handed, though, as he was later that night appointed to serve as commissioner until after the election because Young’s retirement was effective June 30 and the position was vacant.

Meanwhile, Geauga County Democrats on Monday night nominated Jim Dvorak as their candidate for the race to fill the term that expires Dec. 31, 2014. So it will be Dvorak vs. Samide in that race for the unexpired term.

The vote that led to Samide’s Nov. 6 nomination brought to a head a division within the Geauga County GOP.

Some within the party wanted to see a change in the county commissioners’ office and they did not want to give Samide another opportunity. After all, Samide who sought re-election to a four-year term, was defeated in the March 6 GOP primary by Ralph Spidalieri.

I’m wondering how this all might translate in November. Geauga County Democrats likely view recent developments as an enhanced opportunity to capture a seat (or two?) on the Board of Commissioners.

Will Samide now get support from those who wanted her out of office? Perhaps some registered Republicans will choose not to cast a ballot in that race or even, gasp, vote for a Democrat?

The timing of Young’s retirement also means all three commissioner seats will be on the Nov. 6 ballot as Commissioner Tracy Jemison faces Democrat Fred Welty; Spidalieri faces Democrat Christopher John Lacny.

Are the winds of change blowing in Geauga County?

Candidate forum

The Lake County TEA Party will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Harvey High School Auditorium in Painesville to conduct a forum for Ohio Senate District 18 and Lake County recorder candidates.

Meet-n-greets

Susan McGuinness, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 61, hosts a summer BBQ at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Perry Township Park.

State Rep. Casey Kozlowski, R-Pierpont Township, who represents the Ohio House of Representatives 99th District that next year will include portions of Geauga County, will meet with residents from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. July 26 at the Chardon Library.

Fundies

n Geauga County Sheriff Daniel McClelland hosts 2012 Rib Dinner, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Troy Community House in Troy Township. See Craig Richter.

n Fundraiser for Nancy McArthur, candidate for Ohio Senate District 32, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Southington Hunt Club, 10321 Silica Sand Rd., Garrettsville. See Jeannine Soltis.

n State Rep. Ron Young hosts a fundraiser with special guest Ohio House of Representatives Speaker Bill Batchelder from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 23 at Young’s home in Leroy Township. See Young.

n Lake County Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish hosts ninth annual Ferrante Winery Celebration, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 1 at Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Harpersfield Township. See Ernie Koenig or Kathie Aufuldish-Freshour.

n Wine tasting event honoring Judge Mary Jane Trapp, 11th District Court of Appeals Court, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1 at St. Joseph Vineyard, Madison Township. See Mike Apicella.

n David Fiebig, candidate for Lake County commissioner, backyard barbeque, 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 11 at home of David and Pauli Bokor in Concord Township. See Joyce Hribar Fiebig or John Plecnik.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

The Geauga County Republican Central Committee is poised to meet Tuesday to appoint a new county commissioner.

We know that an appointment is needed after Commissioner Bill Young retired from his seat effective June 30. The unexpired term runs through Dec. 31, 2014, so the person appointed could serve through that time.

After Young’s resignation became effective, the Committee has five to 45 days to appoint a new commissioner, according to state law.

When Young announced his retirement in April, I speculated that the appointment could go to Commissioner Mary Samide, who lost her bid for re-election to Ralph Spidalieri in the March 6 Republican Party primary.

Samide’s current term as commissioner is set to expire Jan. 2. But Samide could resign and then switch seats if she was appointed by county Republicans to fill the remainder of Young’s term.

That would also create a new vacancy as Samide’s term would need filled. Who could be appointed to fill the last months?

Spidalieri has said he does not want an appointment, rather he wants to be elected and is on the Nov. 6 ballot facing Democrat Christopher John Lacny, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Among names that have floated around as possible appointees for commissioner are Newbury Trustee Jan Blair, Jim McConnell of Chester Township, and South Russell Village Councilman Jim Flaiz.

How about former state Rep. Mary Brigid “Bridey” Matheney, R-Bainbridge Township? 

She agreed to resign her position in Columbus after the Ohio House GOP agreed to appoint the March 6 winner of the Ohio House of Representatives 76th District Republican primary to serve as the 98th House District state representative.

State Rep. Matt Lynch, R-Bainbridge Township, won that race, and he was appointed to serve the remainder of the 98th House District term that expires this year.

As the 76th House District GOP primary winner, Lynch appears on the Nov. 6 ballot as the party nominee. He’s running against Tom Warren, a Russell Township Democrat who was unopposed in March.

What if Lynch were appointed as commissioner? Probably not likely, but if that were to happen, then another appointment would be necessary to fill Lynch’s GOP nomination as the 76th House District candidate. Then another possible appointment would be needed to fill Lynch’s term for the 98th House District.

My prediction is Samide gets the appointment, but surprising things always seem to happen involving Geauga County politics.

Candidate announces

Eastlake Council President Dennis Morley announced he intends to run for Eastlake mayor next year.

Fundies

n David Fiebig, candidate for Lake County commissioner, golf outing Friday at Black Brook golf course in Mentor 9:30 a.m. start, 5 p.m. dinner. See Dale Fellows or Cindy Quinn-Hopkins.

n Eastlake Mayor Ted Andrzejewski eighth annual golf outing 8:30 a.m. shotgun start Friday at Pine Ridge Golf Course in Wickliffe. See Ted or Patricia Andrzejewski.

n Fundraiser for Jason Wuliger, candidate for Lake County recorder, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 16 at the home of Judy and Roger Sustar, with special guest U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette. See Susan Culotta.

n Susan McGuinness, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 61, hosts a summer BBQ at 5:30 p.m. July 19 at Perry Township Park. See Lindsay D. Baruffa.

n Geauga County Sheriff Daniel McClelland hosts 2012 Rib Dinner, 6 to 8 p.m. July 20 at Troy Community House in Troy Township. See Craig Richter.

n State Rep. Ron Young hosts a fundraiser with special guest Ohio House of Representatives Speaker Bill Batchelder from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 23 at Young’s home in Leroy Township. See Young.

n Fifth annual golf outing of the Geauga County Democratic Party with a shotgun start at noon and dinner at 6 p.m. July 29 at Pleasant Hill Golf Course in Chardon. See Dave Netzband.

  

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Congratulations to Geauga County Commissioner Bill Young, who announced Tuesday that he would leave office effective June 30 after serving since 2003.

Young, a Republican, previously worked in the insurance industry for 37 years and had spent time as a South Russell Village mayor and councilman.

After Young’s resignation is effective, the Geauga County Republican Party Central Committee will have five to 45 days to appoint a new commissioner, according to state law.

What if the Geauga GOP asked Commissioner Mary Samide to switch seats and appointed her to Young’s term, which expires Dec. 31, 2014?

Samide was up for re-election this year as her term is set to expire Jan. 2, but she lost a Geauga County Republican Party primary on March 6 to challenger Ralph Spidalieri.

Samide could resign and then be appointed by Republicans to fill the remainder of Young’s term.

That would also create a new vacancy as Samide’s term would need filled. Who could be appointed to fill the last eight-plus months this year? How about Spidalieri?

Geauga Republicans could also appoint Spidalieri to Young’s term. Then if he was to win election to the term commencing Jan. 3, there would be another vacancy to fill the remainder of Young’s term that expires Dec. 31, 2014. Even if he lost the Nov. 6 race, Spidalieri would still be a commissioner until Young’s term expired.

Why would Republicans want to do this? Well, it would give the first-time candidate’s campaign for commissioner on Nov. 6 a boost against Democrat Christopher John Lacny.

If Geauga Republicans want to pick someone completely different there are a few names already floating around.

Among them are Newbury Trustee Jan Blair, Jim McConnell of Chester Township, and South Russell Village Councilman Jim Flaiz.

How about state Rep. Mary Brigid “Bridey” Matheney, R-Bainbridge Township? She’ll step down shortly from her position in Columbus as the Ohio House GOP will soon appoint Matt Lynch to the position.

Matheney had been appointed as state representative in February to fill the vacancy left by former state Rep. Richard Hollington who was elected as Hunting Valley mayor. Hollington wouldn’t be interested in a commissioner seat, or would he?

Party reorganization

The Lake County Democratic Party conducted its reorganization meeting April 2 with no changes in leadership.

Re-elected were Tom Tagliamonte as chairman, Bob Schiebli, executive 1st vice president; Randy Klammer, second vice president; Keith Hocevar, labor vice president; William Baker, treasurer; and Kevin Malecek, secretary.

The Geauga county Republican Party conducted its reorganization meeting Tuesday with no changes in leadership, although there was a two-man race for party chairman, as incumbent chairman Ed Ryder defeated Greg Soltis.

Others re-elected were Blake Rear, vice-chairman of the central committee, Ken Blair, vice chairman of the executive committee; Frank Gliha, treasurer of central and executive committeea; and Roberta Halford, secretary of the central and executive committees.

The Ohio Democratic Party also re-elected Chris Redfern as state party chairman, as he held off a challenge by Tony Giardini of Lorain County.

The Ohio Republican Party was slated to hold its party reorganization on Friday, past the deadline for this column. But all signals pointed to former Chairman Bob Bennett taking over his old position.

Fundies

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

n Annual Buffet Dinner fundraiser for Lake County Prosecutor Charles E. Coulson, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at LaMalfa in Mentor. See Stephen Byron.

n Malecek will host his 8th Annual Cinco De Mayo Party, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 3 at Willoughby Hills Community Center. See Malecek or Nora Colburn.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah