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Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2010 > April > 20 > Entry
Editorial: Husted best GOP choice for Brunner job
2010 ELECTION
Sen. Jon Husted, of Kettering, is facing a challenge from the right in the Republican primary for secretary of state.
He has almost every political advantage: standing among Republicans, experience in state government, name recognition with the public, campaign money and very specific qualifications for the job.
But his opponent is the more conservative candidate, which is useful in a Republican primary. The people who feel most intensely are more likely to vote in a primary than those who are less committed to an ideology.
The party is wondering whether that may be truer than ever this year, when the Tea Party movement is pulling the GOP to the right.
Candidate Sandra O’Brien is a former auditor of Ashtabula County, in the northeast corner of the state. In 2006, she pulled off an upset in a primary for state treasurer over a moderate black candidate who had been appointed to the job. Ms. O’Brien is hoping to repeat the magic.
She insists that hot-button conservative causes — taxes, gun control, abortion — are legitimate campaign issues, though they have nothing to do with the work of the secretary of state.
She says voters she talks with raise those issues. The people decide the issues, she says.
In 2006, Ms. O’Brien was trounced in the general election by Democrat Richard Cordray, in part, perhaps because of her competency.
As county auditor, she was twice criticized by the Republican state auditor, Betty Montgomery, for not having good internal controls.
In an interview with the Dayton Daily News editorial board that year, she said she had safeguards on her top staffers, but they weren’t in writing because she didn’t want bright employees to know what her checks and balances were. A preposterous position.
Sen. Husted has been awkwardly trying to identify himself with “Tea Party Values” in his campaign literature. And he seems to be playing to the Republican base, for example, with his criticism of the Cleveland to Cincinnati (“3C”) passenger train project.
For several years, he’s been active on election-management issues, the main responsibility of a secretary of state (who also handles public legal paperwork for corporations).
He’s been a leading Republican monitor of incumbent Secretary Jennifer Brunner. And he has proposed, for example, legislation about corporate campaign spending in the wake of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing it. (He wants tough disclosure laws.)
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the race is that Sen. Husted has proposed eliminating the high-profile roles of the secretary of state. He says the secretary’s role in elections should be handled by a bipartisan board. That way there wouldn’t be charges of partisan manipulation every time a secretary does anything, as now.
Ms. O’Brien opposes this change, saying it would take power out of the hands of voters. But the notion is dubious that voters deeply prize their power to chose between Republican and Democratic candidates as to which can best handle a job that should be done in a nonpartisan way.
Also, Sen. Husted has long been the leading voice in the legislature for changing Ohio’s systems for drawing districts for legislators. Under the current system, all power goes to one party, at least in the case of state legislative seats.
Not shockingly, the politicians tend to take care of their party and eliminate any real political competition by concentrating voters of particular persuasions together.
Sen. Husted’s experience — including a genuine leadership role in the legislature as former speaker of the Ohio of Representatives — his competence and his relative moderation make him clearly the best choice.
(Endorsement letters submitted by the two candidates are here.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment | Categories: 2010 endorsements, Editorials, Martin Gottlieb, Miami Valley Politics, Ohio politics
Comments
By Skeptic
April 20, 2010 4:51 PM | Link to this
I agree he is probably the better candidate of the two conservative nominees, but he will have a long climb to win a statewide election once people learn about how he deceived the public on the residency issue. He stopped representing his constituency when his family moved to Columbus. If we can’t trust him now, how can we trust him with our votes?
By Dave
April 20, 2010 5:07 PM | Link to this
It’s a real shame he refused to follow his constitutional duty to come up with a legal school funding plan. Makes me wonder if he would bother doing this job, either.
By wrc
April 20, 2010 6:05 PM | Link to this
Just goes to show the DaytonDailyNews Editors needs to be replaced.Saying he the best for the job amongst Republicans isn’t saying much.Just caused he held office,although somewhat illegally as he has no intentions of ever moving back here as long as he is married to current wife.Then on him keeping inform on area matters is a laughed.Why should we trust someone whom is no better than what we got now.
By I agree with wrc
April 20, 2010 6:50 PM | Link to this
I agree. Putting Husted in office is just like dumping Ohio citizens in a viper pit. It’s bad enough he holds the office he has now; but, at least the white-collar criminals will have an ally.
By Where is Waldo?
April 20, 2010 8:33 PM | Link to this
I was driving today and noticed a Hustead sign. I thought a more appropriate sign. The fact he has gotten away with what he has is stomach turning and flies in the face of what is right. Doesn’t matter your party or philosophy this guy is a cheat. Imagine that a politician who does whatever he pleases no matter what. Where are the tea party members on this guy? Are they holding him accountable or letting him slide. Integrity really starts at home. Where ever Waldo calls home these days. And the DDN encourages him? I don’t get it.
By dhampton100
April 20, 2010 10:50 PM | Link to this
Maybe, and I’m just saying, Jon Husted should think about moving into the district he represents and obeying the law before he runs for another office. It’s one thing to ignore his present place of residence but it’s quite another to endorse him for an even higher office while he remains in violation of the laws of the State of Ohio.
By Luke
April 21, 2010 12:08 AM | Link to this
Looking forward to the November election. The best candidate out of everyone running is Charlie Earl, Libertarian. He will run the office efficiently and fairly.
By Randy G.
April 21, 2010 12:11 AM | Link to this
Thanks libs. I don’t care about the Husted residency - and it drives you Dems crazy. I’m voting for him (even though anyone Belcher and Gottlieb endorse does give me pause). No one can be worse than our current SoS.
By Rob
April 21, 2010 8:51 AM | Link to this
Too bad he’s a twit. But, I agree, he is the better candidate. And come November I will probably hold my nose and cast a vote for him barring some new revelation or personal conduct(beyond twittedness) that would force my hand.
By davidss2
April 21, 2010 2:43 PM | Link to this
Husted even has his family picture taken in front of the entrance to a home that’s not his house in Kettering and puts it on his campaign literature. What chutzpah. I’m not voting for the guy no matter how bad the alternativees are. I didn’t vote for deWine either.
By gaspin
April 28, 2010 2:12 PM | Link to this
I honestly don’t know why anyone in this region would vote for him for anything. Let’s be honest: While he “had our backs” here in Ohio and Turner “had our backs” in DC, thousands of jobs walked out the door…and they seemed utterly suprised!