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

Rusty Bliss, candidate for Willoughby-Eastlake School Board, announced he has received endorsement by the Lake County Republican Party.

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

Lake County Republican Party Chairman Dale Fellows confirmed that Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will attend a private fundraiser in Lake County on Sept. 14.

The event, not open to the public, will be held at the home of Ed Crawford, who has hosted other GOP presidential candidates before, most recently former President George W. Bush.

Fellows said it is his understanding that at some point before the Nov. 6 election, Romney will appear in Lake County for a public rally.

“We’ve been told he would be, it’s just a matter of when,” Fellows said.

GOP officials also continue work to have Romney’s running mate U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan come to Lake County as well, Fellows said.

Ryan appeared Tuesday in Westlake.

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

Jason Wuliger, candidate for Lake County Recorder, announced the following endorsements:

U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette, Lake County Prosecutor Charles E. Coulson, Lake County Commissioner
Raymond E. Sines, Lake County Auditor Edward H. Zupancic, Lake County Recorder Frank Suponcic, Lake County Engineer James R. Gills, Lake County Coroner Dr. Lynn A. Smith.

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

U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette made his withdrawal to seek re-election official by submitting the proper paperwork to the Lake County Elections Board.

The seven GOP county chairmen and county central committee secretaries in the district will select the new candidate at a 2 p.m. meeting Friday at the Willoughby Hills Community Center.

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

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

Read LaTourette’s statement of withdrawal letter below.
Steve LaTourette Resignation Letter

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