Recent news that Ohio’s unemployment rate has increased for the past three months and now exceeds the national unemployment rate wasn’t great to hear.

It’s also worth noting that the number of workers considered unemployed in Ohio in October was 427,000, up 2,000 from 425,000 in September, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The number of unemployed has increased by 31,000 in the past 12 months, up from 396,000.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported the state’s unemployment rate in October rose to 7.5 percent, up from 7.4 in September and 7.3 percent in August.

The October unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 6.9 percent in October 2012.

The U.S. unemployment rate for October was 7.3 percent, up from 7.2 percent in September, but down from 7.9 percent in October 2012.

The unemployment rates generally counts only those actively looking for work. For instance, it doesn’t include those who exhaust unemployment benefits and haven’t looked for work in a long time.

Of course, many people assume when the unemployment rate is released it is a reflection of layoffs or businesses failing.

I think an interesting way to see how the economy is faring is to look at industries and job sectors in terms of recent job losses and gains.

Ohio’s seasonally adjusted nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 2,400 in October, according to the ODJFS.

The total showed goods-producing industries gained 2,300 jobs during October and were added in construction (1,300), manufacturing (900), and mining and logging (100).

The private service-providing sector gained 6,400 jobs, as employment increased in trade, transportation, and utilities (3,500), leisure and hospitality (3,000), financial activities (1,000), and other services (1,000); with job losses in professional and business services (1,200), educational and health services (600), and information (300).

Government employment lost 6,300 jobs and the declines were posted in local (4,300), state (1,400), and federal (600) government.

One vote does make a difference

Don’t tell Middlefield Village Council candidates Ronald W. Wiech and Brandon M. Reed that one vote isn’t important.

Wiech officially finished in fourth place with 279 votes during the Nov. 5 election, and Reed received 278 votes to officially finish fifth. The top four vote-getters earn a spot on council.

Because the race is so close — just one vote — an automatic recount is needed by the Geauga County Elections Board.

That will take place Monday. If there is a change and a tie ensues, a coin flip or another way to cast lots would be chosen to declare a winner.

Pulling petitions

State Rep. Ron Young, R-Leroy Township, has taken out petitions from the Lake County Elections Board to seek re-election. Lake County Juvenile Court Judge Karen Lawson has also done the same.

Campaign mode

Euclid Democrat and former state Rep. Ed Jerse, who is Cuyahoga County director of regional collaboration, plans to resign from the post effective Nov. 30 to focus on his campaign for Ohio Senate District 25.

The district includes Eastlake, Fairport Harbor, Grand River, Lakeline, Mentor Ward 4, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Painesville, parts of Painesville Township, Timberlake, Wickliffe, Willoughby and Willowick in Lake County, plus Euclid, Richmond Height, South Euclid and other eastern Cuyahoga County communities.

Swearing in

Richmond Heights mayor-elect Miesha Headen begins her new term Sunday and takes the oath of office at 4:30 p.m. at Faith United Church of Christ in Richmond Heights.

Fundies

• Fundraiser for Young, 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at Quail Hollow Resort in Concord Township. See Young.
• Geauga County Republican Party Christmas Party, Dec. 6 at Chagrin Valley Athletic Club in Bainbridge. See Ed Ryder or Frank Gliha.
• Campaign kickoff for  Lawson, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at LaMalfa Party Center in Mentor. See Lu Dunlap.

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

When it comes to behavioral health services in Lake County, I frequently hear the word collaboration mentioned by leaders who visit from outside the area.

Tracy Plouck, who is the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services director, is no exception.

Plouck visited the county this week to speak with local leaders and to visit several facilities that provide services.

She took part in a roundtable discussion at the Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services board’s office that included many of the folks who are directly involved in the behavioral health field in the county.

Among them were elected officials such as Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap, Juvenile Court Judge Karen Lawson and Mentor Municipal Court Judge John Trebets, who also runs a mental health and drug court.

Also part of the discussion were members from the ADAMHS board and its management team including Executive Director Kim Fraser, Lake County Job and Family Services Director Matt Battiato, Lake County Educational Service Center Director Brian Bontempo, NAMI Lake County Director Carole Jazbec and Lake County Ombudsman Christi Farmer.

As jails continue to be overcrowded and caring for many people who need mental health and addiction treatment, Plouck talked about developing partnerships with sheriffs across the state and increasing the dialogue with courts to help improve services.

The state continues to integrate physical health along with behavioral health to treat the person as a whole, Plouck said.

Her impression of Lake County leaders is they operate with a great degree of collaboration, and she said she was particularly struck by the compassion they have to help people who are struggling.

Plouck wrapped up her visit to the county by serving as one of the featured speakers at the 20th anniversary reception in Willoughby for BRIDGES: Mental Health Consumer Empowerment.

Eastlake mayoral primary

The three candidates for Eastlake mayor turned in pre-election campaign spending reports for this past Thursday’s deadline.

The primary will be held for Eastlake voters Sept. 17 with the top two vote-getters advancing to the Nov. 5 ballot.

Candidates are incumbent Ted Andrzejewski, Council President Dennis Morley and Councilwoman Cindy Quinn-Hopkins.

Here’s a quick glance at their warchests, according to campaign finance reports turned in to the Lake County Elections Board.

Andrzejewski raised $23,263; spent $14,648, received $779 as in-kind contributions and had $1,900 in outstanding loans owed by the committee.

Morley raised $2,376 and spent $1,320.

Quinn-Hopkins raised $3,425, spent $1,334 and made $450 as in-kind contributions.

Event

Quinn-Hopkins will host a soup-and-crackers free lunch event from 11:30 to 1 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Surfside Towers Party Room in Eastlake.

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 A summer buffet fundraiser for Sarah Fowler, state Board of Education District 7, 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Orchard Hills Event Center in Chester Township. See Fowler.

n Susan McGuinness, candidate for Painesville Township trustee, hosts a ’60s Night fundraiser, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Harry Buffalo in Painesville Township. See Susan or Ray McGuinness.

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

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

There will be six judge races on the November ballot in Lake County next year and it will be quite interesting to see who runs for these benches.

Before that, however, a new Probate Court judge will be appointed by Gov. John Kasich to replace the vacancy created when Judge Ted Klammer died.

There is some talk that Painesville Municipal Court Judge Michael Cicconetti is interested in the Probate Court position. He’s a Democrat, so it might be a little tough to imagine him getting the appointment, but maybe not so far-fetched.

If Kasich was to appoint Cicconetti as Probate Court judge, it would then create a vacancy for Painesville Municipal Court judge and the governor could appoint a Republican to that bench.

My hunch, though, is the governor appoints a Republican to the Probate Court and lets the election process work itself out next year to determine who would get a new six-year term.

Lake County Common Pleas Court Judge Joseph Gibson won’t be able to run for re-election next year due to age restrictions. Republican Randi Ostry ran against Gibson in 2008, perhaps she might make another run? Dennis N. Loconti finished second in a primary to Gibson in March 2008, maybe he gives it another try?

I’m also hearing that if Assistant Geauga County Prosecutor Mark Bartolotta, a Republican who previously served as a Lake County assistant prosecutor, isn’t appointed to the Probate Court bench, he might run for Gibson’s bench.

Also up next year is Lake County Juvenile Court Judge Karen Lawson. In March 2008, four Democrats, Patrice Denman, James R. Dugan, Paul E. Miller, and John Rogers (now a state representative), ran in a Democratic primary with Denman emerging as the Democratic candidate. She eventually lost against Lawson. Who might challenge Lawson next year?

Other judge races on the ballot in 2014 are the Lake County Domestic Relations Court bench held by Judge Colleen A. Falkowski, and two 11th District Court of Appeals seats held by Judges Timothy P. Cannon and Cynthia Westcott Rice.

Falkowski and Rice were both unopposed in November 2008. Cannon defeated Republican Paul Brickner.

Trapp private practice

Former 11th District Court of Appeals Court Judge Mary Jane Trapp has joined the Cleveland office of the law firm of Thrasher, Dinsmore and Dolan.

Pulling petitions

In Geauga County, several candidates have taken out petitions with the county Elections Board to run for offices in the Nov. 5 election. No one had filed to run as of Thursday.

People who have taken out petitions are Mike Ferrell for Claridon Township trustee; Edward W. Kaminski and Nadine Pope for Hambden Township trustee; Jason Sutter and Al Vontorcik for Huntsburg Township trustee; James J. McCaskey for Munson Township trustee; Ken Armstrong for Russell Township trustee; Nancy McArthur for Chardon Council; Steve Remias for Geauga County Educational Service Center Governing Board; Gregory Kernc for Chardon Board of Education; and Matthew T. Fuentes for Ledgemont Board of Education.

In Lake County, Kimberly C. Evers has taken out petitions with the county Elections Board for Eastlake Council-at Large. Rusty Bliss has taken out petitions to run for Willoughby-Eastlake Board of Education.

Filed petitions

Edmund Leoson has filed petitions to run for Painesville Township trustee.

Fundies

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

n Dennis Morley will host a kickoff fundraiser for his Eastlake mayor campaign, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 17 at Trader Jack’s Riverside Grille in Eastlake. See Donna Vaughn or Barb Morley.

n Lake County Commissioner Judy Moran will host a fundraiser from 5 to 7:30 p.m. April 18 at Dino’s Banquet Center in Willoughby. See Kathy Russo.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah