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District primary will be a 'horse race'

With two political newcomers and two veteran candidates the run is shaping up to be a close finish.

By Jessica Wehrman and Rob Modic

Staff Writers

DAYTON | — J. Richard Chema was in the middle of a federal criminal trial this week when someone mentioned that Stephanie Studebaker had withdrawn as the Democratic challenger to incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville.

That was Wednesday evening. Less than 24 hours later, Chema resigned as head of the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and began gathering signatures to enter the special Democratic primary election on Sept. 15.

Chema's addition to the race makes him one of four running for the chance to replace Studebaker on the ballot. Studebaker withdrew Tuesday after she and her husband were arrested and charged with domestic violence stemming from a personal dispute Sunday at their Washington Twp. home.

Also running are Jane Mitakides, who challenged Turner in 2004 and lost 62 percent to 38 percent; former University of Dayton basketball standout Roosevelt Chapman; and former Waynesville mayor and perennial congressional candidate Charles W. Sanders. The Montgomery County Board of Elections certified the petitions of the four candidates at a meeting Friday night.

"We're starting to see candidates emerging who can make this a real horse race," Montgomery County Democratic Chairman Dennis Lieberman said.

Mitakides said she was a proven candidate with the name recognition to raise money for a viable bid. She also claimed her first endorsement Friday: The Clinton County Democrats, she said, had backed her bid.

"We're going to hit the ground running," she said. "We'll capitalize on the 'clean sweep' mood of the electorate. I think this thing is going to be a horse race. It's going to be a short horse race, but it's a horse race."

Chema is a political newcomer, but he comes with credentials as a top federal prosecutor in Ohio, an 11-year career with the Navy that included serving as legal advisor to the commander of the Naval Intelligence Command, and academic credentials that include a masters degree in law and publication of a paper about prosecuting sexual harassment in the military.

He also has a political pedigree and powerful connections.

His brother, Tom Chema, president of Hiram College, previously served as executive directors of the project that built two major sports complexes in Cleveland, the Ohio Lottery Commission and the Public Utility Commission of Ohio. He said he would be as active as possible in his younger brother's first political effort, saying "I think he is exactly the right candidate for right now.

"I think I can help on the fundraising side, and I've already been in touch with people who can act as consultants. We're starting from square one ... I think we can raise a reasonable about of money in a short period of time," Tom Chema said.

Chapman was a surprise entry, but he has better name recognition than any of the other candidates. Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., he is the University of Dayton's all-time leading scorer and took the team to the Elite Eight in the 1984 NCAA championship.

This spring, Chapman said he came back to Dayton to pursue a graduate degree education at his alma mater, and put in a brief stint as a replacement worker at AK Steel's Middletown plant amid the ongoing strike there to earn some extra bucks over the summer.

Friday, he said he decided to run after being prodded by friends who said he'd be a good politician because of his ability to communicate with people.

"They said, 'you can do it,' " he said. "So I said I'd give it a shot."

Sanders said he is running because he feels he did well during the May primary. "I decided that Montgomery County and the Third District were too important not to have candidate who does not have vested interest in its economic viability," he said.

With so much swirling in the Democratic Party following Studebaker's withdrawal, Turner has said little about the race.

A spokesman said they felt confident no matter who the Democrats select.

"We're continuing to remind people about Congressman Turner, who they know so well for his record of accomplishment, protecting jobs at Wright-Patterson, securing our national defense and obtaining federal funds for improving the region's infrastructure." said Matt McDowell, a Turner campaign spokesman.

Staff Writer Lou Grieco contributed to this story.