John O'Donnell, candidate for Lake County Common Pleas Court judge, announces endorsements by former U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette, Willoughby Mayor Dave Anderson, Waite Hill Mayor Bob Ranallo, Willoughby Hills Mayor Bob Weger, Lake County Sheriff Dan Dunlap, Lake County Auditor Ed Zupancic, Lake County Coroner Lynn Smith, Madison Township Trustee Ken Gauntner, Painesville Councilwoman Lori DiNallo, Concord Twp. Trustee Connie Luhta, Mentor Councilwoman Janet Dowling, former Lake County Commissioner Ray Sines, former Lake County Clerk of Courts Lynne Mazeika, Willowick Mayor Richard Bonde, Fairport Harbor Councilman Tony Bertone, Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 116, Lake County Bar Association Judicial poll (Highly Recommended, 91 percent Approval rating).

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

Now that Gov. John Kasich has appointed Mark Bartolotta to serve as Lake County Probate Court judge, look for some other developments to shake out involving who might run for other county judicial offices in 2014.

Lake County Assistant Prosecutor John O’Donnell, who was one of four finalists for the Probate Court appointment, quickly pulled candidacy petitions to run for the Lake County Common Pleas Court seat on the bench held by Judge Joe Gibson.

Due to age limits for judges, Gibson is not able to seek re-election, so that leaves an open seat up for grabs.

Look for O’Donnell, a Willowick Republican who also serves as a city councilman, to announce fairly soon that he will run for the judicial position.

Will any other Republicans decide to run for the seat?

On the Democratic side, how about attorney Ron Graham, who ran against Judge Vincent A. Culotta in the 2004 election?

Dennis N. Loconti finished second to Gibson in the 2008 Democratic Party. Would he be interested in another run?

How about Paul Miller? He was a finalist for the recent county Public Defender appointment and ran in the Democratic primary in 2008 for county Juvenile Court judge.

If not for a Common Pleas position, would Miller have any interest in running again for Juvenile Court judge? Judge Karen Lawson, a Republican, also will be on the ballot next year.

So will the seat on the Domestic Relations Court bench held by Judge Colleen A. Falkowski, a Democrat. She was unopposed in 2008.

It’s early, but I’m not hearing of any potential Republican interest for a primary against Bartolotta for Probate Court judge.

By the way, Bartolotta was sworn in Thursday by Culotta during a private ceremony and is scheduled to begin service on the bench on Monday. A public swearing in ceremony is planned Sept. 30 for Bartolotta at the courthouse.

Mentor Prosecutor Lisa Klammer, a Democrat, is said to have interest in running for the Probate Court seat.

Eastlake mayor race set

Eastlake Council President Dennis Morley and incumbent Mayor Ted Andrzejewski were the top two finishers in Tuesday’s mayor primary, so they will now face each other on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Councilwoman Cindy Quinn-Hopkins finished third, meaning she does not advance.

The special election attracted about 19 percent of the city’s registered voters. Election officials said that’s a good turnout for this type of election.

I find it rather disappointing that not even one out of every five voters bothered to take the time to cast a ballot to help determine who should be the city’s top elected official.

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.

Event

Perry Township Trustee candidate Bob Dawson hosts a meet the candidate picnic from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 6 at Perry Township Park.

Fundies

n Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy hosts Fall Classic Golf Outing and Clam Bake, 12:30 p.m. shotgun start Sept. 27 at Lost Nation Municipal Golf Course in Willoughby. See Kip Molenaar.

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 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 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 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.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

National observers believe Ohio’s 14th Congressional District has the potential to play out as a fairly competitive race when compared to many around the country.

So far, there doesn’t seem to be an abundance of candidates lining up to run next year, but it’s still early.

Running for Congress usually requires a significant amount of money and time to operate a successful campaign, so people who want to jump in the race might need to make some decisions fairly soon.

The seven-county district in Northeast Ohio includes all of Lake, Geauga, Ashtabula counties, plus portions of Summit, Portage and Trumbull counties.

U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Russell Township, most likely seeks re-election and he’s got more than $463,000 cash on hand, according to his latest campaign filing with the Federal Elections Commission.

Joyce is in the middle of his first term, typically a time when an incumbent can be more vulnerable.

It remains to be seen if another Republican would step up to seriously challenge Joyce at this point as the incumbent congressman has a headstart on the fundraising process and appears to be working hard attending events, meeting with community leaders and learning about his constituents.

Democrat Michael Wager of Shaker Heights continues to raise money to run for the position. A quick check with the FEC shows that Wager’s campaign committee has more than $174,000 cash on hand.

Wager’s last FEC filing shows the bulk of his contributors have come from Cuyahoga County, which is a relatively small portion of the district.

Meanwhile, many folks are watching Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy, a Willowick Democrat contemplating a potential run next year for the 14th Congressional District seat.

Troy, whose four-year term as commissioner ends next year, appears to be weighing whether he will run for re-election to his county post or if he might have something else in mind.

I don’t think Troy would run for a seat in the Ohio General Assembly in Columbus especially after he won a Democratic Party primary for state representative in May 2012, but then decided to withdraw as a candidate and remain a county commissioner.

Probate update

After Lake County Probate Court Judge Ted Klammer died March 13, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor assigned retired Stark County Probate Court Judge R.R. Denny Clunk to serve a three-month assignment on the Probate Court bench.

Sitting judges of the county Common Pleas Court also have helped cover the Probate Court docket until a judge is appointed by the Gov. John Kasich.

I’m hearing that the Lake County Republican Party soon plans to send a list of recommendations to the governor.

Favorites to appear on that potential list are said to be (in alphabetical order) Geauga County Assistant Prosecutor Mark Bartolotta, Lake County Probate Court Magistrate Lora Lynne Krider, Lake County Assistant Prosecutor John O’Donnell and Jim O’Leary, a Painesville Township attorney.

Across the state there are at least 15 other judicial vacancies that need to be filled by the governor, so it may be a while before Kasich makes the Probate Court appointment.

Filed petitions

Recently filing candidacy petitions with the Lake County Elections Board was Kimberly Evers for Eastlake Council at large.

Taken out petitions

Recently signing out candidacy petitions are Matt Jaworski for Wickliffe Council at large; Greg Sasse for Mentor Council at large; Ashley Hacking for Perry School Board; Matthew G. Shultz for Kirtland Council at large; and Bob Fiala for Willoughby Council Ward 3.

Fundies

n Fundraiser for Willoughby Mayor Dave Anderson, 5 to 7 p.m. May 14 at Willoughby Panini’s. See Rick Hart or Anderson.

n Lake County Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish, 18th annual golf outing, 11:30 a.m. registration May 31 at Powderhorn Country Club in Madison Township. See Kathie Aufuldish-Freshour or Ernie Koenig.

n Lake County Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap’s Golf and Steak Fry, 10:30 a.m. shotgun start June 7 at Painesville Country Club. See Lu Dunlap or Frank Leonbruno.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah