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Election
Parties fighting for control of Ohio House
Races also will determine who gets upper hand in legislative mapping.
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By William Hershey,
Columbus Bureau
Updated 1:06 AM Sunday, September 19, 2010
COLUMBUS — State Rep. Ross McGregor, R-Springfield, and Democrat Greg Krouse are pounding on so many doors it’s a wonder hinges aren’t flying all over Clark County.
Their battle in the 72nd District, which includes Springfield and other parts of the county, is one of a dozen or so races that will determine whether Republicans take back the Ohio House after two years of Democratic control.
Other key districts are scattered around the state, including several in the Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus suburbs.
Most of the 99 House districts are drawn to heavily favor one party or another, leaving just about 20 up for grabs, said Catherine Turcer, director of the Money in Politics Project for Ohio Citizen Action.
After every Census – including this year’s – the state Apportionment Board draws up 99 new House districts and 33 new Senate districts. The board is made up of a legislator from each party, the governor, auditor and secretary of state.
The party that controls two of the three statewide offices on the board generally determines which party is favored on the new map. That adds extra importance to those statewide races this year.
Republicans have controlled the Apportionment Board after the last two censuses.
Democrats control the House 53-46, so a net gain of four would put the GOP back in power. Republicans controlled the House for 14 years until Democrats took over after the 2008 elections, winning in districts drawn by Republicans.
Despite battling a Republican headwind both nationally and in Ohio, House Speaker Armond Budish, D-Beachwood, said good candidates, a clear message and better finances will help Democrats maintain control or even gain seats, including McGregor’s.
The party also had an early money advantage. The last cash-on-hand report in June showed the House Democratic caucus with about 2.4 times as much as the Republican caucus, $6.2 million to $2.6 million.
But House Minority Leader William Batchelder, R-Medina, predicts that the GOP will gain at least six seats, enough to take over. To do that, it’s crucial to Republicans that they don’t lose seats like McGregor’s.
He had a close call in 2008, winning by just 533 votes, squeaking by with about 50.6 percent of the vote in a year when Democrat Barack Obama carried the district in the presidential race, 51.5 to 46.82 percent.
Both candidates are getting their message out.
“I’m outworking him,” declared Krouse, 55, a teacher and former coach and teachers’ union president. “ ... I’ve knocked on over 4,000 doors.”
Responded McGregor, 45 and a two-term incumbent: “We have knocked on well over 15,000 doors since July.”
No more Morgan
Democrats this year also say they are making a strong push in the 36th District, where Rep. Seth Morgan, R-Huber Heights, is not seeking re-election. The district includes parts of Montgomery County.
Democrat Carl Fisher, a member of the Huber Heights school board, is running against Republican Michael Henne of Clayton, an insurance company owner. Henne won the GOP nomination after Republican frontrunner Joe Ellis was involved in a bar fight controversy.
The way that district was drawn to favor Republicans, however, makes it a tough one for any Democrat.
Republican Sen. John McCain, the GOP nominee in the 2008 presidential race, carried the 36th District over Obama, 59 to 39 percent. Also, the political index — a representation of voting strength — is about 59 percent Republican, according to the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association election guide. In contrast, the political index in the 72nd District is about 48 percent Republican, virtually a toss up.
While the races for governor and U.S. Senate dominate the headlines, the battle for control of the House has statewide consequences, particularly this year.
With continued Republican control of the Senate not in doubt, winning the House would give the Republicans a lock on the legislature.
If Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland wins re-election, a GOP-controlled House would help Republicans check Strickland initiatives and give them a big role in figuring out how to fill a potential $8 billion hole in the new state budget.
If Republican challenger John Kasich beats Strickland, a Republican-controlled legislature would make it easier for Kasich to make the major changes he has promised.
Perhaps most significantly for next year, the party that controls the House also could help determine whether Democrats or Republicans have the upper hand in drawing new U.S. House districts based on the 2010 census.
The House and Senate, with the governor’s approval, will draw the new districts. The Apportionment Board has no role in drawing the congressional districts.
Because of national population shifts, Ohio is expected to lose one and probably two of the state’s 18 U.S. House seats.
Senate control not in doubt
Republicans control the Ohio Senate 21-12, with 17 of the 33 seats up this year.
The GOP caucus had a 12-1 cash-on-hand advantage over Democrats in the last campaign finance reports — $3 million to $251,053. The legislative map makes few of the seats competitive.
One of the GOP targets is 5th District Democratic Sen. Fred Strahorn, D-Dayton, a former Ohio House member who was appointed to the Senate in March 2009.
35th District
North and eastern Warren County, including Waynesville
Ron Maag* R Marcia Garrison D
36th District
Northern and eastern Montgomery County, including Brookville, Clayton, Englewood, Huber Heights, New Lebanon and Vandalia
Michael Henne R Carl D. Fisher D Jesse Stoner (Lib) Cheryl K. Watson (Ind)
37th District
Parts of Dayton, Kettering, Miamisburg, Miami Twp., Oakwood, Moraine and West Carrollton
Steven C. Byington D Peggy Lehner* R
38th District
Centerville, Washington Twp., parts of Kettering, Dayton and Riverside
John Doll D Terry Blair* R
39th District
Parts of Dayton and Jefferson Twp.
Clayton Luckie* D Harlene Holland (Ind.)
40th District
Harrison Twp., Trotwood and parts of Dayton, Huber Heights and Riverside
Roland Winburn* D David Wilson (Ind.)
67th District
Warren County, including Carlisle, Franklin, Lebanon, Monroe, Springboro and Mason
Peter Beck * R Anne Howard D Robert Waters Lib
70th District
Eastern Greene County, including Beavercreek, Fairborn and Xenia
Michael Stewart Watters D Jarrod Martin *R
72nd District
Clark County, including Springfield, Enon and New Carlisle
Ross McGregor* R Gregory D. Krouse D
78th District
All of Champaign and Shelby counties, part of Auglaize
John Adams* R Anthony Ehresmann D
79th District
Miami County and part of Darke County
Richard Adams* R Howard Guy Payne D
84th District
Part of Clark County and Greene County, including Bellbrook, Cedarville and Yellow Springs
Robert Hackett * R Aaron Kilbarger D
* incumbent
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