Democrats to pick leader on Dec. 19

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-21/1133351642213000.xml&storylist=cleveland

11/30/2005, 6:47 a.m. ET
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — ...Meanwhile, McLin, the mayor of Dayton, will serve as interim chairman.

Four people have announced they are candidates for state chairman....

They are Athens County Democratic Chairwoman Susan Gwinn, former U.S. Rep. Dennis Eckart of Cleveland, Montgomery County Democratic Chairman Dennis Lieberman and Ohio House Minority Leader Chris Redfern of Port Clinton.

McLin says others mentioned as possible candidates include: Otto Beatty Jr., a Columbus lawyer and former state representative; Bill DeMora, executive director of the Ohio League of Conservation Voters and a former party political director; former Attorney General Lee Fisher of Cleveland; Erie County Democratic Party Chairman David Giese; Kettering businesswoman Jane Mitakides, and Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune.

___

http://www.dispatch.com

From 11/29 Dogpatch

FOUR-WAY RACE FOR STATE CHAIRMAN
Woman seeks job as top Democrat
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Joe Hallett
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Vying to become the first woman to lead the Ohio Democratic Party, Susan Gwinn entered the race yesterday to succeed Dennis L. White, who will resign Wednesday to become deputy director of the Franklin County Board of Elections.

Gwinn, an Athens lawyer and chairwoman of the Athens County Democratic Party since 1996, said party activists have strongly encouraged her to run for state chairwoman.

"I have the experience and skills to lead our party to victory," Gwinn said. "This election should not be about egos or power, but more about who has demonstrated their ability to organize effectively and work hard."

Gwinn joins three announced candidates for state chairman: former U.S. Rep. Dennis Eckart of Cleveland, Montgomery County Democratic Chairman Dennis A. Lieberman and Ohio House Minority Leader Chris Redfern of Catawba Island.

Gwinn joined the other candidates in urging the 137 voting members of the party’s executive committee to select a chairman as soon as possible. White’s two-year term expires in June and an election normally would be held then.

The candidates said that a new chairman should be in place quickly to lead fundraising efforts and coordinate the party’s 2006 statewide ticket before the Feb. 16 candidate filing deadline.

Gwinn said she would be a full-time chairwoman: "I think you have to be. We have to have a chair who can hit the ground running, be a 24/7 chair."

Lieberman, a Dayton lawyer, also promised to be a full-time chairman, saying, "That’s the only way you can do the job."

But Redfern and Eckart, a Cleveland lawyer, said they could hold down other jobs while chairman. Redfern said he plans to run for re-election in 2006 and retain his position as minority leader of the House.

"I can do both — party chair and minority leader," he said.

Redfern’s former top legislative aide, Mike Culp, was named executive director of the state Democratic Party in July. Redfern has endorsed U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon for governor and last week Strickland endorsed Redfern for chairman.

If elected chairman, Eckart said he would try "to find the next Joe Trippe for Ohio" to run the party on a day-to-day basis, referring to the former campaign manager for Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign.

Trippe was credited with innovative grass-roots ideas and effectively used the Internet for fundraising.

His role as chairman, Eckart said, would be "fundraising, speech-making, rallying the troops and not necessarily as someone getting a full-time paycheck."

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TIA,

unhappycamper
DU Moderator

anti-choice, 'traditional marriage' and religious piety campaign ads on television. They're nauseating.

I was wondering if anyone knew which of the Ohio dems get to vote for chair?

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

Portune Says He'll Run For State Democratic Chairman

I would like to see Portune, or someone from the southwestern corner of the state, get the chairmanship.

The Dems could make huge gains down here, and could really benefit from installing someone who knows the ins-and-outs of southwestern Ohio in the chair.

McLin Announces ODP Chair Candidates

Columbus - Mayor Rhine McLin, Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, announced this morning that she has received eight Letters of Intent to run for Ohio Democratic Party Chair by the voluntary December 5 deadline.

The State Executive Committee will meet at the Hartman on Main building at the corner of S. Fourth and Main St., second floor, Columbus OH at 6 p.m., prior to the ODP annual Holiday party, during which time the selection of a Chair to serve the remainer of former Chair Dennis L. White's term is expected.

Candidates who have submitted their intent to run for Chair are:

Bill DeMora
Dennis Eckart
David Giese
Susan Gwinn
Dennis Lieberman
Jane Mitakides
Todd Portune
Chris Redfern
Mayor McLin had asked that all prospective candidates voluntarily submit letters, however, prospective candidates do have until 5 p.m. on December 18th to submit names in order to meet deadlines for ballot printing.

Informational requests have been sent to all candidates asking for a Resume and Questionnaire to be submitted by December 10 at 5 p.m. for review by State Executive Committee members.

edit:http://www.ohiodems.org/

Dennis Lieberman is Montgomery Co. Dem chair and Jane Mitakides ran for third congressional district (last year) against Mike Turner(R) and lost.

Dennis is a Dayton-area lawyer, his wife is a Dayton city commissioner, and he's been around for a long time. He's very laid-back and takes stress well.

Jane had the best organized, hard-working campaign staff I encountered during last year's campaign. Her husband is a well-known local dentist, and she certainly has name recognition (once you figure out how to pronounce her Greek surname)in this area.