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Filings show few surprises in statewide candidate races

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by Marc Kovac

Capital Bureau Chief

Columbus -- More than 30 hopefuls submitted petitions to appear on the May primary ballot, setting up contests in a handful of statewide races.

Republicans have primary challenges for Attorney General, Secretary of State and Auditor.

Democrats have one contested race: U.S. Senate.

Statewide candidates were required to submit valid signatures from registered voters to the Secretary of State's Office by the close of business Feb. 18.

There were few surprises in the filings; most of the major party candidates announced their election intentions in recent months.

County elections boards will verify those signatures in coming weeks before making the May ballot official, said Kevin Kidder, a spokesman for the Secretary of State's Office.

Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland will seek re-election, running with former Columbus-area judge Yvette McGee Brown. On the Republican side, former Congressman John Kasich and his running mate, state Auditor Mary Taylor, are challenging.

Both tickets are unopposed in the primary.

Other candidates running for the state's top office include Dennis Spisak and running mate Anita Rios, representing the Green Party; and Libertarians Ken Matesz and running mate Ann Leech.

In other races:

* U.S. Senate: Four Democrats are seeking their party's nomination to run for the seat being vacated by Republican George Voinovich: Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, a former lawmaker and state attorney general: Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a former Franklin County judge; Columbus-area resident Traci Johnson; and Lyndhurst resident Charlena Renee Bradley.

Former Congressman and Bush administration official Rob Portman is unopposed in the Republican primary, after Tom Ganley, a businessman from Northeast Ohio, opted to run for the U.S. House instead.

Socialist Party candidate Daniel H. LaBotz, Libertarian Steven Linnabary and the Constitution Party's Eric Deaton also filed to seek the seat.

* Attorney General: Democratic incumbent Richard Cordray will seek re-election. He won the seat in 2008 to finish the term of Marc Dann. Cordray is unopposed in the primary.

Former U.S. Sen. and Congressman Mike DeWine will face Steve Christopher, an attorney and township trustee from Hardin County, in the Republican primary.

Constitution Party candidate Robert Owens and Libertarian Marc Allan Feldman also filed for the seat.

* Secretary of State: Four candidates are running to replace Brunner. Former House Speaker and current state Sen. Jon Husted will face Sandra O'Brien in the Republican primary. O'Brien ran for state treasurer in 2006.

Maryellen O'Shaughnessy, clerk of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in Columbus, is the uncontested in the Democratic primary.

Libertarian Charles Earl also filed for the seat.

* State Auditor: Dave Yost, Republican prosecutor from Delaware County and former county auditor there, will face state Rep. Seth Morgan, from the Dayton area, in the Republican primary.

Democratic Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper is unopposed.

Libertarian L. Michael Howard also filed for the seat.

* State Treasurer: Both Democratic incumbent Kevin Boyce and Republican state Rep. Josh Mandel are unopposed in their primaries. Libertarian Matthew Cantrell also filed for the seat.

* Ohio Supreme Court: Five candidates submitted petitions. Current high court Justice Maureen O'Connor, a Republican, and Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Eric Brown, a Democrat, hope to become the next Chief Justice.

Incumbent Republicans Judith Ann Lanzinger and Paul E. Pfeifer are seeking additional terms.

Democratic 11th District Court of Appeals Judge Mary Jane Trapp also filed for the primary.

Marc Kovac is the Dix Newspapers Statehouse Bureau chief. E-mail him at mkovac@dixcom.com.