Ballot counting drags on in 18th District

May 18, 2010, Zanesville Times Recorder

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

Straggling ballots in the 18th Congressional District have stopped coming in, but they will take another week to be counted.

Barring any surprises, they likely will then be recounted.

This means U.S. Rep. Zack Space and two minor party candidates will have to wait until at least the end of the month to find out who their Republican opponent will be this fall.

Banking on bankruptcy: Debt, unemployment lead more Ohioans to file for relief

May 17, 2010, Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

Ryan Foor is only slightly apologetic about writing off $30,000 in debts by going bankrupt.

He admits to being reckless. He once spent $4,000 at a high-end clothing store in Florida. There were necessary charges, too — a 28-day hospital stay and books for classes at The Ohio State University. All were his with a swipe of plastic.

Foor is one of the growing number of Ohioans filing for bankruptcy, a federal court process that allows people to write off all or part of their debt.

Usually bankruptcies are used to get rid of unsecured debts, borrowed without collateral. In exchange, debtors sometimes lose assets, and the bankruptcy is a blemish on their credit reports for 10 years.

Gibbs declares victory in 18th District

May 12, 2010, Newark Advocate

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

State Sen. Bob Gibbs declared victory Tuesday in the 18th Congressional District Republican primary, despite the likelihood of an automatic recount.

Former state agriculture commissioner Fred Dailey, who trails Gibbs by 164 votes in unofficial results, refused to concede.

“I don’t know how you can declare victory when all the votes haven’t been counted yet,” Dailey said.

18th District recount could take 2 weeks

May 6, 2010, Zanesville Times Recorder

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

Ohio political observers still are digesting the complex preliminary results of the 18th Congressional District Republican primary, and it could be two weeks before a winner is determined.

The eight-candidate race ended in a near-tie Tuesday, with state Sen. Bob Gibbs, of Lakeville, leading 2008 nominee Fred Dailey, of Mount Vernon, by 164 votes. Jeanette Moll, of Zanesville, trailed Dailey by 867 votes.

Gibbs and Dailey anticipate a recount. The soonest this can happen is 16 days after the election, according to standards set by the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office. The eventual winner will face Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, in November.

Gibbs, Dailey lead 6 challengers for 18th district

May 5, 2010, Coshocton Tribune

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

NEWARK — There never was any clear leader in the eight-way 18th Congressional District Republican primary, and that remained true early today.

As the night wore on, a recount seemed imminent. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, state Sen. Bob Gibbs, of Lakeville, led Fred Dailey, of Mount Vernon, by 170 votes.

Jeanette Moll trailed 860 votes behind Dailey and said she had no plans to throw in the towel.

According to Ohio law, votes must be recounted if the winner leads by a half percent or less. In this case, that would mean about 250 votes.

Bill could allow more liquor licenses in Richland County

May 1, 2010, Mansfield News Journal

BY JESSICA ALAIMO AND RUSS ZIMMER

CentralOhio.com

MANSFIELD — Mansfield and other Richland County municipalities could be eligible for more liquor permits if some Ohio lawmakers get their way.

Senate Bill 252 and House Bill 445, recently introduced in the General Assembly, would allow cities with a population of less than 100,000 in counties with a population of more than 125,000 to establish local entertainment districts. In these districts, up to 10 more liquor permits could be available, depending on population.

The proposal, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Capri Cafaro, D-Hubbard, and Rep.Tom Leston, D-Warren, would plug a gap in existing law.