As people in politics like to say now is the “silly season” as potential candidates try to make decisions about running for office.

Often there are deals, alliances, and maneuvering forged behind the scenes whether it pertains to clearing the field to avoid a potential party primary or who would support who for a candidacy.

There will be rumors, discussions and it won’t be long before there is a flurry of activity.

At this point, it has been slow for people to file candidacy petitions to run for races in The News-Herald’s coverage area, but there is still lots of time with a Feb. 5 deadline for partisan candidates to run in the May 6 primary.

Here are some of the latest developments:

Filed petitions

Cynthia Westcott Rice and Timothy P. Cannon, both Democrats, have filed with the Lake County Elections Board to run for re-election to the 11th District Court of Appeals bench in Warren. Dennis N. LoConti, a Mentor Democrat, has filed to run for Common Pleas Court judge for the Jan. 5, 2015 term.

Karen Lawson has filed to run for re-election as Lake County Juvenile Court judge.

Mary Samide has filed with the Geauga County Elections Board to run for re-election as commissioner to the Jan. 1, 2015 term.

Kent Smith, a Euclid Democrat, has filed with the Cuyahoga County Elections Board to run for Ohio House of Representatives District 8, which consists of Beachwood, East Cleveland, Euclid, Richmond Heights, South Euclid, Woodmere, and six precincts in Cleveland Ward 10.

Pulled petitions

Matthew E. Donovan has taken out petitions from the Lake County Elections Board to run for Mentor Council Ward 2. John R. Hamercheck, a Madison Village Republican, has taken out petitions to run for county commissioner.

Dale Fellows, who is Lake County Republican Party chairman, has taken out petitions to run for Ohio Republican Party 18th District state central committee. The district has the same boundaries as Ohio Senate District 18, which includes half of Lake County, two-thirds of Geauga County and all of Portage County.

Blake Rear, Walter Claypool and Lenore Pikus have taken out petitions from the Geauga County Elections Board to run for Geauga County commissioner. Frank Gliha has taken out petitions to seek re-election as county auditor. Tim Grendell has taken out petitions to run for re-election as county Probate/Juvenile Court judge.

Thaddeus J. Jackson, a Democrat, has pulled petitions from the Cuyahoga County Elections Board to run Ohio Senate District 25, which consists of half of Lake County and eastern communities in Cuyahoga County. Jerry V. Powell, a Republican, has taken out petitions to run for the same seat.

Ken Kirkland, a Democrat, has pulled petitions to run for Ohio House of Representatives District 8.

Anthony Fossaceca, a Democrat, and Marlene Anielski, a Republican, have taken out petitions to run for Ohio House of Representatives District 6, which includes Gates Mills, Highland Heights, Lyndhurst, and Mayfield Village.

John Patterson, a Jefferson Village Democrat, has taken out petitions with the Ashtabula County Elections Board to run for re-election to Ohio House of Representatives District 99, which in Geauga County includes Aquilla Village, Chardon, and the townships of Claridon, Hambden, Huntsburg, Montville and Thompson.

Fundies

• Campaign kickoff for Lawson, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at LaMalfa Party Center in Mentor. See Lu Dunlap.
• Lake County Probate Court Judge Mark J. Bartolotta hosts a fundraiser, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21 at LaMalfa Party Center. See John Redmond or Amy Sabath.
• John P. O’Donnell, candidate for Lake County Common Pleas Court, hosts a fundraiser 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23, at LaMalfa Party Center. See Mike Lucas, Mike Bucci or Ann Bergen.
• Lake County Domestic Relations Court Judge Colleen A. Falkowski hosts a fundraiser from 5:30 to 7:30 Jan. 30 at LaMalfa Party Center. See Brian Falkowski.

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

As the year 2012 comes to a close it’s time to take a look back at the career of a retiring Lake County official.

For Commissioner Raymond E. Sines, his last official meeting after 10 years on the board was Thursday.

Sines has served since he was appointed by the Lake County Republican Party in 2003, and then won two elections to four-year terms.

During his time in office, he was the lone Republican on the three-member Board of Commissioners.

Sometimes Sines didn’t agree with his Democratic colleagues on the board, but what I think made him effective was that he choose his battles carefully.

He was the kind of commissioner who could sternly make his point during an open session and even staunchly disagree with a colleague, then crack a joke about the situation when the meeting was over.

Sines occasionally would say it takes two votes to get something passed by commissioners, which is certainly true. With that in mind, he had the understanding that no matter his opinion, there were two other commissioners who might not agree with him. So he had to work together with his fellow colleagues.

Even though he disagreed on some issues, including building a high-level bridge over Vrooman Road in Leroy and Perry townships or the creation of the Lake County Stormwater Management Department, Sines’ influence was noticeable.

I think his ability to be reasonable when it came to making decisions and his work ethic also made him effective.

When it came time earlier this year for the commissioners to announce a plan to increase the countywide sales tax rate by 0.5 percent to deal with budgetary concerns, Commissioner Daniel P. Troy frequently said that he wanted bipartisan support before he would agree to raise the sales tax. What that really meant was Sines needed to support it too.

Sines told me many times that he did not want to raise the rate, but he felt the county’s finances had gotten to a point where major cuts would have been needed and there was no certainty that services could be maintained to a level that residents expected.

When Sines recently reflected back on his tenure, he said the sales tax issue was one of his toughest decisions as a commissioner.

Part of what went into that decision was Sines also felt that the county Stormwater Management Department had more funding than was necessary and that if the other two commissioners would support cutting the user fees to property owners by 50 percent as part of an overall package, then he would support the sales tax increase.

So what ensued was the proposal spearheaded by Troy and agreed to by Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish and Sines to raise the sales tax by 0.5 and decrease the stormwater user fees by 50 percent, plus reduce the rate property taxpayers pay to the county’s General Fund by 1.1 mills.

Because the sales tax package was a unanimous decision that made it much easier to implement and the issue did not have to be put on the countywide ballot.

Only a referendum could have defeated the package and there was never much hint of that developing. Meanwhile, the county’s budgetary situation appears to have stabilized.

At his last meeting Thursday, Aufuldish said Sines and the other two commissioners were able to put politics aside to get things done.

Troy said that Sines would be missed and he was able to work together with Sines not only as a commissioner but when the two served together as state representatives years ago in the Ohio General Assembly.

Sines noted at the meeting that the key to his life has been the support of his family who allowed him to do what he wanted to do.

He added that if a script were to have been written about how he wanted to live his life, it had contained everything he always wanted.

When Sines concluded his remarks about his retirement at the meeting, Troy and Aufuldish — in a show of class — gave Sines a standing ovation.

Swearing in ceremony

The Lake County Democratic Party will swear in Aufuldish and Commissioner Judy Moran, state Rep. John M. Rogers, Clerk of Courts Maureen G. Kelly, Recorder Ann M. Radcliffe, and Treasurer Lorraine M. Fende at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Performing Arts Center Theater at Lakeland Community College.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Gov. John Kasich finally unveiled his plan for the Ohio Turnpike and it doesn’t involve leasing the 241-mile toll road.

Many, especially community leaders in northern Ohio, had expressed concern that Kasich wanted to lease the turnpike and turn it over to a private operator.

That concept had fostered concerns that tolls would dramatically rise and divert motorists to other roadways.

At first glance, it appears the governor heard and listened to those concerns, so give him credit.

Instead, the governor wants to use toll revenues to raise up to $3 billion for road projects. It will be interesting to see how this plan fits into Kasich’s next biennial budget to be proposed next year.

Kasich said on Thursday that his turnpike proposal would raise $1.5 billion through bond sales that would be paid back through future toll revenues, and $1.5 billion could be generated through matching local and federal funds.

Tolls for local passenger trips that are paid with EZ Pass would be frozen at current levels for the next 10 years.

For all other tolls (longer passenger trips and all truck trips), any increases will be capped at the rate of inflation, or approximately 2.7 percent annually, assuming sustained traffic growth at the historic 1 percent rate.

The Ohio Turnpike Commission would stay in place and turnpike job layoffs would not be needed.

Kasich said that raising the state’s gasoline tax was not the answer to solve a $1.6 billion highway budget deficit because an uncertainty economy, higher gasoline prices and more fuel-efficient cars have combined to reduce gasoline sales and state gasoline tax revenue.

Kasich wants to try a different approach by using the $1.5 billion acquired through bond sales help to fund road projects throughout northern Ohio and allow the Ohio Department of Transportation to spend the state’s gas taxes and federal funds on road projects downstate.

Diverting money generated by the Turnpike away to other projects will require approval from the Ohio General Assembly, so there will be some debate about exactly how and if that’s done.

Leaders from northern Ohio including Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald and three other county commissioners issued a joint statement after Kasich revealed his turnpike plan.

They seemed pleased that the governor decided not to privatize the turnpike but are concerned that gas tax money paid by people who live and work in northern Ohio will be used to pay for projects in other areas.

They also want to take time to evaluate the governor’s proposal and the overall impact it will have on the roads and economy in northern Ohio and will seek public comment to help guide and advise them when it comes to public infrastructure in Ohio.

Hmmm, is FitzGerald starting to act like he might be a Democratic candidate for governor in 2014?

Bipartisan redistricting?

A bipartisan plan to change the way Ohio draws state legislative and congressional districts cleared the state Senate by a 32-1 vote.

Under the resolution, a seven-member redistricting commission would be established, consisting of the governor, auditor, Ohio secretary of state and four members appointed by the legislative leaders in each chamber. The commission would elect bipartisan co-chairs, and none of the members could be a sitting member of the state Legislature or Congress.

Any plan proposed by the commission must receive five votes including at least one vote from the minority party.

The Ohio House of Representatives didn't have a chance to act on the proposal during the two-year legislative session that ended Thursday and that chamber’s vote is needed to put the measure before voters.

Perhaps the legislation will serve as a blueprint, but for now, what it means is we’ll just have to wait to see if the Ohio General Assembly is really serious next year when it comes to reforming the way these district lines are drawn.

Swearing in ceremonies

The Lake County Democratic Party will swear in Commissioners Robert E. Aufuldish and Judy Moran, state Rep. John M. Rogers, Clerk of Courts Maureen G. Kelly, Recorder Ann M. Radcliffe, and Treasurer Lorraine M. Fende at 2 p.m. Jan. 1 at the Performing Arts Center Theater at Lakeland Community College.

The Lake County Republican Party will swear in elected officials on Dec. 26.

Details weren't finalized as of press time, so call the party headquarters for details.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Look for Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy to make his decision possibly this week.

If you don’t know, Troy is the Democratic Party’s nominee for Ohio House of Representatives District 60 after he won the March 6 primary and faces Republican Lori DiNallo, a Painesville councilwoman, in the Nov. 6 election.

For the past few months, Troy has considered, not all that privately, whether to allow the Lake County Democratic Party to nominate someone else to run against DiNallo. He then would remain as commissioner two more years until his term expires.

What this has done is prompt Troy to make a choice at some point. If he chooses not to decide, he still makes a choice — to stay as the state representative candidate.

But if Troy chooses to drop out of the race, some believe the person nominated to take his place could be Mentor-on-the-Lake Mayor John Rogers, a Lake County deputy treasurer who ran in the Democratic Party March 6 primary for treasurer, but lost to state Rep. Lorraine Fende.

Fende, who is term-limited from running against this year for Ohio House of Representatives, faces Concord Township Republican Bob Patterson in the county treasurer’s race Nov. 6.

Troy wishes he could do both jobs — return to the Statehouse, where he served for 14 years, and stay as commissioner — but he cannot.

What if Troy drops out? Some Democrats will be highly upset. They don’t like the idea that Troy would seek the party’s nomination and then hand it back.

Perhaps jumping the gun, there are some folks already trying to line up support for a possible commissioner appointment under the assumption Troy wins a seat in Columbus.

Would the decision to stay as commissioner hurt Troy’s political future? Possibly, as it might prompt a Democratic primary challenger in 2014, if he were to seek another four-year term as commissioner.

I’m not so sure Troy is concerned about potential political ramifications if he decides to remain as a commissioner. What I think he’s concerned about the most, quite frankly, is where he believes he could do the most good. In Columbus, he’s likely a member of the minority party trying to shape state law and policies. As a commissioner, he’s a big fish in a smaller Lake County pond.

Whatever is the result of Troy’s choice will make waves, so let’s see what develops.

Candidate endorsements

For any Nov. 6 candidates who have earned endorsements (not from The News-Herald), feel free to email them or fax them. Because of the volume and space required to list them, these items will not be printed in this column. Instead, they’ll be posted periodically on The News-Herald’s Northern Ohio Politics Blog at NorthernOhioLocalPolitics.blogspot.com.

Fundies

n Lake County Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish hosts ninth annual Ferrante Winery Celebration, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday 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. Wednesday at St. Joseph Vineyard, Madison Township. See Mike Apicella.

n Fundraiser for Jim Dvorak, candidate for Geauga County commissioner, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, at Colonial Wine and Beverage, 8389 Mayfield Road, Chester Township. See Dvorak.

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

n Judy Moran, candidate for Lake County commissioner, fundraiser hosted by Dan Mcurdy with special guest U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Mentor Beach Park. See Kathy Russo or Robert Leach.

n Fundraiser for Emilee Teresczuk, candidate for Lake County Clerk of Courts, 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 13 at Harry Buffalo in Painesville Township. See Emilee or Matthew Teresczuk.

n Fundraiser for Susan McGuinness, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 61, 5:30 to 7:30, Aug. 14 at home of Joyce Fitzpatrick. See Lindsay Baruffa or Carol Roe.

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.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy easily won his party’s nomination March 6 to run Nov. 6 for the Ohio House of Representatives District 60 seat.

Troy defeated Willowick Democrat James Helmink and Eastlake Democrat Laura DePledge. Painesville Councilwoman Lori DiNallo was unopposed in the Republican Party primary.

So Troy will face DiNallo in November, right?

Well, there is increased speculation that Troy might not run for the position after all and instead serve the remaining two years of his commissioner term.

When Troy was in the process of making a decision last year on whether to run for a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives, he was clearly torn.

Troy enjoys service as a commissioner, but he also felt a strong pull to serve in Columbus, where he served as a state representative for 14 years in the 1980s and 1990s.

Supporters would mention to him that he should stay in Lake County and utilize his experience on the three-member Board of Commissioners.

Also weighing on the decision was if elected to serve in Columbus, he might be part of the minority party that has a smaller voice in how things are run.

That’s because Republicans currently hold the office of governor and both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly, although the majority party could change next year in the House, but not likely the Senate.

As a commissioner, Troy is highly influential regarding decisions made on a county level. Would he have that same level of clout in Columbus?

If Troy wins election as a state representative, the Lake County Democratic Party would then be able to appoint someone to complete the remaining two years on his commissioner term.

Democrats such as Willoughby Hills Councilman Kevin Malecek, former state Rep. Mark Schneider of Mentor, and former Willoughby Municipal Court Judge Larry Allen have expressed some interest in a possible appointment.

There could be several other names that could come to the forefront if the situation presents itself.

But what if Troy dropped out as the Democratic nominee for Ohio House District 60?

The county Democratic Party would need to make an appointment for a new candidate to run against DiNallo.

However, a state representative needs to live within the district they represent, so that would narrow the field of potential candidates.

Due to state reapportionment that takes effect next year, the 60th House District will consist of Eastlake, Fairport Harbor, Grand River, Lakeline, Mentor Ward 4, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Painesville, parts of Painesville Township, Timberlake, Wickliffe, Willoughby and Willowick.

Interestingly, Malecek, Schneider and Allen currently in what will be District 61 consisting of Kirtland, Kirtland Hills, Mentor Wards 1-3, North Perry Village, Perry Village, Waite Hill, Willoughby Hills, the townships of Concord, Leroy, Madison, Perry and parts of Painesville Township.

It would be surprising if Troy didn’t continue to run for state representative, especially after he was critical of former state Sen. Tim Grendell’s decision to stay in the Ohio Senate after he won election to the Ohio House of Representatives in November 2010.

Grendell’s situation was slightly different because it was a general election, not a party primary in the spring to nominate a candidate to run in the fall.

There is a lot of time left before November rolls around, let’s see if Troy changes his mind.

Fundies

n Willoughby-Eastlake Levy Committee will host a pasta dinner fundraiser, 4 to 7 p.m. May 14 at the Stadium Bar and Grill in Mentor.

n Eleventh District Court of Appeals Court Judge Mary Jane Trapp will have a fundraiser from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. May 16 at the home of Todd and Susan Petersen in Munson Township. See Mike Apicella.

n Lake County Engineer James R. Gills hosts his 12th Annual Pig Roast with guest state Rep. Ron Young, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. May 16 at the Lake County FOP Hall Pavilion in Concord Township. See Bruce Landeg.

n Lake County Sheriff Daniel A. Dunlap, 21st annual golf outing and steak dinner, June 8 at Painesville Country Club. See Frank Leonbrunno, Sheryl DePledge.

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