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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2009 > January > 16
Friday, January 16, 2009
Dem Chairman Redfern praises GOP’s Kevin DeWine - sort of
Ohio Democratic Chairman Chris Redfern actually had something good to say about Kevin DeWine, elected on Friday, Jan. 16, as new Ohio Republican Chairman.
“I can say a lot of things abut Kevin DeWine,” said Redfern, who served with DeWine in the Ohio House. “He’s not to be taken for granted. I understand as Democrats we’ve got to work that much harder to get our message out.”
DeWine, however, has a thankless task, Redfern said.
“I know Kevin is full of rhetorical flourishes but the facts are what they are. Gov. Strickland continues to do great work after 16 years of one-party rule. Kevin has his back up against the wall,” Redfern added.
Redfern also may have alienated some service clubs with this put-down:
“I suppose being the new chairman of the Republican Party in the state of Ohio is kind of like being the president of the Rotary Club. Somebody’s got to do it.”
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Former GOP Chairman Bennett endorses Portman for U.S. Senate
Just hours after stepping down as Ohio Republican Chairman, Bob Bennett endorsed former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, for the 2010 Republican U.S. Senate nomination.
“Rob is an experienced public servant who is widely respected by both Republicans and Democrats alike. He is a small business owner and a family man whose economic knowledge and proven ability to get things done will only move Ohio and our country to a better future,” Bennett said in a press release on Friday, Jan. 16.
“Republicans statewide are thrilled to have Rob Portman as a candidate for this seat.”
As party chairman, Bennett was not permitted to endorse in a primary and his backing is another indication that party leaders are trying to build support for Portman to avoid an expensive primary. Others mentioned as possible GOP Senate candidates include Auditor Mary Taylor and former U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine of Cedarville.
Mike DeWine is the cousin of Kevin DeWine, elected state chairman to replace Bennett. Portman spoke to Ohio Republicans at a luncheon after they elected their new chairman.
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State workers face paycuts, concessions
State officials are proposing a 5 percent pay cut, mandatory days off without pay, and a 35-hour work week as well as other concessions from the state’s 60,500 employees.
Much of the givebacks would come from members of the Ohio Civil Service Employee Association, the union that represents 34,000 state workers.
“While the union knew it would be in for the battle of its life with respect to gaining ground on economic issues like wages and health care, the team was aghast at the scope of the concessions the state proposed,” it said in the most recent OCSEA Bargaining Update. “The state claims the givebacks are necessary in order to avoid mass state layoffs due to the amount of the state budget gap.”
Gov. Ted Strickland said the state needs to close a $641 million budget shortfall by June 30 and make up a $7.3 billion funding gap in the upcoming two-year state budget. Income tax and sales tax revenues are falling short of expectations due to the economic crisis.
The union told its members that the state is asking for 18 different concessions, including a 5 percent across the board pay cut, 10 mandatory furlough days, elimination of personal leave, holiday premium pay, and longevity pay, and shifting from a 40-hour work week to a 35-hour work week.
OCSEA Executive Director Andy Douglas said, “We acknowledge receipt of information from the state and because of the news black out, we have no comment.”
Contract talks began in December. The current three-year contract expires this year.
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Ohio Republicans elect Kevin DeWine as chairman
Ohio Republicans today, Jan. 16, elected Fairborn’s Kevin DeWine as new state chairman, replacing Bob Bennett who stepped down after nearly 21 years as chairman.
DeWine, 41, former speaker pro tem of the Ohio House, was elected unanimously by the party’s central and executive committee.
DeWine becomes the first state GOP chairman from the Dayton area since Arthur Nixon of Dayton in 1928-29.
While praising Bennett’s leadership, DeWine acknowledged Republicans recently have come on hard times - absorbing big losses in 2006 and 2008.
“Too many people were willing to put personal gain over party unity,” DeWine said.
He said Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland and other Democrats now are trying to take credit for Republican achievements such as overhauling the state’s tax structure to lower the income tax rate by 21 percent.
“It stops here and it ends now,” said DeWine.
He said that the party would be back but cautioned that it might not come in the next election in 2010. He told reporters after the meeting that the GOP still has much work to do to restore voters’ trust in them. The party was rocked in the 2006 elections by the Tom Noe scandal and related issues.
“The public trust in our party has eroded,” DeWine said.
Former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, who announced this week that he’s running for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican George Voinovich was the luncheon speaker after the meeting, a signal that he’s the party’s favorite for the nomination. Voinovich announced this week he wouldn’t seek re-election in 2010.
Bennett said he planned to formally endorse Portman after stepping down as chairman. He was not permitted to endorse in a primary while leading the party.
The party must spend no more time “looking back nostalgically,” said DeWine.
“We must renew the party at every level,” said DeWine.
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Cordray and Kenneth: separated at birth?
We all know about Tina Fey’s uncanny resemblance to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. But fans of Fey’s ‘30 Rock’ sitcom on NBC may have noticed that another cast member is a dead ringer for another politician.
Actor Jack McBrayer, who plays Kenneth on ‘30 Rock,’ is well positioned to start doing parodies of Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, if the need should arise.
