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Voters to face crowded ballot in 2012

Ex-Montgomery County Sheriff David Vore joins Commission race.

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By Joanne Huist Smith and Lynn Hulsey
Staff Writers Updated 12:48 PM Monday, December 12, 2011

Former Montgomery County Sheriff David Vore — who three years ago retired and took a job in the private sector — re-entered local politics Wednesday, setting up one of multiple key contested races for county offices, the state legislature and Congress in 2012.

Vore is seeking a seat on the Montgomery County Commission.

Every Statehouse race in the Miami Valley will be contested  and a whopping 11 candidates filed to run in the newly redrawn 10th Congressional District that stretches east from Montgomery County to Fairfield County.

Vore, 54, a Republican, said a factor influencing his decision to run for Montgomery County Commission is that current commissioners are all Democrats.

“Whenever you have one party rule, it’s just doesn’t offer a lot of opportunities for different views,” he said.

In the primary, Vore faces West Carrollton City Councilman Harold L. Robinson, a businessman who also served on the West Carrollton School board.

“I think the county desperately needs new leadership,” said Robinson, 68.

The winner of the Republican primary faces Democrat incumbent Judy Dodge, 67, of Vandalia in November.

“I’ve had tough races before. I’m more than ready and anxious to continue,” said Dodge, a former county recorder who became county commissioner in 2007.

Deborah A. Lieberman, 50, of Clayton, a Democrat, battles for a third term against Republican Stephen Ashley Webb, 41 a Kettering councilman.

None of the races will be finalized until the candidate petitions are certified by county boards of election.

In other Montgomery County contested races:

Clerk of Courts Gregory A. Brush of Butler Twp., a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican Michael Joseph Foley, of Dayton. Timothy C. Bryant, a Dayton Republican, is running for recorder against Democratic incumbent, Willis E. Blackshear of Dayton. Treasurer Carolyn Rice of Kettering, a Democrat, faces opponent Rene Oberer of Butler Twp., a Republican.

Some communities and school districts are seeking additional tax money, including Mad River Schools — 5.9-mill continuing levy; Vandalia-Butler Schools — 6.99-mill continuing operating levy; and Butler Twp. — 3-mill continuing police levy.

Huber Heights seeks an additional 0.25 percent income tax and modification of the existing 2 percent income tax to eliminate fund earmarks and make permanent a 0.2 percent portion scheduled to expire in 2015, said Don Jones, finance director.

U.S. Congress

Wednesday was the filing deadline for the March 6 primary. But congressional and presidential candidates also filed even though their primary is currently scheduled for June 12. Those candidates were advised to file Wednesday due to uncertainty over newly drawn congressional districts now being challenged by Democrats. It is possible those candidates will have to refile next year.

Both incumbents filed in the 10th Congressional District, which incorporates districts now represented by U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, and U.S. Rep. Steve Austria, R-Beavercreek. They will face Republicans John D. Anderson of Enon and Edward Breen of Kettering in the primary.

The Democratic primary includes Horace G. Crawford Jr. of Dayton, David Esrati of Dayton, Olivia Freeman of Fairborn, Michael Gardner of Jamestown, Ryan Steele of Beavercreek, L. Mack VanAllen of Centerville and Richard Scott Wharton of Amanda.

In the 8th District House Speaker John Boehner, R-West Chester Twp. will face Democrat Thomas F. McMasters of Huber Heights, and Libertarian David A. Harlow of Dayton in November.

In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown filed petitions to seek re-election while six Republicans, including state Treasurer Josh Mandel, filed petitions to run in the GOP primary. The other Republican candidates are: Russell P. Bliss Jr, of Willoughby, David W. Dodt of Defiance, Donna K. Glisman of Graytown, Eric LaMont Gregory of Beavercreek and Michael L. Pryce of Hudson. Green Party candidate Joseph DeMare of Bowling Green also filed.

Filing petitions in the presidential primary elections are President Barack Obama, a Democrat, and GOP challengers Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Mitt Romney.

Ohio Legislature

Candidates from both major parties filed for all of Miami Valley’s newly drawn Ohio Legislative districts. They include:

- 6th Senate: Sen. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, Republican Paul R. Isaacs II of Centerville, and Democrat Rickey E. McKiddy.

• 10th Senate: Sen. Chris Widener, R-Springfield, and Jeff Robertson, a Democrat from Yellow Springs.

• 39th House: Rep. Clayton R. Luckie II, D-Dayton; and Republican Jeffrey Lee Wellbaum of Dayton.

• 40th House: Rep. Michael E. Henne, R-Brookville; Andy L. Burton, an Englewood Republican, and Huber Heights School Board member Carl D. Fisher Jr., a Democrat.

• 41st House: Rep. Jim Butler Jr., R-Oakwood and Caroline H. Gentry, a Dayton Democrat.

• 42nd House: Rep. Terry Blair, R-Washington Twp., and Democrat Pamela Sue Nipper of West Carrollton.

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