Lake Democrats

Mayor Ruffner Tackles Blight

2007-08-09T00:19:00.000-04:00

As Wickliffe Mayor Thomas Ruffner drives down Euclid Avenue each morning, he can't help but admire the improvements that have been made to the street over the past few years... Ruffner, his administrators and owners of many businesses on the street have worked together to turn it into a town center, complete with new streetscaping, improved signs and colorful planters.

But when Ruffner gets to 29553 Euclid Ave., his smile quickly fades. The former Ponderosa Steakhouse building has been the eyesore of Euclid Avenue - and the monkey on Ruffner's back - for years. With boarded-up windows, overgrown bushes and graffiti scrawled across the front, the building, in Ruffner's mind, is the one thing still holding the city back.

"It's the ugliest thing," Ruffner said. "It's been a longtime nightmare for the city." ...

"On behalf of the residents, business owners, City Council members and passers-by who judge our city by its main street, I implore the owner of the properties in question to immediately tear down your dilapidated buildings so we can all toast a new Wickliffe," Ruffner said. "Euclid Avenue will never be completed without action taken to improve this vital piece of real estate."

LaTourette-Bush Lovefest

2007-05-10T22:36:00.000-04:00

The Plain Dealer reports that Congressman LaTourette met with President Bush this week.

LaTourette was among eleven moderate Republicans who met with Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday to discuss the Iraq war. He described the discussion as "frank and candid" but wouldn't divulge specifics.

"I will respect the president of the United States and not be a big blabbermouth," said LaTourette

Apparently Bush's long-term Iraq plan is too important to share with the American people.

LaTourette went on to vote to continue the Iraq War. So far 3,380 Americans have died in Iraq and no weapons of mass destruction have been found.

Carol-Ann Schindel Refuses to Go Extra (Quarter) Mile for Constituents

2007-04-10T22:11:00.000-04:00

-- Rep. Carol-Ann Schindel --

Last week Perry Schools officials noticed an error in the proposed state funding levels produced by the Ohio Office of Budget Management (OBM). They notified newly-elected Rep. Carol Ann-Schindel (R-Leroy) to seek her help.

Her response?

Rep. Schindel “called and called OBM […] ” and could not get a hold of someone to answer questions. She could have followed up on behalf of her constituents and gone directly to the Office of Budget Management to demand answers. Instead she gave up and reported to the local press that she couldn’t get her phone calls returned.

Rep. Schindel acts as though OBM is on a different planet when in reality her Columbus office and OBM are in the same government complex and are only 250 yards apart. Simply put, Carol-Ann Schindel refused to walk down the block to get answers for her constituents.

To put this in perspective, this is about the same distance between Dillard’s and JC Penney at Great Lakes Mall. Perhaps OBM could have offered a 10% off sale to coax Rep. Schindel down the street.

NH: Dann Did The Right Thing

2007-04-07T15:04:00.000-04:00

Attorney General Marc Dann

From Saturday's News-Herald:

BRICKBATS: To the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, which illegally appointed Paul Centolella as its newest member in a closed session Feb. 7. Such appointments are required by Ohio's Open Meetings Act to be made in open session, with the public invited. There's a very good reason for that - it makes government bodies more accountable to you, the people they serve.

Attorney General Marc Dann's office this week sent out a letter demanding that the nomination be undertaken again in open session. Ultimately, it probably won't make much difference, as Gov. Ted Strickland will apparently ask for Centolella to be appointed again, and there's no reason to think he won't be a good commissioner. Regardless, it's a good thing someone is there to make sure PUCO and other public bodies don't ignore the law.

Lt. Gov Fisher Visits Lake County

2007-03-31T09:09:00.000-04:00

From the News-Herald:

Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher said Friday that one of his newest goals is
for the state to change the way it looks at economic and work force development. Fisher, a political veteran from Cleveland, made his first public appearance in Lake County as lieutenant governor. He appeared as the keynote speaker at LaMalfa Centre in Mentor for a luncheon hosted by the Lake County Economic Development Center. About 200 people were in attendance. His talk came one day after Gov. Ted Strickland made his first Lake County appearance since taking office.

Fisher, who also serves as Ohio Department of Development director, said the state needs to develop a talented work force, and the best way to do that is to better coordinate and improve education. He said prominent companies that are looking to retain or expand their businesses are seeking locations where they know they can find qualified, skilled workers. These companies also want a place where they know their workers will be able to live in safe neighborhoods and send their kids to good schools, the lieutenant governor said. He said the game isn't always best played just by providing tax abatements to companies and promises of new highway interchanges.

"Talent development is the game-changer," Fisher said.

One change in philosophy he cited for the Department of Development is the importance for representatives from the private sector and nonprofit organizations to play a role and be involved when there are internal discussions of how to attract and retain certain companies, he said. Fisher said it is also important for the state to share in the risks that organizations and local governments take to improve economic development.

"No one person is taking the risk alone," he said. "That's the strategy Gov. Strickland wants to do. Over the coming months, the governor and I will reach out to regional economic development leaders. ... It will be our job to tie the threads of the region together."

He said times have changed to the point that economic and work force development needs to be undertaken on a regional basis, rather than by smaller entities and governments.

"In a global economy, we need to compete on a different scale," Fisher said.

He touted Ohio's place as a leader in fuel cell production and said the state is leading that charge to create a new industry. "It's an industry that needs a lot of watering, but the returns could be unlimited," he said.

Lee Fisher previously served as Attorney General for Ohio and is from Greater Cleveland.

Governor Strickland Visits Mentor

2007-03-30T22:23:00.000-04:00

From the News-Herald:

Visiting Lake County for the first time since taking office, Gov. Ted Strickland hammered home his key proposals for the state budget Thursday at a fund-raiser for state Rep. Lorraine M. Fende, D-Willowick, at LaMalfa Party Center at Holiday Inn in Mentor. Strickland's proposals included a hit list of four basic items: Affordable health care for Ohioans under 21, a constitutional resolution to school funding, more affordable college tuition and economic opportunity that will create jobs and provide living wages.

The state's economic situation sounded bleak as Strickland said Ohio leads the nation in foreclosures. The funding package he inherited from former Gov. Bob Taft left him with $1 billion-$1.5 billion less than the former administration said he would have, he said. Budgets for the next two years will have the least growth, at 2.2 percent, of any for the past 42 years, he said.

"How do you balance a budget like that and also do new things? I asked the cabinet to scrutinize their departments for every savings possibility," he told the estimated 300 in attendance.

Strickland said he is committed to living within the state's means and concentrating on what really matters. He said if Republican leaders support his proposals, he will make affordable health care available to every child in the state under age 21. His public school education initiative includes increasing the state's share of funding to 54 percent by 2011, thereby reducing property owners' share. College costs were also one of the governor's concerns.

"Since 1996, we've seen an average of 9 percent increase each year in the cost of college tuition in Ohio," he said. "Ohio is 47 percent above the national average in college tuition costs to our young people. In this budget, we are calling for a significant investment in Ohio's education system. I've asked our colleges for zero tuition increase for next year."

Additionally, Strickland proposed:
That the state's $5 billion tobacco settlement funds be used to expedite school construction projects that are already on the books
Providing for a smoker cessation program
Deferring bond debt for the next three years, saving $257 million annually in interest to be used to provide tax cuts to seniors and the disabled.
Although Ohio has lost a significant amount of manufacturing in the past decades, it continues to be the nation's third-greatest manufacturer and is fourth in production of durable goods, he said. The manufacturing base requires energy and Strickland proposed to spend $250 million annually to help fund development of alternative energy sources including wind, bio-diesel, ethanol and liquefied coal.

"We must invest in the things that will break us free from the past and help move an aggressive agenda forward," he said.

Strickland urged the audience to support Fende as she runs for re-election in 2008. He said she has been a good friend and supporter of his agenda in Columbus.

"I think we now have the political will and vision to move forward," he said.

After the event, Fende said the state of Ohio is lucky to have Strickland as their governor.

"He represents working families, cares for seniors and supports a strong educational program," she said. "He is committed to making a positive difference in the state."

Representative Fende is serving in her second term and is the Ranking Democrat on the Alternative Energy Committee.

Elizabeth Edwards Receives Warm Welcome in Cleveland

2007-03-28T01:45:00.000-04:00

From Akron Beacon Journal:

Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards, was in Cleveland today for her first solo appearance since the couple announced that she has Stage 4 breast cancer.

Her courage was rewarded with two standing ovations at a Cleveland City Club luncheon.

Edwards -- whose cancer initially was diagnosed at the end of the 2004 presidential campaign -- learned that the cancer has moved to her bones.

Even so, her message is one of pushing forward, including continuing to campaign on her husband's behalf [...]

She said her greatest hope is that the thousands of people who sent her emails and letters of support will redirect their kindness and concern to families in their own communities who are receiving the same unsettling news.

Watch the full speech at WKYC.COM

Lake County Stonewall Democrats?

2007-03-24T12:17:00.000-04:00

John Majdiak is trying to start a new Stonewall Democratic club in Lake County. Anyone interested can call John at 440-223-6832.

Barack Obama Visits Cleveland

2007-02-27T20:18:00.000-05:00

From the News-Herald

Sen. Barack Obama, D-III, brought the campaign trail buzz to Northeast Ohio on Monday with a rally drawing thousands to Cuyahoga Community College's eastern campus in Highland Hills. After the gymnasium filled, many supporters were funneled into overflow rooms to watch the Democratic presidential candidate on closed-circuit television as he took the stage just after 8 p.m.

"This is the end of the first leg of a long journey, and it's a good place to end it - in Cleveland, Ohio," Obama said, adding that he expects to win the Democratic nomination and turn Ohio into a blue state in 2008.

Obama spoke for half an hour on topics ranging from the war in Iraq and the war on terror, to domestic issues like health care and education. The turnout surprised campaign volunteer Julie Stipich of Perry Village.

"I've been somewhat involved in small ways with candidates like John Kerry, and I couldn't imagine this kind of energy a year and a half before an election," she said. "I think where we're at in the country is a big reason for the interest. Obama is what people are looking for that we haven't had."

Stipich said Obama comes off as a "thoughtful" person with good judgment, which she hopes will resonate with voters who might dismiss him for lack of experience. The senator wasted no time in distancing himself from fellow candidates who supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

"We know that we are in the midst of a war that should have never been authorized," he said, adding that money spent on Iraq could be better spent on things like urban renewal.

"It's time to give the Iraqis their country back," he said. The senator supports a phased redeployment of troops out of Iraq beginning in May, with all combat troops being removed by March 31, 2008.

"It seems to me that he is way more in tune with the average, middle-of-the-road American and what we're thinking about," Stipich said.

She said the diversity of the crowd - black, white, young and old - was also a very positive sign for supporters.

"People are so anxious - they are so desperate for change," she said. "We deserve an inspiring candidate like this."

A special salute to our own Julie Stipich of Perry Village for getting active for 2008 so early. Together we can take back our country!

Tim Grendell, The Republican Kucinich

2006-02-06T13:39:00.000-05:00

In 2003 when Cleveland Congressman Dennis Kucinich announced his candidacy for President, Tim Grendell probably rolled his eyes. Like most folks, Grendell likely thought it was quite silly for a 4-term Congressman to run for President. Grendell probably never thought that in 2 years, he'd become the Republican Kucinich.

In May 2005, Grendell, an Ohio State Senator for all of 4 months at the time, announced his candidacy for Attorney General. The News-Herald, a frequent supporter of Grendell, remarked that is was "far too early" for Grendell to be seeking a higher office. With two former Republican Attorney Generals running for Governor, Grendell hoped he could slide in and win the Republican nomination for Attorney General.

Unfortunately for Grendell, one of the former AG's has since been persuaded to drop out of the Governor's race and run again for Attorney General. With this adept political move, the Taft Establishment has reasserted its dominance over the Ohio Republican Party. Grendell, now trailing badly in fundraising and name recognition, doesn't stand a chance in the May primary.

Will Grendell continue to emulate Kucinich, running in a race he has no hope of winning?

We can only roll our eyes and wait for Tim to come back to reality.

Tim Grendell's Radical Friends

2006-01-19T20:17:00.000-05:00

Our state senator, Republican Tim Grendell, has been hanging out with some pretty radical people lately.

The Akron Beacon Journal has the story:

Ohio Restoration Project founder Russell Johnson brought his 10-city Patriot Pastors tour to the Akron-Canton area Tuesday. [...]
Johnson warned that Christians have allowed a 'secular jihad' to remove prayer, the Ten Commandments and the Bible from public places.
He likened it to Nazi Germany, where church congregations would sing so that they could not hear the passing of trainloads of crying Jews headed for a nearby concentration camp.
Too many Christians lead "Neville Chamberlain lives," Johnson said, referring to the British prime minister who signed a neutrality pact with Adolf Hitler.
A picture of Hitler and Chamberlain flashed on the screens.
"We're calling God's people to pray, to serve, to shine and to be salt and light," he said. [...]

These radicals, who compared the absence of government-sponsored religion in school to the Holocaust, were joined by our very own Tim Grendell who "delivered the closing prayer".

Senator Grendell, why are you catering to these wackos?

Mary Jane Trapp Announces for Judge

2006-01-09T16:58:00.000-05:00

From MaryJaneTrapp.com:

I am excited to announce that I will seek the Democratic nomination for the open seat on the 11th District Court of Appeals. Judge Ford must retire at the end of his term due to mandatory age limitations imposed upon judges, and I would be honored to follow in his distinguished footsteps.
In my travels around the state as President of the Ohio State Bar Association I heard so often that people want to have confidence again in their courts. They want an open and equal justice system in which to resolve disputes and protect their rights.
The public wants judges who will follow the law, not the dictates of special interests. The public wants an impartial judge, not a politican on the bench.
Appeals courts consider cases from all areas of the law-not just criminal appeals but civil cases including personal injury, divorce, child custody, juvenile, zoning, contract disputes and probate. I have prepared myself for this position over 24 years of practice and by serving for 6 years on the Supreme Court Rules Advisory Committee, which studies and writes rules for all courts below the Supreme Court. I served on subcommittee that writes rules for the court of appeals.
Moreover, my practice has taken me to all levels of the justice system all across the state. I have a broad general practice including, domestic relations, probate, juvenile, real estate and complex civil litigation. I am proud of my work advocating for children, the elderly, and the mentally ill. The most satisfying cases for me have been cases involving the kids that I have represented, especially those in which the court has appointed me to represent the child in their parents’ divorces.
I will continue to follow my deep commitment to improving administration of justice and legal reform in order to assure access to an independent judicial system in which the public has faith and confidence.
I welcome your questions or comments. Please send them to feedback@maryjanetrapp.com.
The Plain Dealer, 10/17/04 - "Trapp is precisely the kind of level-headed, thoughtful, experienced lawyer who ought to be on the appellate bench."

Happy Holidays!

2005-12-24T10:52:00.000-05:00

The Lake County Democratic Party and Santa Claus (Kevin Malecek) would like to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Lake County Dems Endorse Strickland

2005-12-05T17:08:00.000-05:00

Mentor, Ohio -The Lake County Democratic Party announced today that they have endorsed Ohio gubernatorial candidate Congressman Ted Strickland.

"Ted Strickland is our choice for Governor because he's the best candidate to get Ohio headed in the right direction again," said Tom Tagliamonte, chair of the Lake County Democratic Party. "Ted will clean up the corruption in Columbus and shift the focus to creating jobs, revitalizing education and making healthcare available for all Ohioans."

"I am very honored to have received the Lake County Democratic Party's endorsement to be Ohio's next governor," Strickland said. "I pledge to work with the citizens of Lake County and all Ohio counties to get our state back on track. We need to create living wage jobs. We need to improve our educational system. And we need to make sure that health care is available to every citizen across our great state."

With 227,000 citizens, Lake County is Ohio's eleventh most populated county. The endorsement marks Strickland's 21st and his largest county Democratic Party organization endorsement received to date.

Listen to Thomas Tagliamonte, chair of the Lake County Democratic Party, endorse Ted.

Listen to Ted accept the Lake County Democratic Party endorsement.

Straight from LaTourette's Mouth

2005-12-04T19:50:00.000-05:00

On the night of Thursday November 17th, Congressman Steve LaTourette flip-flopped on an important budget vote. He promised his constituents that he'd vote against the bill, and in fact vote against it before caving to Republican leadership and voting for it. The budget cuts important services for the poor right in time for Christmas.

What was LaTourette thinking?

WCPN, Cleveland's NPR affiliate, interviewed LaTourette on the night of the vote. WCPN explains:

"Around 1:15 am Friday, LaTourette voted against the legislation.
Correspondent Chad Pergram interviewed LaTourette shortly after his no
vote...
'I voted no because in my district people understand the need for tax relief because it's growing the economy, but they don't understand why when we achieve savings, it comes from programs that help people who are disadvantaged.'
But the GOP leadership desperately needed LaTourette's help to pass this
controversial measure at the last minute. So LaTourette caved. And at 1:55
am, Pergram again interviewed LaTourette to find out how Republican leaders
cajoled the Congressman to change his vote.
'The Speaker of the House and the leadership of the House came and indicated that we're a majority. We need to govern and that in order to govern you need to move a package out of the House. To do nothing and not get it over to the Senate I think would not be discharging my responsibility.' "

Later LaTourette admits:

"It's still not right for the district... It's not right..."

How did LaTourette think his district would react?

"Well, Chardon's under 12 inches of snow so they're really not worried what happened here tonight."

Hear the full interview here.

In the end, LaTourette felt that it would not be responsible to vote against this bill. LaTourette needs a wake up call. Our Congressman should be responsive to the needs of his constituents not to the needs of the Republican majority.

Kudos to local activist Susan Lambert who forwarded us the link. If you have information you'd like to share, please send us an email at Doug@LakeDems.com.

Who is Ted Strickland?

2005-12-04T13:14:00.000-05:00

With Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman dropping out of the Governor's Race, Congressman Ted Strickland is now the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for Governor.

On Thursday Ted Strickland sat down with Meet The Bloggers, a group of area bloggers, for an in-depth interview. You can listen to the interview or read the transcript. Here are some segments:

Ted Strickland on Education:

"We need to move away from a local property tax. The funding for elementary and secondary education by Constitution is a state responsibility. And over a period of decades, that responsibility has gradually been shifted down to the local level, increasingly to the local level [...]

We're never going to be a healthy state if we don't address this issue. It's not something that we can choose to do or not to do. It's something that we must do in my judgment. [...]

If the legislature doesn't go along, I'll conduct a continuous campaign against them as governor."

Ted Strickland on LaTourette's CAFTA Flip-Flop:

"Steve Latourette spoke vehemently against that bill and how bad it was and how it would hurt his constituency. And then he went in and he voted yes. [...] I think Steve sold out."

Ted Strickland on Economic Development:

"There are certain regions of this state that are doing very well. There are other regions that aren't doing well at all. I think the effort should be directed toward the regions that are most in need of help. And that the economic development dollars should be directed and spent in those regions."

Ted Strickland on Wal-Mart:

"There's a bill before the Ohio Senate that I strongly support. And that's to require employers in this state that have employees that are on public assistance to be identified. Of course, Wal-Mart's going to be probably at the top of that list."

For the rest of the interview, check out Meet The Bloggers.

Photo by Tim Russo of BuckeyePolitics.net.

Peterson Runs for Congress

2005-11-27T20:53:00.000-05:00

Meteorologist and progressive activist Palmer J. Peterson of Aurora is running for Congress. Peterson, 31, is inspired by his father and mother who served as mayor and clerk-treasurer, respectively, of the Village of Reminderville in Summit County.

"I learned valuable political lessons as I grew up, but the most important one I learned was that of service. To be elected is to be a steward of the people, one who is looking out for the people's best interests. Being elected is a bond. A bond of trust between the elected and the electors," explains Peterson.

Peterson feels that our current congressman, Steve LaTourette, has broken that bond with his constituents. LaTourette has become a "creature of Washington".

Peterson is joined in the Democratic primary by Lewis Katz, a law professor at Case Western.

To learn more about Palmer J. Peterson, visit www.PalmerJPeterson.com.

PD: Jeers to LaTourette

2005-11-27T17:06:00.000-05:00

From Friday's Plain Dealer Editorial:

"Jeers...

to Rep. Steve LaTourette, first for shelving his conscience and second for insulting his constituents. After letting the House GOP leadership twist his arm enough to gain his support for a budget bill he had described as "lousy," LaTourette offered this flippant response when
questioned about his constituents' likely reaction: "Chardon's under 12 inches of snow, so they're really not worried about what happened here tonight." Congressman, the folks in Chardon are perfectly capable of shoveling their driveways and thinking about politics at the same time."

Happy Thanksgiving!

2005-11-23T10:14:00.000-05:00

The Lake County Democratic Party would like to wish
you and your family a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Marc Dann Runs for Attorney General

2005-11-22T16:30:00.000-05:00

State Senator Marc Dann is no stranger to Lake County. Representing neighboring Ashtabula County in the Ohio Senate, Marc Dann has made a name for himself as a government watchdog. He is leading the charge in the investigation of the Republican Coingate Scandal that has rocked state government. Last week Senator Dann announced his candidacy for Attorney General.

"I'll represent the people by doing everything in my power to destroy the vile pay-to-play system that has infected state government, eroded the public trust, and damaged our state," proclaims Marc Dann. "I know that those who benefit from the status quo will stop at nothing to preserve it, but I am confident that with your support and that of the millions of
Ohioans who know in their hearts that we can and must do better."

Marc Dann means business. He is currently the plaintiff in a law suit against Governor Bob Taft. Dann is demanding that Governor Taft release documents to shed light on Coingate. The case is currently before the Ohio Supreme Court. As Attorney General, Marc Dann will take anyone to task, even the Governor of Ohio, if they stand in the way of justice for the people of Ohio.

For more information on Marc Dann, visit DannForOhio.com

Katz to Challenge LaTourette

2005-11-21T22:17:00.000-05:00

Lewis Katz, a respected law professor at Case Western, has decided to run for Congress. Katz, 66, has a long history of public service. He began his career as a JAG lawyer in the Naval Reserves. Over the years he has offered his legal expertise to help numerous causes.

"Our country is built upon ideals that inspire people all over the world," declares Katz. "It is time to return to those ideals and assure opportunities for all Americans."

The public is invited to meet Mr. Katz at two Town Hall Meetings in the area. The meetings will be:

Tuesday, November 29th at 7 PM
Mentor Beach Park Pavilion
7779 Lake Shore Boulevard, Mentor

Tuesday, December 6th at 7 PM
R.B. Chamberlin Middle School
10270 Ravenna Road, Twinsburg

Learn more about Lewis Katz at www.katzforcongress.com

How Mr. LaTourette Stole Christmas

2005-11-20T15:56:00.000-05:00

The Christmas Season is supposed to be one of compassion and generosity, but you'd have a hard time trying to convince Congressman Steve LaTourette (R-Concord) of that.

Stephen Koff of The Plain Dealer explains:

[LaTourette] voted early Friday for a budget bill he calls "lousy." It was so lousy that when he walked into the chamber from the pre-dawn darkness, he said he was going to vote against it. [...]
In the early morning, LaTourette told a public radio reporter that he was voting "no" because people in his district "don't understand why, when we achieve savings, it comes from programs that help people that are disadvantaged."
It came as a surprise, then, that LaTourette voted the opposite way. He soon acknowledged that Republican leaders convinced him that they needed his support.

How does LaTourette think his constituents will react?

"Well, Chardon's under 12 inches of snow, so they're really not worried about what happened here tonight," LaTourette replied.

"Pooh-pooh to the Whos!"

Congressman LaTourette thinks we're not paying attention. He thinks he can get away with this vote, a vote that cuts programs for the disadvantaged while giving tax breaks to millionaires. What do these program cuts mean for Ohio? This bill:

-Cuts heating bill assistance for 35,700 poor Ohioans
-Cuts food stamps for 5,500 Ohio mothers and children
-Cuts housing assistance vouchers for 2,500 Ohioans
-Cuts $458 million dollars for Child Support Collection in Ohio over the next five years

Mr. LaTourette, to the people in your district under a foot of snow, it matters if the heat is on, it matters if there is enough food on the table, and it matters if there is enough money to pay the rent.

Why is Mr. LaTourette stealing Christmas from Ohio's poor?

"It could be that his head wasn't screwed on quite right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small."

If you're interested in saving Christmas for Ohio's least fortunate, we recommend donating to the News-Herald's Clothe-A-Child charity. Every penny donated goes to children in the area. Checks can be written to The News-Herald and sent to 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094.

Cassell & Fende Endorse Strickland

2005-11-15T22:31:00.000-05:00

Columbus - Lake County's two state representatives joined 25 other state legislators at the Ohio Statehouse to endorse Congressman Ted Strickland for Governor.

"I know Ted Strickland to be a man of integrity who has high morals and is very honest," says RepresentativeLorraine Fende (D-Willowick). "Ohio needs a change of leadership in the Governor's Office."

"Ted Strickland is the best man for the top job in Ohio," says Representative Tim Cassell (D-Madison). "Ted is no stranger to Northeast Ohio. His record of fighting for working people is unmatched. Ted has a genuine love for Ohio and as governor he'll restore dignity and integrity to our great state."

Listen to Representative Lorraine Fende's Endorsement.

Listen to Representative Tim Cassell's Endorsement.

Strickand & Coleman: Vote YES On Issues 2-5

2005-11-04T16:55:00.000-05:00

COLUMBUS - The two leading Democratic candidates for governor urge voters to support state issues 2,3,4, and 5. The issues, a non-partisan response to the current scandals in state government, are an attempt to reform the election process in Ohio.

"In light of what has unfolded at the Statehouse in recent months, I believe these reforms are both timely and necessary if we are to restore public confidence in state government," says Coleman.

The four amendments (#2) enable no-excuse absentee voting, (#3) reduce campaign contribution limits, (#4) create an independent board to draw competitive legislative and Congressional districts; and (#4) create a state board of elections to run Ohio's voting process.

"These amendments attempt to bring fairness back to a system that is heavily tilted toward protecting incumbent politicians, and perpetuating an ineffective voting system," adds Coleman. "Reform Ohio Now offers common sense alternatives to make elected officials responsive to the voters who elect them."

"Of special importance is Issue 4, ensuring that we have fair and competitive legislative districts," emphasizes Congressman Strickland.

Strickland's district was drastically re-drawn in 2002 in an intentional effort to force him out of Congress. Strickland defeated this under-handed move and is seen today, along with Mayor Coleman, as one of Ohio's rising stars.

The Lake County Democratic Party has not taken a position on these issues. For a brief summary of the pro's and con's of each issue, visit the Plain Dealer.

Top Cheney Aide Indicted; Resigns

2005-10-30T17:26:00.000-05:00

Our local News-Herald has the story:

WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff resigned Friday
after he was indicted on charges of obstructing a grand jury investigation and
lying about his actions that blew the CIA cover of an Iraq war critic's wife.
I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby became the first high-ranking White House official
in decades to be criminally charged while still in office. [...]
Libby wasn't indicted specifically for the leak, but special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald left little doubt that he believed Cheney's top aide learned Valerie Plame's classified identity from the CIA, State Department and his own boss and then revealed it to reporters.
"It's important that a CIA officer's identity be protected, that it be protected not just for the officer, but for the nation's security," the prosecutor said. "Mr. Libby was the first official known to have told a reporter." [...]
The 22-page indictment was the latest blow in one of the darkest weeks of the Bush presidency, which also saw the 2,000th U.S. military death in Iraq and the embarrassing withdrawal of Harriet Miers as Bush's Supreme Court nominee. [...]

Republican Fundraiser, Coin Dealer Indicted

2005-10-29T16:34:00.000-04:00

Our local News-Herald has the story:

TOLEDO - Coin dealer Tom Noe made a name for himself in Ohio politics with
the lavish dinners he bought for Republican power brokers and the big checks he
wrote to GOP candidates.
He became one of the state's top fund-raisers and a friend to many, turning
those connections into several political appointments.
Now questions about how he raised money for President Bush's re-election
campaign are the basis for a federal indictment that accuses Noe of illegally
funneling $45,400 to the president's 2004 campaign through Noe's friends and
associates.
Prosecutors say Noe wrote checks to his friends in the eight days leading up
to a Bush fundraiser at a downtown Columbus hotel on Oct. 30, 2003. Noe's
friends then made the campaign donations in their own names, skirting the $2,000 limit on individual contributions, the indictment said.
It's one of the most blatant and excessive finance schemes we have
encountered," said Noel Hillman, section chief of the U.S. Department of
Justice's public integrity section.

In the pay-to-play world of Republican politics, S45,400 gets you face time with the President of the United States. (Click Here For Picture)

Geauga Endorses Strickland

2005-10-26T19:55:00.000-04:00

From TedStrickland.com:

Chardon, Ohio - The Geauga County Democratic Party announced today that they have endorsed Congressman Ted Strickland for Governor. Geauga is the 14th county party to endorse Strickland for governor.
"Ted Strickland is a person of tremendous integrity and sincerity, and we stand behind him for governor," said Greg Studen, Geauga County Democratic Party
Chair. "Ted has spent a significant amount of time in Geauga County. He is an
interested, responsive leader who is committed to all Ohioans."
"As the first county endorsement from the northeast area of Ohio, I feel particularly thankful for the Geauga County Democratic Party's support," Strickland said. "As governor, I will work to build an economy that thrives on individual creativity and hard work, schools that don't just compete but set the pace for the rest of the nation and a state government free of corruption and hard at work meeting the needs of its people."
"Ted's experience and his focus on core issues of importance to the people of northeastern Ohio make him stand out," Studen continued. "Ted is a hard-working candidate and he'll be the hardest-working governor."

Geauga has cast their lot with Congressman Strickland. Who should Lake County endorse?

Local Halloween Events

2005-10-25T22:56:00.000-04:00

From the Plain Dealer:

Halloween Hayrides

Lake Farmpark
8800 Chardon Road, Kirtland
Friday Oct. 28th 7-9pm
Saturday Oct. 29th 6-9pm
(Tickets Sell Out Fast)
More Info: Lake Metroparks

Haunted Houses

Fright World
Fairgrounds, Painesville
Friday, Saturday Oct 28-29 7-Midnight
More Info: Fright World

Trick or Treat Times

Lake County
Monday, October 31, 6-8 p.m.

The Lake County Democratic Party wishes you and your family a safe and happy Halloween weekend!

Yuko Endorses Strickland

2005-10-13T19:57:00.000-04:00

Euclid, Ohio - Local State Representative Kenny Yuko endorsed Ohio gubernatorial candidate Congressman Ted Strickland on Wednesday afternoon.

"I'm endorsing Ted Strickland for governor because I'm tired of politicians who preach morals yet turn their backs on the weak and the poor," Rep. Yuko, whose House District includes Euclid, South Euclid and Highland Heights, said. "In order to turn Ohio around, we need a true leader. Ted Strickland is that leader."

"I am deeply thankful to Representative Yuko for his endorsement and support," Strickland said. "Ohio needs more leaders like Kenny who fight for the interests of working families. As governor, I'll lead the fight to end corruption, rebuild Ohio's economy and revive Ohio's education system."

Learn more about Ted at www.TedStrickland.com.

GOP Leader Tom DeLay Indicted; Steps Down

2005-09-29T21:32:00.000-04:00

The News-Herald has the story:

WASHINGTON - House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was indicted by a Texas grand jury Wednesday on a charge of conspiring to violate political fund-raising laws, forcing him to temporarily step aside from his GOP post. He is the highest-ranking member of Congress to face criminal prosecution. [...]
DeLay, 58, was indicted on a single felony count of conspiring with two political associates. [...] The indictment stems from a plan DeLay helped set in motion in 2001 to help Republicans win control of the Texas House in the 2002 elections for the first time since reconstruction.
The grand jury accused the men of conspiring to route corporate donations from DeLay's Texas committee to the Republican Party in Washington, then returning the money back to Texas legislative candidates. It was a scheme intended to evade a state law outlawing corporate donations going to candidates, the indictment said.

When will the corruption end?

Coingate: The Crux of the Issue

2005-09-22T16:59:00.000-04:00

Today's Toledo Blade features an article about Pay-To-Play politics that highlights the differences between Democrats and the current Republican leadership. The Blade writes:

COLUMBUS - Democratic lawmakers plan to introduce legislation to combat what they call pay-to-play" in state government.
State Sen. Marc Dann of suburban Youngstown said he is working with fellow Democrats on a "government reform package" that would ban employees of firms with state contracts from contributing to the officeholder who awards those contracts. [...]
The Blade reported Sunday that dozens of engineering and consulting firms that work for the Ohio Department of Transportation have contributed more than $1 million to mostly GOP politicians, political parties, and political action committees over the last decade. [...]
In the past five years, those firms have received more than $400 million in ODOT contracts.

Democrats see the scandals involving pay-to-play politics and seek to make laws to prevent such abuse in the future. What do the current Republicans have to say on the issue?

"The problem is no matter how you write the rules, people find more tenuous ways to get around them," said state Sen. Jeff Jacobson (R., Dayton).

One party wants to put an end to pay-to-play politics. Another is satisfied to continue with the current corrupt state of affairs.

PD: LaTourette fundraiser to cash in CAFTA vote

2005-09-21T19:17:00.000-04:00

The PD's Stephen Koff has the story:

Washington- U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette's last-minute flip-flop on the Central American Free Trade Agreement has caused no shortage of embarrassment.
But the Lake County Republican may be getting something for his trouble.
Tonight, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman, President Bush's chief emissary on CAFTA, will co-host a political fund- raiser for LaTourette. Donors who put up $500 to $2,500 to see Portman at the Capitol Hill Club will be benefiting LaTourette's political treasury. [...]
LaTourette, of Concord Township, voted for CAFTA in July after telling people that he was against the trade pact. He said he changed his mind after being contacted by Kraftmaid, the Geauga County-based cabinet maker, and being told that passing CAFTA was necessary to eliminate costly tariffs and preserve company jobs.
But The Plain Dealer revealed that those tariffs were already exempt under other trade rules, making it impossible for Kraftmaid's jobs to be at risk. [...]
Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, called the LaTourette fund-raiser "a corporate CAFTA payoff party, a block from the U.S. Capitol."

News-Herald: Scandal Clouds Petro's Future

2005-09-11T19:20:00.000-04:00

Sunday's News-Herald featured an editorial scolding the poor performance of Jim Petro:

Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro's political aspirations to be governor are sinking with his slow response to problems at the state Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Twin scandals at the [Bureau of Workers Compensation] deserved his undivided attention long before Ohioans knew who Tom Noe was.
Additionally, recent letters from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission state the SEC told Petro in March 2004 about "possible abuse in discretion" by the bureau for paying commissions to three brokers since at least 2002. This was more than one year before the BWC investments scandal was known.
Noe, of Maumee, is the Republican fund-raiser who was given $50 million from the bureau to invest in rare coins. The fund lost $13 million and Petro's office is leading the investigation of Noe. Compounding this financial crisis, it was learned just weeks later that MDL Capital Management of Pittsburgh lost $215 million on high-risk investments.
Petro's duties compel him to serve as our watchdog over legal matters involving state government. If there's even a hint that something is wrong, it's time to get answers.The SEC information should have initiated a deeper probe to learn how big the fire was where this smoke billowed.
The concern about Petro's response isn't that he didn't do this job. The problem is he didn't display the required level of vigilance when he had an opportunity to peel the lid off this scandal. [...]
Jim Petro has forgotten what his job is: He's the people's lawyer first," said state Sen. Marc Dann, D-Liberty Township.

Meet Mike Coleman

2005-09-05T20:49:00.000-04:00

In February, Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman announced his candidacy for governor. A city councilman before being elected mayor in 1999, Coleman has served in public office for 13 years. During his tenure, he has been a strong advocate for fiscal discipline.

Coleman explains:

As Mayor of Ohio's largest city, I understand the challenge of allocating
scarce resources and still getting the job done...
We made the tough decisions... cutting $190 million from budgets... protecting
basic neighborhood services... and still hiring more Police Officers and Fire
fighters... during a time of national economic recession... the worst since the
Great Depression.

Coleman has aligned himself with the Democratic Leadership Council, a moderate pro-business group of Democrats.

In an address to the DLC, Coleman declared:

Sometimes leadership means putting politics aside and reaching out even to those
on the other side of the aisle. For example, today I am offering to help a
struggling Ohio Governor and a Republican-controlled legislature to forge a
bipartisan solution to a jobs-and-technology effort called the Third Frontier.
I'm doing so because it is good for the state, for our citizens and the future
of jobs and economic development for our state. That's what leaders do.

Coleman is very familiar with the needs of people from around Ohio. He was born and raised in Toledo, attended college in Cincinnati, went to law school in Dayton, and has made his home in Columbus.

Why is Coleman running?

Coleman answers:

For more than a decade we have watched the musical chairs of the current
statewide office holders, scheming and plotting to be governor rather than doing
their jobs. They have put ambition about the mission.
Hope and ambition should reside in the hearts of our citizens, not in the
failed leadership of those who want to serve only because they believe we owe
them the governor's office just because they are next in line. [...]
I don't just want to hold the job of Governor... I want to DO the job!

To learn more about Mike Coleman or to get involved with his campaign, visit his website at http://www.colemanforohio2006.com/

For a profile of Congressman Ted Strickland, the other Democratic candidate for governor, click here.

Pay-to-Play with Jim Petro

2005-08-30T16:18:00.000-04:00

Via the blog Hypothetically Speaking, the Plain Dealer reports:

Columbus - Four of every five dollars requested by Attorney General Jim Petro for special counsel contracts for this fiscal year will go to law firms that have given money to his political campaigns. [...]
[S]tate Democratic leaders said 41 of the 57 law firms receiving contracts on Monday have given Republican Petro more than $800,000 since 1998. Those same firms yesterday were awarded $15.4 million in contracts. [...]
"These special counsel contracts certainly seem to indicate a pay-to-play pattern," said Sen. Ray Miller, a Columbus Democrat and a member of the controlling board.

The Toledo Blade provides the details:

On the political contribution list, prepared by state Senate staff for Mr. Miller, the highest contributor to Mr. Petro was Hahn, Loesser & Parks LLP, which gave $95,016 since 1998 to the attorney general's campaigns. The firm was approved for $500,000 in special counsel contracts at the meeting yesterday.
Second on the contribution list was Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, which gave about $68,611 to Petro campaigns. The firm was approved yesterday for $1.47 million in special counsel work.
Calfee, Halter & Griswold received the most special counsel work yesterday, $2.15 million worth, and gave $34,250 in political contributions to Mr. Petro since 1998, eighth on the list of 41 firms. [...]

And what does Petro's office have to say in response?

Mark Anthony, spokesman for Mr. Petro, said after the meeting that the political contributions are lawful [...]

"How about if the attorney general just follows the law of the land?" Mr. Anthony said. "Lawyers like to give campaign contributions. That's how they participate in democracy."

Taft Convicted!

2005-08-20T13:07:00.000-04:00

The News-Herald has the story:

Taft, the Republican great-grandson of President and later Chief Justice William Howard Taft, was convicted and fined Thursday for not reporting numerous golf outings and other gifts as governor.
In less than 24 hours, Taft became the first Ohio governor charged with or
convicted of a crime...
He pleaded no contest to failing to report 52 gifts worth nearly $6,000 that he received over four years in a case that spiraled off a scandal over state losses from investments in rare coins and other funds.
Franklin County Municipal Judge Mark Froehlich found Taft guilty of all four misdemeanor charges and fined him $4,000 plus $76 in court costs.

LaTourette's CAFTA Flip-Flop

2005-08-18T22:28:00.000-04:00

"For months, [Congressman Steve LaTourette] had said he was against CAFTA because he saw little in recent trade deals that helped American workers," writes Stephen Koff of the Plain Dealer.

Thus, when LaTourette voted for CAFTA in the wee hours of the night on July 27th, it came as a complete shock to many of his constituents.

Why did LaTourette flip flop at the last minute?

The Plain Dealer explains:

LaTourette said [that when] he suddenly learned that [Middlefield
cabinet-maker KraftMaid] had been socked with tariffs on Central American
plywood -- and that they jeopardized the company's jobs in Ohio -- he decided to
vote for a controversial trade pact to eliminate those tariffs.
"Absolutely," he said after the vote two weeks ago, confirming that his
motivation was solely to protect KraftMaid jobs.
One problem: No U.S. company has to pay tariffs on plywood from Central
America, according to trade records reviewed by The Plain Dealer and interviews
with industry and trade officials...

With a crack Congressional staff at his fingertips, LaTourette should have been able to know that the tariffs did not exist.

LaTourette is either inept for failing to look into the tariff issue or outright lying about his reason for voting for CAFTA. Either way the citizens of Lake County can no longer take their Congressman at his word

Lake County Democratic Club

2005-08-10T23:41:00.000-04:00

Tonight was the monthly meeting for the Lake County Democratic Club. The Democratic Club brings candidates, elected officials, and volunteers together to share ideas and organize for elections. At tonight's meeting, several candidates and elected officials discussed door-to-door canvassing. Above is a picture of Madison Township Trustee Frank Ashton sharing some of his experiences.

Democratic Club meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 7:30pm at the Eagles Lodge in Willoughby. Newcomers are always welcome. We'd love to have you join us!

The Eagles Lodge is located next to Panini's Bar & Grill at 37299 Euclid Ave. Please park in the rear of the club and enter through the side door.

Good Start

2005-08-08T22:40:00.000-04:00

Even though our blog has only been up a short time, it has already been noticed by two prominent Ohio blogs.

Sherrod Brown's GrowOhio.Org writes:

Congrats to the Lake County Democratic Party who recently went live with one of
the better looking county websites I have seen thus far in the state.

Cleveland's Brewed Fresh Daily adds:

I leave Lake County, and the Democratic Party there starts to mobilize,
launching a new website, complete with the Lake County Democratic Party
Blog... I don't see a blog on the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party site
or on the GOP's site for that matter... So props to Lake Dems for
showing leadership.

And we're just getting started. Keep checking the site for new updates.

Pay-To-Play: The Statehouse to The White House

2005-08-07T16:05:00.000-04:00

Today's Plain Dealer featured a story about two prominent Bush campaign fundraisers: Tom Noe and W.R. "Tim" Timken Jr. The Plain Dealer explains:

"Bush's fund-raising strategy was simple: recruit well-connected supporters who could not only give the $2,000 maximum individual contribution but who could also tap Rolodexes of other wealthy donors.
And the campaign made supporting the president a competition. Those who raised at least $100,000 were named "Pioneers"; those who raised at least $200,000 were crowned "Rangers."

Tom Noe reached the status of Pioneer, helping Bush raise $100,000. Noe is the Toledo-area coin dealer at the center of the Republican Coingate scandal. His donations to prominent Ohio Republicans such as Governor Bob Taft helped him land a $50 million investment of state money from the Bureau of Worker's Compensation. Of this $50 million, he lost $13 million. This includes at least $4 million that he stole.

The Coingate scandal is emblematic of the pay-to-play system that has developed under Ohio's Republican Leadership. Under the pay-to-play system, those who donate to prominent Ohio Republicans gain access to state contracts and appointments. Noe, through his donations, not only gained access to the coin investment, but he also gained appointment to the Board of Regents. The Board of Regents is the prestigious board that oversees Ohio's public colleges and universities. Noe's appointment came in spite of the fact that he had never attended college.

This culture of corruption does not stop with Governor Taft and his Republican cronies at the state level. The culture of corruption extends all the way to President Bush. According to the Plain Dealer, the fundraising co-chair of President Bush's 2004 Ohio campaign was Tim Timken Jr, chairman of the Canton-based Timken Co. During the 2004 campaign, he achieved the rank of Ranger, helping Bush raise over $200,000. Some may remember that Bush visited Timken Co. in April 2003 to urge support for his economic plan. Bush claimed his economic plan would help workers like those at the Timken Co. Ironically, a year after President Bush's visit, Timken laid off 1,300 workers.

While President Bush might have forgotten about the laid off workers, President Bush hasn't forgotten about his mega-millionaire friend Tim Timken Jr. The Plain Dealer reports that Tim Jr. "was named ambassador to Germany last month. He has no diplomatic experience and does not speak German." Timken isn't alone. The Plain Dealer explains:

"At least 23 percent of known 2000 and 2004 Pioneers and Rangers - or their spouses - were appointed to at least one federal post or to Bush's 2000 transition team, according to a report released last year by Texans for Public Justice.
At least 24 of these fund-raisers have been named ambassadors."

The message to citizens is clear: To be heard by Republicans at the top levels of government, you need to pay. The only problem is that most of us are not well-connected millionaires.

Meet Ted Strickland

2005-08-06T13:06:00.000-04:00

In May, Congressman Ted Strickland announced his candidacy for Governor. Strickland has represented Southern Ohio for 11 years in Congress. During his tenure, he has been a strong advocate for what he calls "kitchen table issues", issues such as health care, education, worker's rights, and economic development. Through his work on these issues, he has developed a strong reputation as a moderate.

As a highly-popular Congressman, Strickland has one of safest Congressional seats in Ohio. Strickland could likely continue to serve in Congress as long as he so desired. Congressman Strickland loves fighting for his constituents in Congress and once thought he'd serve in Congress for the rest of his career, but something happened along the way.

While Strickland was busy serving in Congress, corruption and mismanagement infiltrated Ohio's state government. The current Republican leadership became so corrupt that they instituted a pay-to-play system for campaign donors. While the Republicans were hustling state contracts for campaign money, Ohio was falling apart. Ohio has suffered from massive job losses, a crumbling school system, unaffordable higher education, and a lack of healthcare. Things have just continued to get worse under the leadership of Republican Governor Bob Taft.

Congressman Strickland, quoting Dante, explained that "the hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who - in times of great moral crisis - maintain their neutrality.' I believe that Ohio is facing a crisis. And, for me, neutrality is not an option." And with this attitude, Strickland decided to give up his safe seat in Congress and run for governor to confront Ohio's woes.

Strickland brings with him a unique background. The son of a steelworker, he is a Methodist minister, a prison psychologist, and an advocate of gun rights. These qualities will certainly help him reach out to rural Ohioans.

Strickland comes off as a very sincere guy who is passionate about his beliefs. He sees politics as an avenue to create a more just society. His focus on kitchen table issues is propelled by his strong sense of justice and his religious faith. Strickland has a plaque in his Congressional office that reads:

"And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8

Strickland explains, "I hung that plaque to constantly remind myself that my duty in this life is to others. That there are no part-time values. And that we all need to act everyday with integrity, with kindness, and with humility.

Those are the values that I will bring to the governor' office."

To learn more about Ted Strickland or to get involved with his campaign, visit his website at www.TedStrickland.com.

A profile of Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, the other Democratic candidate for governor, will be coming shortly.

Freedom Rings in Lake County

2005-07-04T23:32:00.000-04:00

4th of July fireworks mark end of Fairport Harbor Mardi Gras Festival