How Lake County is represented in the Ohio General Assembly in Columbus will have a slightly different look next year.

Filling the seat for Ohio House of Representatives District 60 will be John Rogers, a Mentor-on-the-Lake Democrat, newly elected Nov. 6 when he defeated Painesville Councilwoman Lori DiNallo, a Republican.

Communities in the district are 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.

According to final unofficial results (used for all information in this column, as provisional votes will be added next week), Rogers won 25,964 to 21,141 or 55.12 percent to 44.88 percent.

Rogers won each precinct in Eastlake, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Willowick, Fairport Harbor, Grand River, and Lakeline. He also prevailed in Painesville, winning nine of 10 precincts, seven of nine precincts in Wickliffe and nine of 15 precincts in Willoughby.

Meanwhile, DiNallo won each precinct in Timberlake and the two Painesville Township precincts that are part of the district. She also won six of nine precincts in Mentor.

Overall, Rogers won 67 precincts and DiNallo won 16.

State Rep. Ron Young, R-Leroy Township, will remain in the Ohio House, where he’ll represent the new 61st District. He defeated Painesville Township Democrat Susan McGuinness. Young won 31,491 to 26,420, or 54.38 percent to 45.62 percent.

Communities in the district are Eastlake, Fairport Harbor, Grand River, Lakeline, Mentor Ward 4, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Painesville, parts of Painesville Township, Timberlake, Wickliffe, Willoughby and Willowick.

Young, who won his second consecutive term, won each precinct in Kirtland, Kirtland Hills, Leroy Township, North Perry Village, Perry Village, Perry Township and Waite Hill.

He also was the victor in seven of 10 precincts in Painesville Township, 16 of 25 precincts in Mentor, four of seven precincts in Willoughby Hills and 13 of 14 precincts in Concord Township.

McGuinness won six of 10 precincts in Madison Township. Both candidates won one of two precincts in Madison Village and tied with 433 votes each in Willoughby Hills Precinct CC. Overall, Young won 59 precincts and McGuinness won 22 precincts, plus the one tied precinct.

In the race for Lake County recorder, Concord Township Democrat Ann Radcliffe defeated appointed Recorder Jason Wuliger, a Kirtland Republican.

Radcliffe won 52,502 to 47,353, or 52.58 percent to 47.42 percent.

She also won each precinct in Eastlake, Mentor-on-the-Lake, Painesville, Willowick, Fairport Harbor, Lakeline, Madison Village and Timberlake. Radcliffe was the victor in 18 of 34 precincts in Mentor, eight of nine precincts in Wickliffe, 12 of 15 precincts in Willoughby, eight of 10 precincts in Madison Township, eight of 11 precincts in Painesville Township.

Wuliger won each precinct in Kirtland, Concord Township, Kirtland Hills, North Perry Village, Perry Village and Waite Hill. He also won four of seven precincts in Willoughby Hills.

Both candidates won two of four precincts in Perry Township, one of two precincts in Leroy Township, and tied with 296 votes each in Mentor Precinct 4H.

Overall, Radcliffe won 103 precincts and Wuliger won 53 precincts.

Lake County’s new state senator

Some Lake County residents may not realize that starting in January there will be a second state senator representing the county in Columbus.

State Sen. Nina Turner, D-Cleveland, represents Ohio’s 25th Senate District that will be comprised of Ohio House Districts 8, 12 and 60. Her term expires at the end of 2014, so she was not on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Turner attracted some national attention this past week with her criticism of Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, accusing him of enacting policies of voter suppression and hinting she might run for the office in 2014, and with what she views as a war by Republicans on women’s reproductive rights, specifically citing a state bill that would ban abortions after doctors can detect a fetal heartbeat.

Prior to reapportionment, all of Lake County was all within Ohio Senate District 18, which is represented by state Sen. John Eklund, R-Munson Township, who retained his seat Nov. 6 after defeating Democrat Jim Mueller.

Now the Ohio 18th Senate district will consist of House Districts 61, 75, 76, which is half of Lake County, two-thirds of Geauga County and all of Portage County. It no longer includes any of Cuyahoga County.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Lori DiNallo, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 60, announced endorsement by Lake County Commissioner Raymond E. Sines, Lake County Engineer James R. Gills, and Lake County Recorder Jason Wuliger.

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

When it comes time to cast a ballot on Nov. 6 don’t overlook the people at your polling location who are there to make help provide that opportunity.

Poll workers are the folks who greet you at your precinct, check your identification, have you sign your name in the poll book, and then give you instructions on how to cast your ballot whether it’s by using an electronic machine or an optical scanned paper ballot.

Poll workers are often friends and neighbors and they do important jobs to help run the election.

The day typically starts around 6 a.m. and includes tasks such as to open up the polls and make sure the machines ready to operate. This all must be finished prior to 6:30 a.m., when the polls are supposed to be open.

Small jobs that most people don’t think about such as placing American flags at the polling location is part of the work.

During Election Day, it’s a poll workers job to make sure each voter is registered. Sometimes a voter must cast a provisional ballot because their identity can’t be verified by required identification or in situations where there might be a question of the voter’s eligibility in that specific precinct.

It’s the job of the poll worker to determine when a provisional ballot must be cast and they are trained on when those situations apply and how to handle it.

Once the election hours are concluded at 7:30 p.m. — unless directed to stay open longer due a court order — poll workers close down the voting location and deliver ballots to the county elections board, which works as quickly as possible to get them counted so the public can learn the unofficial results.

One thing to note is work as a poll worker is not a volunteer position, it is a paid one and the rate is set by the respective county.

In Lake County, a poll worker is paid $107.91 plus $20 for training. Presiding judges receive $127.91, plus $20 for training. In Geauga County, poll workers are paid $107.91, plus $30 for training. Presiding judges earn an extra $5 to $11, plus $30 for training.

There is always a need for poll workers in Lake County and most other counties, election officials will say. Inevitably someone gets sick or has an emergency and just can’t make it to the polls, so another person has to be ready to step in as a substitute, if necessary.

Serving as a poll worker, which I haven’t done because I’m usually working to cover an election, would be something I’d like to do sometime. I’m told it’s a long day, but most often a rewarding one because it’s a chance to be a part of the election process and serve the community.

Lake County TEA Party meets

The Lake County TEA Party will meet at 7 p.m., Tuesday at Harvey High School Auditorium in Painesville. Ohio School Board candidates Bev Goldstein, District 11, and Sarah Fowler, District 7 are scheduled to speak.

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.

Deadline reminder

The weekly deadline for information to appear in this column is each Wednesday at 5 p.m. Email or fax is preferred.

Fundies

* Lori DiNallo, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 60, hosts a clambake 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at Benny Vino Urban Winery in Perry Village. See Jan Clair.

* Judy Moran, candidate for Lake County commissioner, hosts a Ladies Luncheon with special guest speaker Kathy Purmal, noon to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 21, at Cappelli’s Party Center in Mentor. See Kathy Russo or Shirely Vesel.

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

Lori DiNallo, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 60, announced she received endorsements by the Ohio Society of CPAs, Ohio Manufacturers’ Association's political action committee, and U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette.

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

Lori DiNallo, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 60, announced endorsement by the  Ohio Manufacturers’ Association Political Action Committee.

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

Lori DiNallo, candidate for Ohio House District 60, announced these endorsements:

Designation as the “2012 Friend of Agriculture,” as well as endorsements from the NFIB, National Federation of Independent Business/Ohio Safe Trust, and Buckeye Firearms Association.

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

Not surprisingly, former Lake County Elections Board Director Janet F. Clair continues to be active in the political world.

The veteran elections official retired in November after 28 years of service with the county agency.

A Painesville Republican, Clair is the co-chairwoman of the Lake County Republican Party and will now serve as the campaign chairwoman for Painesville Republican Lori DiNallo, the GOP’s candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 60. DiNallo also serves as a Painesville councilwoman at large.

Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy of Willowick is the Democratic Party’s nominee to run for the district’s seat in the Ohio House of Representatives in Columbus. It’s a place Troy knows well as he served seven terms in the state House from 1983 through 1996.

The Ohio 60th House district starting in 2013 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.

Fundies

n Bob Patterson, candidate for Lake County treasurer, fundraiser with special guest state Sen. John Eklund, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Historic Perkins Estate in Mentor. See Sandy Patterson.

n Euclid Mayor Bill Cervenik annual golf outing, shotgun start at 1 p.m. June 29 at Briardale Greens Golf Course, Euclid. See Beth Cervenik or Michael Gallagher.

n Judge Mary Jane Trapp, 11th District Court of Appeals Court, will host Night with the Captains at 6 p.m. July 11 at Classic Park in Eastlake. See Mike Apicella.

n David Fiebig, candidate for Lake County commissioner, golf outing July 13 at Black Brook golf course in Mentor 9:30 a.m., 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 July 13 at Pine Ridge Golf Course in Wickliffe. See Ted or Patricia Andrzejewski.

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

Now that the March 6 primary results are finalized, political parties are in the process of reorganizing and preparing for the Nov. 6 election.

This process is important as the selection of leadership will shape how fundraising is conducted, which candidates get support, both financially and through grassroots efforts.

The Lake County Republican Party conducted its reorganization Monday night in Painesville. Selected as officers were Dale Fellows, chairman; Amy Sabath, first vice chairwoman; Greg Schmidt, second vice chairman; Susan Betteley, secretary; Dave Vitaz, treasurer; Janet Clair, chairwoman.

Meanwhile, the Geauga County Democratic Party has its reorganization meeting Monday night in Newbury Township. Selected as officers were Janet Carson, chairwoman; Dennis Pavella, vice chairman; Glen Quigley, treasurer; and Terri McIntee, secretary.

The Geauga County Republican Party will meet at 7 p.m. April 10 at Munson Township Hall.

The Lake County Democratic Party was slated to have met at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Bricklayers Hall in Mentor, which is after the deadline for this column’s publication. Check back next week for results.

Statewide, the Ohio Democratic Party will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday to reorganize at the state party headquarters in Columbus. Word is party Chairman Chris Redfern might have a challenge from Lorain County Democratic Party official Anthony B. Giardini.

The Ohio Republican Party will meet Friday for its reorganizational meeting in Dublin. Chairman Kevin DeWine plans to step down from his position. Perhaps former Chairman Bob Bennett could be the interim chairman as the party gears up for the Nov. 6 election?

Potential commissioner?

What if Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy is elected as state representative for Ohio House District 60 in November? Of course, he must first defeat Republican Painesville Councilwoman Lori DiNallo.

But if Troy wins, the Lake County Democratic Party would need to make an appointment to fill out the remaining two years of Troy’s term.

I’m told former Willoughby Municipal Court Judge Larry Allen has an interest in the potential appointment. Others mentioned so far within party circles are Willoughby Hills Councilman Kevin Malecek and former state Rep. Mark Schneider.

Paper ballots

Lake County Elections Board reports that 28 people used a paper ballot during the March 6 primary. The state required each county that uses electronic voting equipment to have paper ballots on hand equivalent to 10 percent of the number of people who cast ballots in the March 2008 primary. The idea is for them to be available to people who want a paper ballot or in case of emergency.

That means 7,778 paper ballots were ordered at a cost of $2,022.28 in Lake County. That equates to $72.23 per vote cast by paper.

LGYR Hall of Fame

The 12th Annual Lake-Geauga Young Republicans Hall of Fame Dinner will be April 20 at Cappelli’s Party Center in Mentor. It is the organization’s sole fundraiser of the year.

The club will induct into its Hall of Fame former founding member Stephen Patt, who was instrumental to help restart the organization in 1999.

Past inductees include Steven LaTourette, Fellows, Jamie Callender, Raymond Sines, Timothy Grendell, B.J. Kresnye, Louis Mucci, Clair, Schmidt, Vincent Culotta and Eugene Lucci.

The LGYRs meet on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at Cork’s Wine Bar in Willoughby.

Fundies

n Fundraiser for Susan McGuinness, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 61, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 16 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. April 18 at LaMalfa in Mentor. See Stephen Byron.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: newsheraldjah