Local donors spend thousands in political process

Oct. 28, 2010, Port Clinton News Herald

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

Special to the News Herald

There’s no escaping it. The campaign signs. The television ads. The mailers. Political campaigns dump millions into the local economy every two years in an effort to shape voter opinion.

Who pays for it all? It’s a mix. Thanks to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling this year, third-party groups can now run ads without disclosing their donors, who are mostly corporations and labor unions, said William Angel, a political science professor at The Ohio State University.

However, many of the dollars flowing through campaigns come from people here in the community. Individuals can give directly to candidates or to political action committees, which either will spend on a candidate’s behalf or give to the candidate directly.

Political donors in Ottawa County spent hundreds of thousands on elections this year, with the top donors spending about $161,400 on candidates.

Portman, Fisher disagree on Ohio’s job plight

Oct. 24, 2010, Lancaster Eagle Gazette

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, says it’s difficult to brag about his administration’s economic achievements, because of all the Ohioans left jobless during the national recession.

In an uphill battle to remain employed himself, he came in front of CentralOhio.com editors and reporters and boasted about his achievements, in bringing new jobs to the state and keeping existing ones from leaving.

His Republican opponent, former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, does not share Fisher’s viewpoint. In a separate interview, he was highly critical of Fisher and Gov. Ted Strickland, contending the recession in Ohio was worse than other states as a direct result of failed leadership.

Jobs and Fisher’s economic record are the central issues in the race to replace retiring Sen. George Voinovich, a Republican.

GOP pulls out all stops to regain 18th district

Oct. 17, 2010, Zanesville Times Recorder

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

The Republicans want the 18^th Congressional District seat they lost in 2006 back, and they are spending big money to recoup it.

However, Democratic incumbent Zack Space of Dover is putting up a fight, thanks to a multimillion-dollar war chest.

According to The Washington Post, Space is one of the Democrats who votes with his party the least often — which is still 93 percent of the time when every roll call vote is considered.

He received the National Rifle Association endorsement, one of four Ohio Democratic congressional candidates to do so. He voted against the final version of the controversial health-care bill, breaking with his party. He voted against President Barack Obama’s latest budget. Lately he has been vocal in his opposition to free-trade deals, a position that resonates with many displaced factory workers in his district.

As Space tries to distance himself from his party, opponent and state Sen. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, wants to fit into the Republican Party’s rebranding.

18th District candidates sound off at forum

Oct. 15, 2010, Coshocton Tribune

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

COSHOCTON — When U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, was asked how he plans to work with his opponents toward a common good, he threw his arms up and shook his head.

He’s a moderate, he said, and it’s the moderates that are not being heard in Washington.

“The middle is chronically underrepresented,” Space said. “I have made just about everybody mad in the past two years. It’s unfortunate, but that’s what happens to moderates in Congress.”

Space’s main opponent, state Sen. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, pointed to a different cause of the hyper-partisanship in Washington — a bloated, broken process, where thousand-page bills slip through unread and legislation doesn’t go through the committee process.

“It’s too top-down,” Gibbs said.

It was a question of interest to those in the audience. The crowd of about 75 was polled before the event. Half said honesty and trustworthiness was the most important quality for a congressman.

Space and Gibbs met Thursday evening for a forum at the Coshocton County Career Center along with Constitution Party candidate Lindsey Sutton of Big Prairie. The event was sponsored by the county’s farm bureau and the Coshocton Business and Professional Women chapter.

Candidates agree on most issues

Oct. 10, 2010, Lancaster Eagle Gazette

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

In any other year, the secretary of state’s race would be a snoozer, overshadowed by the often high-profile governor’s race. But it’s not a normal year; 2010 is the beginning of a decade.

That means it’s redistricting time. The next secretary of state will be one of five people who will help draw legislative districts in 2011, which will carry considerable influence over which party controls each chamber of the Ohio General Assembly.

This year, it’s an open race. Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner decided not to seek re-election and instead ran for the U.S. Senate, losing the Democratic primary to Lee Fisher.

Incumbents bill taxpayers for mailings

Oct. 9, 2010, Bucyrus Telegraph Forum

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

The four Ohio members of Congress tapped as most vulnerable this November also spent the most taxpayer money on mass communications throughout their current term.

It’s called franking — mass mailings or communications at taxpayer expense. U.S. Rep. John Boccieri, D-Alliance, has spent $321,863 since the beginning of 2009, behind only Reps. Mary Jo Kilroy, D-Columbus, and Zack Space, D-Dover, who both spent around $400,000.

Rep. Steve Driehaus, D-Cincinnati, spent $309,861. These four members all are in danger of losing their seats, according to Washington political analyst Charlie Cook.

This money comes from the members’ office funds

Solar project to begin in 2011

Oct. 6, 2010, Zanesville Times Recorder

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

A Southeastern Ohio region bruised and battered by the recession received some good news Tuesday, delivered by two politicians who are fighting for their political lives.

About 300 construction and engineering jobs will come to Muskingum and Noble counties in 2011 to build Turning Point Solar, a 50-kilowatt solar farm, the biggest in the country. About 400 jobs will be created in two to-be-determined Ohio locations to build the 250,000 panels and trackers needed for the solar farms.

Space announces solar project

Oct. 5, 2010, Zanesville Times Recorder

By JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

NEWARK – Plans are in the works to build the largest solar energy field in southeastern Ohio, U.S. Rep. Zack Space said.

Gov. Ted Strickland and Space, D-Dover, will announce the full details of the project during a news conference at 2 p.m. today in Columbus.

During a meeting with CentralOhio.com editors and reporters Monday, Space said this will be a $250 million project in partnership with a private venture capital firm. Two manufacturers will make solar panels and tracking devices to be shipped across the U.S. and Canada.

Cordray, DeWine differ sharply on issues

Oct. 2, 2010, Port Clinton News Herald

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

Special to the News Herald

Corruption. Health care. Crime lab delays. It doesn’t take much to get two opposing attorneys at each other’s throats, especially when they’re competing to be the state’s top lawyer.

Attorney General Richard Cordray, a Democrat, and Republican opponent Mike DeWine, a former U.S. senator, arrived Thursday at a meeting with CentralOhio.com editors and reporters chock-full of statistics and quotes from newspapers. DeWine had a folder full of paper and a legal pad full of notes, although his only handout to those attending was his wife’s cookbook. Cordray immediately asked about the debate format.

When the camera turned on, no biographical introduction or small talk took place. Both laid their arguments on the table, and a spirited debate ensued, with each pointing, cutting one another off and accusing each other of siding with corruption.