Thousands of area jobless face loss of benefits

Nov. 28, 2010, Newark Advocate

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

This holiday season brings uncertainty for the 3,795 people in Licking County who will lose their unemployment benefits between Tuesday and April if Congress does not approve another extension.

Statewide, 301,404 people will lose jobless benefits in the same window.

The U.S. House of Representatives denied an emergency extension Nov. 18, before its holiday recess. U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Township, voted against the extension, and U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, was not present for the vote.

Bill seeks to revamp Ohio child support payment guidelines

Nov. 28, 2010, Zanesville Times Recorder

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

It costs more to raise a child now than it did two decades ago, and some state officials say child support payments need to increase.

If passed, a bill in the Ohio General Assembly would increase current child support payments in many cases. It also would establish a base income before noncustodial parents have to start paying support and add provisions for shared custody arrangements, possibly lowering payments for some parents.

The legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Shirley Smith, D-Cleveland, is based on guidelines drafted by an advisory council, led by Jobs and Family Services officials.

False ads by politicians tough to regulate

Nov. 14, 2010, Mansfield News Journal

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

If you’re trying to sell Product A, you can’t run an ad falsely saying Product B causes job losses, supports corruption and harms schools. There are laws against saying that kind of thing.

Unless Product A is a candidate for political office. Then truth-in-advertising laws don’t apply.

The past election saw a bombardment of political ads that grew more frequent as Election Day neared. The claims in more than a few were questionable.

Farming shaped Gibbs’ experience, philosophies

Nov. 14, 2010, Coshocton Tribune

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

NASHVILLE, Ohio — Just past Nashville’s one traffic light is a deli that doubles as the town’s coffee shop and meeting place.

Pizza is served as early as 10 a.m., and patrons sit on vinyl chairs and eat off red-painted tables. In the back, a wall is lined with photos of locals with their deer kill.

Southeast Ohio’s next congressman pulled up Monday and tossed one of the last “Bob Gibbs for Congress” signs into his white pickup. Dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt, he greeted the clerk and two customers by name. They congratulated him on beating the incumbent. They asked about his wife.

For Gibbs, Washington will be a different universe from Holmes County, which he has called home for 35 years.

In Ohio, Dems were doomed

Nov. 7, 2010, Chillicothe Gazette

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

On one of the first chilly nights of fall, about 100 people filled a Coshocton auditorium for three hours of candidate speeches.

They might have had different priorities, but they all were fed up with the same two things: politics and politicians.

One of the targets that October night was U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, even though he’s never quite fit the bill of the typical polished politician.

He wore jeans with his sports coat, never quite mastered the art of the 30-second sound bite and when he disagreed with his party leaders, he always was unabashed about it.

The two-term incumbent was asked repeatedly that night about policies passed during the Obama administration’s infancy. Some he agreed with. Some he didn’t. Look, he said, shaking his head,

“I have made just about everybody mad in the past two years. It’s unfortunate, but that’s what happens to moderates in Congress.”

On Election Day, the conservative-leaning district voted Space out of office despite his votes against the final health care bill and Obama’s budget and Space’s coveted National Rifle Association endorsement. He lost to state Sen. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, by 14 points.

The same wrath was felt by Democrats on all levels.

Gibbs upsets Space in 18th District race

Nov. 3, 2010, Newark Advocate

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

NEWARK — U.S. Rep. Zack Space was one of five Ohio Democratic congressmen to join the ranks of the unemployed Tuesday evening, according to early election returns.

State Sen. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, won in an upset, up 54 percent to 40 percent, as of 2:30 a.m. today.

He was leading in every county except Vinton and Athens. Gibbs beat Space in Licking County 10,318 to 6,564.

Record $6.2 million spent in 18th District race

Nov. 2, 2010, Coshocton Tribune

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

No matter what happens today, the uncontested winners in this election are banquet halls, caterers, print shops, campaign staffers and especially TV stations.

U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, state Sen. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, and outside political action committees and campaign committees have spent at least $6.2 million, a record for the 18^th District.

That’s nearly what all candidates in the 2008, 2006 and 2004 contests spent combined.

Spending in 16th District will top $10 million

Nov. 2, 2010, Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

No matter what happens today, the uncontested winners in this election are banquet halls, caterers, print shops, campaign staffers and especially TV stations.

Once all is said and done, spending in the 16th Congressional District race between Rep. John Boccieri, D-Alliance, and James Renacci, R-Wadsworth, will probably top $10 million, a record for the district.

That’s more than what all candidates in the 2008, 2006 and 2004 contests spent combined.