Multiple primaries causing confusion

Dec. 5, 2011, Port Clinton News Herald

By Jessica Alaimo

CentralOhio.com

Ohio congressional candidates don’t know what their districts will look like, or even when their primary will be, but the secretary of state is asking them to have petitions submitted by Wednesday.

The two primaries, one March 6 and the other June 12, stem from the battle over the once-a-decade redistricting process. However, there’s still talk in the House of Representatives of moving up the later primary.

“Having two primaries is not an ideal situation,” Shannon Boston, a spokeswoman for Ohio House Republicans, wrote in an email. “... But we only moved the primaries that are affected by the situation we find ourselves in with the potential congressional map referendum.”

Having two primaries presents a complication for the secretary of state’s office and uncertainty for candidates seeking congressional seats. Here are some questions and answers about the situation.

Map shift brings Schaffer back

Oct. 1, 2011, Newark Advocate

By Jessica Alaimo and Carl Burnett Jr.

CentralOhio.com

NEWARK — Republicans moved the borders of Ohio’s new legislative districts Friday, putting state Sen. Tim Schaffer back into Licking County, although he won’t live in his remodeled district.

The moves cleared the way for state Rep. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark, to seek his former Senate seat in 2014 when term limits force Schaffer, R-Lancaster, out of the Senate and Hottinger out of the House. Hottinger confirmed he might run for the Senate in 2014, a seat he once had for eight years.

Friday’s changes came after several politicians didn’t like what they saw when the new state legislative districts were announced this past week by the Apportionment Board.

High stakes for legislative races in Ohio

Jan. 3, 2010, Newark Advocate

BY JESSICA ALAIMO

CentralOhio.com

There’s much at stake in Ohio’s upcoming statehouse races.

In the Ohio General Assembly, Democrats hold a majority of seven seats. Republicans want to take control of the chamber they lost in the 2008 election.

Republicans have the majority in the state Senate — a majority they’re likely to keep. The gubernatorial race is likely to be very competitive.

The party that controls the House will have the upper hand in all of Ohio’s major policy issues including the state budget, education, health care and transportation.

Also, the Legislature will redraw Ohio’s congressional districts after the 2010 U.S. Census. Here’s an early look at the House and Senate seats up for grabs in our area this year.