In Sunday's News-Herald were two stories from The Associated Press about candidates in the Nov. 2 election. John Seewer looks at three U.S. House seats in Ohio currently held by Democrats that Republicans are targeting. Julie Carr Smyth writes about statewide officeholders not seeking re-election, which means the party in power could easily change hands.

After reading those articles and watching the first debate between Gov. Ted Strickland and his Republican challenger John Kasich, I'm starting to look forward to Nov. 2. While I'm tired of the biting campaign commercials, I'm excited to see how the races are going to shake out. Will Republicans take U.S. House seats from Democrats? Will Democrats Attorney General Richard Cordray and Treasurer Kevin Boyce be able to hold onto their positions? Will the voters who helped Barack Obama win the presidency turn out for Democrats, Republicans or not at all? Will the tea party movement have an effect on the regular election? (Monday's RedBlueAmerica weighed in on that, and, as is usually the case, I find myself agreeing with both sides.)

I'm not sure if I'll be surprised at the outcome of the election, though at this point I have no idea what is going to happen -- nor for whom I'm going to cast my vote. Nov. 2 will be an interesting day, and I will be glued to the TV and elections boards' websites all night waiting to see what happen happens. Where will you be Nov. 2?


-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

The first debate between Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland and Republican challenger John Kasich tonight should prove to be quite interesting.

The event will be shown at 8 p.m. on Ohio News Network or on the Web: www.ONNtv.com

Strickland will likely allude to Kasich’s time spent working for Lehman Brothers and try to paint him as an out-of-touch Wall Street executive.

He also may try to blame Republicans and former President George W. Bush’s economic policies that led the country and not just Ohio into recession.

Strickland might also talk about school funding and his plan approved last year by the Ohio General Assembly.

Kasich will undoubtedly focus on Ohio’s unemployment rate and the number of jobs lost during the past four years.

He also is likely to blame Democrats and President Obama’s administration for their handling of the nation’s economy.

The challenger also will be making his first appearance to many potential voters, so he needs to appear as if he is calm, but in charge with fresh ideas.

-- John Arthur Hutchison, JHutchison@News-Herald.com

President Barack Obama will deliver remarks on the economy Wednesday afternoon at Cuyahoga Community College West Campus in Parma.

The event is open to invited guests only, according to the White House. Guests include students and faculty of Cuyahoga Community College, elected officials, and members of the Greater Cleveland community.

The president is scheduled to speak at around 2:10 p.m.

UPDATE: 11:49 a.m. 9/7/10

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, will join Obama in Parma.

Brown will first greet President Obama on the tarmac of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport prior to the President making a major address on the economy before Cleveland-area families, students, and faculty at Cuyahoga County Community College.

Brown is working alongside President Obama to pass the Small Business Jobs Act and to create jobs through a nationwide investment in transportation infrastructure.

UPDATE: 12:20 p.m 9/7/10

Gov. Ted Strickland and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher will also attend the event, according to the governor's office.


-- John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Gov. Ted Strickland will be in Euclid to serve as a grand marshal for the 2010 annual North Shore AFL-CIO Parade. Ed Fitzgerald, a Democratic candidate for Cuyahoga County executive will also serve as a grand marshal.

The event begins at 10 a.m. and the parade route will be from East 222nd Street to Lakeshore Boulevard to Sims Park.

Parking and shuttles will be available at Euclid City Hall and Euclid High School.

-- John Arthur Hutchison, JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today released the following statement in support of Cleveland hosting the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

The Democratic National Committee today announced Cleveland as a finalist along with Charlotte, Minneapolis and St. Louis.

"I can think of no better place to play host to a 2012 national political convention than the city of Cleveland," Strickland said. "Cleveland has a rich history, and arts, entertainment and cultural offerings that, along with Lake Erie, offer convention planners a menu of options and potential visitors the promise of a great experience. Perhaps most important, Cleveland provides the ideal backdrop for what is sure to be a historic convention as the city embodies the diversity and determined hope of America."

--- John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com

After Gov. Ted Strickland's appearance Saturday in Mentor, Lake County Republican Party Chairman Dale Fellows had this to say:

"Governor Strickland needs to move out of the way and let John Kasich, a dynamic visionary, lead the state of Ohio back to the greatness it once was," Fellows said. "Strickland correctly identified the most important issues facing Ohio, economic development and job creation, however, he and his Development Director, Lee Fisher, have led our state to economic disaster with over 400,000 jobs lost, century-old businesses leaving Ohio, and increased poverty. January can’t come soon enough for Ohioans and Ohio businesses."

Strickland also talked about providing "a high quality education for our kids," Fellows said.

"This is the same Ted Strickland who basically said when he was running for Governor in 2006 that if he can’t solve school funding as Governor he shouldn't be re-elected. Well Governor, you should not be re-elected for many reasons," the GOP chairman said.

-- John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Announcement today from the governor's office ...

Gov. Ted Strickland has appointed Michelle D. Earley to the Cleveland Municipal Court.

“Michelle will be a tireless advocate for the citizens of Cleveland,” Strickland said in a news release. “I am confident that Michelle will bring the innovative thinking that she demonstrated in the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office to the Municipal Court, and make the court more accessible and efficient.”

Michelle D. Earley, 35, of Cleveland, fills the seat vacated by the election of Judge Larry Jones to the 8th District Court.

Earley will take the bench on April 20. To retain the seat, she must run in the November 2009 judicial election.

Earley has served as the grand jury supervisor for the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office since 2006. She had previously served the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office as an assistant prosecuting attorney from 2000-2007.

“I am grateful to the Governor for granting me the opportunity to serve and I look forward to administering justice in a fair and thoughtful way on behalf of the citizens of Cleveland,” Earley said.

Earley received a bachelor of science degree in Information Systems from the Ohio State University in 1996 and a law degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1999.

-- John Arthur Hutchison

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland supports President Barack Obama’s nomination of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Strickland said Sebelius has ties to the state as she is the daughter of former Ohio Gov. John Gilligan.

“Kathleen spent much of her young life here in Ohio and we consider her one of our own," Strickland said. "I know that her enthusiasm for meaningful health care reform will benefit Ohio and the nation."

Strickland said the selection of Sebelius demonstrates a strong commitment to providing more Americans with access to affordable health care and she is able to work in a bipartisan fashion.

"Gov. Sebelius is respected by both Democrats and Republicans for her no-nonsense, bipartisan approach to getting things done for the people of Kansas," Strickland said. "That’s exactly the kind of leadership we need in our next Secretary of Health and Human Services.”

Sebelius, 60, is married to her husband, Gary, and has two sons, Ned and John.

-- John Arthur Hutchison

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland announced today that as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Ohio National Guard will receive more than $8.5 million for capital improvements to its facilities across the state.

“These funds will help us modernize and restore 22 National Guard facilities across the state while also putting more Ohioans to work,” Strickland said. “Not only will we extend the lives of the facilities, but we will reduce our operating expenses and be more environmentally friendly.”

The National Guard Bureau began collecting information on "shovel ready" projects from state National Guards in November 2008 in anticipation of a federal stimulus bill. The Bureau focused on roofing projects and projects related to energy efficiency. In the final bill, approximately $266 million was made available for these types of National Guard capital improvement projects nationwide.

Three of the projects will install solar panels at National Guard facilities.

"The stimulus package will fund Ohio National Guard renewable energy projects, installing solar panels at locations in Columbus, Toledo and at the Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center in Newton Falls," said Maj. Gen Gregory L. Wayt, the adjutant general. "These projects will save the National Guard about $78,000 in utility costs within the first year of operation, and will generate about 375,000 Kilowatt hours of electricity per year."

The 22 projects will differ in planning and implementation time, but the goal is to move projects forward as soon as possible. The federal stimulus bill requires that these funds be obligated by the end of September 2010.

-- John Arthur Hutchison

News from Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland's office ...

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland announced today the launch of www.recovery.ohio.gov, which will serve as the Ohio virtual headquarters for information regarding the infrastructure and other unbudgeted elements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – the federal stimulus package.

“This Web site is designed to ensure that all eligible entities seeking federal stimulus resources are provided with an opportunity to apply for funds, and that they are considered fairly and equally,” Strickland said. “While this represents the first step of a process that will be further defined when the stimulus bill is complete, we believe this will strengthen Ohio’s ability to act quickly when the resources become available.”

Interested entities are asked to submit expressions of interest through a brief form available on www.recovery.ohio.gov.

The form is not the application for stimulus resources, but the first step to identify the appropriate state agency that will facilitate the next steps in the application and review process.

The Web site will provide information updates on the stimulus process and outline the specific guidelines for submitting proposals for consideration as the federal guidelines are identified.

-- John Arthur Hutchison

Ohio Director of the Office of Budget and Management J. Pari Sabety will hold a press briefing Monday to discuss Governor Ted Strickland’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2010-2011.

The governor has a lot of curious people wondering exactly how he is going to pay for the school funding proposals he discussed last week. It is premature to be critical of how that is laid out until the details are released.

An item in particular is how will the potential switch to 200 school days up from 180 days per school year be paid for by local school districts that would have to renegotiate their contracts with teacher unions.

The governor has proposed bold ideas to improve education, let's see if he can back up his proposals with the funding it will take to get the job done.

Strickland vows not to raise taxes, but he has proposed items such as increasing fees and penalities to recoup more money from taxpayers. So in the meantime is it fair to wonder if perhaps getting a driver's license will cost $100?

-- John Arthur Hutchison