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In Montgomery County, Republicans Are Raising More Money Than Democrats

Posted on September 3, 2008 by Mike Bock

It looks like Montgomery County Republican candidates for state office are raising a lot more money than Democrats for the same offices. I’ve been looking at a web-site called “Follow the Money.” It is sponsored by The National Institute on Money in State Politics which calls itself, “the only nonpartisan, nonprofit organization revealing the influence of campaign money on state-level elections and public policy in all 50 states,” and advertises itself as, “The Nation’s Most Complete Resource for Information on Money in State Politics.”

Montgomery County this November will elect five State House Representatives and one State Senator. Here is what I found at “Follow the Money.”

The 36 Ohio House District:

MORTON, CHARLES (D) Total Raised to Date$19,899 Records: 64 Two largest donors:OHIO STATE BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL $1,500; DAYTON MIAMI VALLEY AFL-CIO $1,100

MORGAN, SETH (R) Total Raised to Date: $45,869 Records: 255; Largest Donors: MORGAN, SETH A $4,322
CHERNESKY, RICHARD $4,000; MATHILE, CLAY $3,000; DANIS, JOHN $2,000

The 37th Ohio House District:

EVESLAGE, ANDI (D) Total Raised to Date: $2,258 Records: 48; Largest Donors: IRELAND, WILLIAM $200; EVESLAGE, SYLVESTER $180

LEHNER, PEGGY (R) Total Raised to Date: $91,261 Records: 348; Largest Donors: WALSH, JAMES E (employer, Miller Valintine) $10,000; MATHILE, C L $7,500; MATHILE, MARY A $5,000; MATHILE, MARY A $5,000

The 38th Ohio House District

LIENESCH, SUSAN (D); Total Raised, $0

BLAIR, TERRY (R) Total Raised to Date: $25,826 Records: 108; Largest Donors: GUNLOCK, RANDALL $2,000; OAKES, SHERY $2,000; MASTN, LARA $1,500

The 39th Ohio House District

LUCKIE, CLAYTON (D) Total Raised to Date: $11,350 Records: 43; Largest Donors: OHIO FEDERATION OF TEACHERS $1,200; OHIO EDUCTION ASSOC $1,000; NATIONWIDE

SMITH, JOSHUA (R) Total Raised to Date: $350 Records 1; Largest Donors: MARSHALL, JOHN $350 (Grismer Tire)

40th Ohio House District

WINBURN, ROLAND (D) Total Raised to Date: $16,562 Records: 150 Largest Donors: OHIO DEMOCRATIC PARTY $3,702; WRIGHT, MICHAEL $1,000; STRAHORN, FRED $950

SIEFKER, ANN (R) Total Raised to Date: $200 Records: 3

6th Ohio Senate District

DOLL, JOHN (D) Total Raised to Date: $250 Records: 1; Largest Donors: AVAKIAN, STEPHEN $250

HUSTED, JON (R) Total Raised to Date: $1,101,777 Records: 974; Largest Donors: CARDINAL HEALTH $12,000; BRENNAN, DAVID L $10,000 (White Hat Management); EVANS, MATT $10,000 (STRATEGIC GLOBAL POLICY); COLLERAN, BRIAN $10,000 (RICHLAND SOCIAL SERVICES); OHIO AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOC/DEALERS INVESTMENT GROUP $10,000; SCHIFF JR, JOHN J $10,000 (CINCINNATI FINANCIAL); GLENNON SR, RICHARD F $10,000; BOICH, WAYNE M $10,000 (BOICH COMPANY); WEISBERG, GEORGE $10,000; DUKE ENERGY $10,000; ROSEDALE, STEPHEN L $10,000 (COMMUNICARE); LINDNER, EDITH $10,000; REPCHICK, GEORGE S $10,000 (SABER HEALTHCARE); LINDNER, CARL H $10,000; CASTELLINI, BOB $10,000 (CASTELLINI COMPANY); LAGER, WILLIAM L $10,000; FIRSTENERGY CORP $10,000; MILLER, VAIL $10,000 (MILLER DISTRIBUTING); GUNLOCK, RANDALL L $10,000; MATHILE, MARY A $10,000

Follow the Money only tracks state races. For information on the 3rd District Race for U.S. Congress I referenced the web-site Open Secrets:

3rd House District, U.S. Congress

Jane Mitakides (D)
Raised: $321,263
Spent: $190,747
Cash on Hand: $130,566
Last Report: June 30, 2008 (I couldn’t find the List of Largest Donors for Mitakides)

Michael R. Turner (R)
Raised: $965,898
Spent: $375,677
Cash on Hand: $596,171
Last Report: June 30, 2008

Largest Turner Donors: SelectTech Services $21,160; Miller-Valentine Group $17,450; Greentree Group $14,800; Ernie Green Industries $13,800; Oberer Development $13,80

Posted in Local/Metro, Special Reports | 3 Comments

Thompson At Republican Convention Misrepresents Obama and McCain Tax Plans

Posted on September 3, 2008 by Mike Bock

Fred Thompson in his speech last night at the Republican Convention praised John McCain’s tax plan, ridiculed Barack Obama’s tax plan, and misrepresented both. Thompson said, “We need a President who understands that you don’t make citizens prosperous by making Washington richer, and you don’t lift an economic downturn by imposing one of the largest tax increases in American history.” Continue reading →

Posted in Local/Metro | 2 Comments

Sarah Palin Needs to Explain Opinions That Seem Anti-Science

Posted on September 2, 2008 by Mike Bock

Now that Sarah Palin is John McCain’s vice presidential pick, the record of all of Sarah Palin’s opinions and judgments will now be carefully vetted by the national media. Palin is on record with two opinions, widely seen as anti-science, that, I’m sure, Palin will be pressed again and again to explain: 1) the cause of global warming and 2) the teaching of creationism is public schools.

Sarah Palin, in a recent interview said she does not believe climate change is caused by human behavior. She said, “A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I’m not one though who would attribute it to being man-made.”

To believe that human behavior has no impact on climate change, global warming, is a big deal. Such belief has huge policy implications. Palin will need to explain her stand on global warming. Palin seems to the right on McCain on this issue. McCain is on record as stating that human activity is responsible for global warming. Also, Palin wants to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). McCain opposes drilling in ANWR.

The second area of anti-science controversy, coming from previous Palin comments, inevitably, will center on Palin’s statements about teaching the theory of intelligent design in public schools.

The Anchorage Daily News, ran this article, “‘Creation Science’ Enters The Race” two years ago, when Palin was a candidate for the office of governor of Alaska, that indicates that Palin believes that school children should learn both the theory of evolution and the theory of intelligent design

“The volatile issue of teaching creation science in public schools popped up in the Alaska governor’s race this week when Republican Sarah Palin said she thinks creationism should be taught alongside evolution in the state’s public classrooms.

“Palin was answering a question from the moderator near the conclusion of Wednesday night’s televised debate on KAKM Channel 7 when she said, “Teach both. You know, don’t be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it’s so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both.”

“Her main opponents, Democrat Tony Knowles and Independent Andrew Halcro, said such alternatives to evolution should be kept out of science classrooms. Halcro called such lessons “religious-based” and said the place for them might be a philosophy or sociology class.

“The question has divided local school boards in several places around the country and has come up in Alaska before, including once before the state Board of Education in 1993.

“The teaching of creationism, which relies on the biblical account of the creation of life, has been ruled by the U.S. Supreme Court as an unconstitutional injection of religion into public education. ….

In an interview Thursday, Palin said she meant only to say that discussion of alternative views should be allowed to arise in Alaska classrooms:

“I don’t think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn’t have to be part of the curriculum.” She added that, if elected, she would not push the state Board of Education to add such creation-based alternatives to the state’s required curriculum. Members of the state school board, which sets minimum requirements, are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature.

“The Republican Party of Alaska platform says, in its section on education: “We support giving Creation Science equal representation with other theories of the origin of life. If evolution is taught, it should be presented as only a theory.” Palin said she thought there was value in discussing alternatives.