Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and Sec. of State Jennifer Brunner: Starting dominoes or playing chicken? (Photo c/o The Plain Dealer.)

Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner just sent out her thank-you message to her email list from her unsuccessful U.S. Senate primary against Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, now Ohio Democrats’ nominee to face Rob Portman in the fall.

She’s not happy. And, progressive as ever.

With no mention of Lee.

In her words:

Dear [name],

Thank you for your amazing support of my race for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in Ohio.

Our campaign broadened the progressive base in Ohio. We fought to make people matter more than money. We were outflanked in money, endorsements and establishment pushback.

With the support of a broad and diverse group of activists and supporters like you who helped us get our message to other Ohioans, we pulled off a campaign that has amazed many.

We were outspent 4 to 1 overall and on broadcast media 100% to 0. We can take what we learned and help new candidates of all races, nationalities, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and age become part of our government, so that our government looks and thinks more like us. Please keep up the fight. You can be certain I will.

Thank you again for all you have done.

Sincerely,

[signed]
Jennifer Brunner

Garrison

Democratic Ohio state Rep. Jennifer Garrison announced this afternoon that she is no longer seeking the Democratic nomination for Ohio Secretary of State, the position currently held by Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate Jennifer Brunner.

On her Facebook page, she wrote:

I would like to thank all of the wonderful people in Ohio that supported me in my campaign over the last 6 months for Secretary of State. I announced today that I am no longer seeking that office, but will always be working to help the people of this region and state.

Marc Kovac broke the news this afternoon, announcing that she would not be seeking the Sec of State nomination or to retain her House seat.  Ohio Daily Blog has Garrison’s full statement.

Garrison’s views on LGBT and choice issues had caused quite a stir both upon her entrance to the race and when Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown dropped out of the race.  Of Garrison’s entrance in the race, I wrote at the time:

Ohio is not a liberal state, by any means, but I’m still not sure that Garrison can win a statewide Democratic primary in 2010.  If anything, Garrison’s announcement may have been the best way either to drive up interest in Brown — or to lead some other Democrats to consider jumping in the race.

Not quite, but . . .

Right now, it looks like the leading options to replace Garrison are Sharen Neuhardt, who fared poorly in her 2008 U.S. House race against U.S. Rep. Steve Austria when all other Democrats in Ohio had enormous success, and Franklin County Clerk of Courts Mary Ellen O’Shaughnessy, who lost two races for Franklin County Commissioner (1992 & 2002) and a run at Congress in 2000.  The Cleveland Scene reported earlier this week that Neuhardt has taken out petitions for the race.  [UPDATE: Multiple people are reporting to me that O'Shaughnessy is making the phone rounds today, letting people know that she, too, is in the race.  The Dispatch more or less reported this as a "soon-to-be fact" on Friday.]

My question is simple: Why either of these people?  As Marilyn Brown has amply proven, it’s not enough to be a progressive.

Particularly when entering the race this late — relative to, say, the long-raging U.S. Senate battle — the Democratic replacement for this race needs to stand out if he or she is to have any real shot at defeating the Republican, former House Speaker Jon Husted.  I see one of two ways that this could work: (1) The person has a name that Ohioans know, someone who starts out with some name recognition to go after Husted with some power from the very start, or (2) the person is an “outsider” who can enter the race with non-political credibility for the job in a way that would depoliticize the Democratic side of the race against Husted.

My pick for 1 would be attorney John Gilligan (bio), who I understand from several people already has considered the race.  My pick for 2 would be Ohio State Law Professor Dan Tokaji (bio), author of the Equal Vote blog and someone who I know personally and greatly respect.  I’ve not spoken with either person about the race.  They are emblematic of my views on the type of candidate Democrats need to compete in this race in light of today’s news.  There may be others who fit the bill.

Thoughts?

She’s so special that she even got the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.

I love to hear about JFK! He had dog named Pushinka that was a gift from Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev. When Pushinka arrived, the President had him checked for spying devices because it was during the Cold War. My family takes good care of me and has me checked out, too – but not for hidden microphones.

I’m thankful I have a family and home. Many Ohioans are thankful for what my mom did to make sure our elections and state records are safe and reliable. Just think of what she could do if we sent her to the U.S. Senate! That’s why we need all you other underdogs (and big dogs, too) tohelp her with a donation.

I didn’t like it last time, and I don’t like it this time.  I get that her fund-raising is not what one would hope, but repeated fund-raising emails from a dog is just absurd.  If Jennifer Brunner wants to be a United States Senator, I would hope that her campaign — which initially started as being a message-based enterprise that was outpacing her primary opponent, Lee Fisher, on message at every turn — reflected that desire.  There are some animal lovers who might like such a targeted, cutesy message, but it’s clear this is going to her entire e-mail list.

If Brunner wants the DSCC to take her campaign seriously — which its chair is not doing — she probably should start by doing the same herself.

The full e-mail, in all its canine glory, is below the jump.

* * * * *

Dear Chris,

I’m Laney, the underdog. I wrote to some of you earlier. Thanksgiving is a good time to remember the things we’re thankful for–I’m thankful for my home and my family.

It wasn’t always so good for me. I started out as an underdog. A lot of people didn’t think I could be a top dog, but my mom did.  My mom is one of those rare people who sees the potential in everyone, and she didn’t gave up on me. Her name is Jennifer Brunner. She sees the potential in Ohio, too, and she’s running for the U.S. Senate where some say she is the underdog.

Now, I don’t just live with people, I have two dog brothers, Jake and McGuffey, who live with us, too.  Jake is older and kind of bothered by things like Guffey and me wrestling and stealing each other’s bones. But Jake has learned to put up with us, kind of like voters put up with politicians who wrestle to live up to their promises and play games of one-upmanship. I guess Jake figures, like voters, he can’t change the status quo.

Once in awhile, though, someone comes along who does change the status quo, because she knows it’s right and has the courage to do it. My mom is one of those leaders.  She isn’t a politician who just does what the pollsters want her to do. She does what she believes is right.

She cleaned up Ohio’s elections, for one thing.  She helped businesses by making it easier for them to file all sorts of paperwork they need and to get information about Ohio’s people that will help grow jobs.

She’s so special that she even got the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.

I love to hear about JFK! He had dog named Pushinka that was a gift from Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev. When Pushinka arrived, the President had him checked for spying devices because it was during the Cold War. My family takes good care of me and has me checked out, too – but not for hidden microphones.

I’m thankful I have a family and home. Many Ohioans are thankful for what my mom did to make sure our elections and state records are safe and reliable. Just think of what she could do if we sent her to the U.S. Senate! That’s why we need all you other underdogs (and big dogs, too) to help her with a donation.

Please give her $25 or $50 or pledge $10 a month starting now. You won’t be sorry. I’m not. And when she’s our Senator, Ohio will go from being an underdog to being the new top dog. She’s top dog in my book, and in your book, she’ll be a great U.S. Senator.

So, please give to her campaign today.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Laney (the Underdog)

The previous method of execution included a three-drug protocol applied intravenously.  The first change to the execution procedure includes the adoption of a one-drug protocol, using thiopental sodium alone, applied intravenously.  Pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride will no longer be used as a part of the process.  In the event that an IV site cannot be established or maintained, then I have authorized the use of an intramuscular injection of midazolam and hydromorphone as a back-up means of carrying out the execution.

Apparently, Ohio is the first state to move to a one-drug procedure, which prompted an interesting comment from one observer:

“This is a significant step forward,” said Ty Alper, Associate Director, Death Penalty Clinic, U.C. Berkeley School of Law. “Paralyzing inmates before executing them – so we can’t tell whether they are suffering – is a barbaric practice, and Ohio should be commended for stopping it.”

Ohio Public Defender Tim Young, however, maintains that problems still exist:

“I would like to congratulate the State of Ohio, as it has finally recognized that by going to a single, massive dose of an anesthetic, it will greatly reduce the risk of torturing people to death.  I continue to have concerns, however, that there are no limits on how long or how many times the execution team can try to gain IV access.”

1. Maine: Question 1 — Residents are being asked to vote No to preserve the marriage bill passed by the legislature and signed and supported by the governor earlier this year.  Activists have been raising money aplenty on both sides, but Mainers are an independent bunch.  The polls have tightened significantly, and the direction of the polling continues to show the effectiveness of “recruiting the kids” campaigning that many of us thought went out with Anita Bryant.  A victory here would both be a very real victory for the people of Maine, but also a signal to supporters of marriage equality that the tales told be our opponents are losing steam and that we can win this struggle.  A loss will, as usual, lead to second-guessing and re-calibrating for the next time.
2. New Jersey: Governor — Chris Christie sounds like someone who has few friends.  He just seems like a bit of a jerk.  Jon Corzine is a slick, political guy who, fortunately for me, takes positions on issues — including marriage equality — that gel with mine.  This is the race that will be blown up to mean Everything for 2010.  It doesn’t, but it will be spun that way by the winner, so I’ll be watching this very close race to see who gets to have that message.
3. New York: The 23rd Congressional District Special Election — Wow.  The local Republican Party’s nominee to replace President Obama’s Army Secretary John McHugh, a Republican, endorsed the Democrat in the race on Sunday after suspending her race on Saturday because the far Right had backed her Conservative Party opponent.  This race puts soap operas to shame. It seems likely that Doug Hoffman, the Conservative, will defeat Bill Owens, the Democrat, but Dede Scozzafava’s endorsement of Owens could make this race a tighter one than we think. Regardless of the victor, this is a race to keep in mind as teabaggers and others talk about the ascendancy of the far Right. The long-term implications, though, of Hoffman’s win could be an even further narrowing of the GOP’s messaging, which isn’t going to win races across the country.
4. Virginia: Governor — As Creigh Deeds (D) heads to what seems to be an all but inevitable defeat in Virginia, the question will be: Why?  How, after trending more blue in recent elections, did Bob McDonnell (R) slide to an easy victory?  Many people already have started to give their more-informed-than-mine opinion on that question, but the real question for tomorrow will be what effect Deeds’ flagging campaign will have on the rest of the ticket.
5. Virginia: Attorney General — Particularly Democrat Steve Shannon’s campaign against Kenneth Cuccinelli (R) to serve as the Attorney General of Virginia.  Cuccinelli is a scary man.  And I’m not alone in having — or expressing — that opinion.  The Washington Post called him “worrying” in its endorsement of Shannon and expressed concern over his “sometimes bizarre and incendiary ideas.”  If Cuccinelli finds his way to the A.G.’s Office, many will look to Deeds and wonder whether Terry McAuliffe would have been any better — at least at stopping the bleeding.
6. Washington: Referendum 71 — The referendum asks voters to Approve the measure to keep the domestic partnerships approved by the legislature.  It is likely to succeed, and domestic partnerships will be in Washington state to stay, but we’ve been surprised before so the troops out there are going to keep going ’til the very end.  Recall that Washington is a vote-by-mail-only state, and ballots just need to be postmarked by Election Day, so it’s possible that the result could be a while coming.
7. Georgia: Atlanta Mayor — Mary Norwood, currently a member of Atlanta’s City Council, could become the city’s first white mayor since 1973.  City Council President Lisa Borders and former state lawmaker Kasim Reed, who already were trailing Norwood, have picked up little support from undecided voters in the past month.  A candidate, though, needs to receive a majority of the vote to avoid a December run-off, which Norwood might not reach on Tuesday.  The recent entry of the state Democratic party into the race in support of Borders and Reed because of questions about Norwood’s political affiliations has sparked a flurry of last-minute interest and should make hitting the 50+1 mark difficult for Norwood on Tuesday.
8. Michigan: Kalamazoo Ordinance 1856 — Residents are being asked to vote Yes to keep Kalamazoo’s twice approved ordinance for housing, employment, and public accommodation protections for LGBT residents.  This is the third of three LGBT issues on the ballot across the country this fall, so equality advocates are keeping an eye on this race as well.
9. New York: New York City Mayor — As Nate Silver has noted, Mayor Michael Bloomberg almost certainly will win re-election.  But, in an odd year and being New York City, where the winner is a de facto national figure, it’s worth seeing if Bill Thompson, Bloomberg’s Democratic challenger, upsets him.
10. Ohio: Issue 2 — Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland endorsed this constitutional amendment put on the ballot by the General Assembly, but many of the measure’s biggest opponents are the liberal base of the Democratic Party.  Issue 2 places in the Ohio Constitution, an Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, whose sole purpose is to supersede and prevent a planned attempt to bring a statutory issue to voters in 2010 similar to the humane cages measure approved by California voters in 2008.  I have written in support of a No vote on this issue previously and, though likely to pass, I’d like to see the issue gain less support than the Governor and agri-business supporting the measure are expecting.  (Ohio’s Issue 3 — relating to casinos — likely will be closer and is more controversial within the state, but I find the issue less interesting than everyone else does, so I’ll leave it to others to comment on that.)

What races are you watching?

Broom

On Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Ted Strickland finally had to put a stop to a botched execution attempt.  According to the Columbus Dispatch, Romell Broom’s execution was delayed after 18 failed attempts by the state-employed EMTs to find suitable veins so they could kill Broom.

Here, care of Marc Kovacs, is some awkward Strickland time, as he attempts to explain how the EMTs’ inability to find a vein represents no failure of training on the EMTs’ part and no problems of cruel or unusual punishment in the system more broadly.

The Ohio House of Representatives, preparing to take up consideration of H.B. 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act.

No one could have said it better today in the Ohio House of Representatives than Republican Representative Jeff Wagner, when — during the House debate over H.B. 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act — he told his colleagues, “When speaking against a bill like this, it’s easy to come across the wrong way.”

Wagner then did his best to prove his point, talking about the “sexual revolution,” how increased numbers of homosexuals have led to increased incident of sexually transmitted diseases and the dangers inherent in living in a world in which homosexuality is accepted.  He told his colleagues, “You can live with whoever you want, but don’t use the state government to force acceptance.”

Fortunately for the vast majority of Ohioans, many of whom believe that Ohio law already prevents someone from being fired solely because they’re gay, the Ohio House of Representatives today took a different path and supported equality by passing the EHEA on a 56-39 vote.  No Democrats voted against the bill, and five* Republicans — Reps. Blair, Dolan, Hite, Lehner and McGregor — voted for the bill.  Democratic Rep. Lorraine Fende did not vote on the bill.

Rep. Stewart

The EHEA would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodations in Ohio, and its passage in the House marks the first time a pro-LGBT bill passed either chamber of the Ohio Statehouse.

Sponsors Rep. Dan Stewart (D) and Rep. Ross McGregor (R) both spoke in favor of the bill’s passage, with Stewart talking about the changes in our past leading toward more enlightened positions on equality — including a mention of P.M. Gordon Brown’s apology of last week — and urging that “Injustice to one is injustice to all.”

Rep. McGregor

McGregor spoke immediately after Wagner’s “sexual revolution” speech and was quite pointed in as nice a way as possible in his remarks, saying that he had decided that “I’m going to use my time [here] to do the right thing.”  He went on to talk, in as plain of terms as I’ve heard, about how this is just such a bill and how he supports the bill as a businessman and a citizen.  He also spoke directly to his Republican colleagues, noting “the number of your staff who have stuck their head in, and told me this is the right thing to do.”

On a more upsetting note, McGregor talked about some of the intemperate responses he’s received, from letters attacking him as a “traitor” to one particularly chilling letter asking “Is there a provision for me to pound these queer people into next week?”

In Ohio.  In 2009.

Fortunately, the majority of the members of the Ohio House are slightly more enlightened on the issue.

Rep. Garrison

Among those who spoke out in favor of the bill, two were particularly noteworthy.  The one was Rep. Jennifer Garrison, who is running for Secretary of State and won her House seat in part in 2004 by running to the right of her Republican opponent on the Defense of Marriage Act.  Garrison spoke out in favor of EHEA primarily on its economic benefits and, at the end of the session added her name on as a co-sponsor of the legislation.  It’s just one small step, but among those gathered in the gallery to watch the proceedings, it was a noteworthy one.

The other somewhat surprising support came from Rep. Peggy Lehner, a Republican from Kettering, who began her speech by noting that she is vigorously pro-life.  She transitioned from discussing her pro-life views into talking about her support for EHEA by saying that “[a]n unalienable right is one which we have no right to deny. . . . What we are doing today is simply reaffirming” that.  She made a case for the fact that like her views on life, Ohioans should not be limited by others in their liberty or attempts at the pursuit of happiness.  And discrimination, she argued limited that liberty and the pursuit of that happiness.

Former Equality Ohio Education Fund Board Chair Tom Grote after the vote with his daughter Amoret and EHEA sponsor Rep. Stewart.

Other members speaking in support included Reps. Tyrone Yates and John Carney, both Democrats.  Other members speaking against were Republican Reps. Matt Huffman and Lynn Wachtman, who said, “Shame on you for bringing this bill up. . . . This bill punishes people who disagree with you.”

The only stumbling block in the Democratic-led House today involved some parliamentary gamesmanship that Rep. McGregor later said may have cost the bill some Republican votes.  The Ohio Chamber of Commerce has been attempting to get some amendments into the bill — from damage caps to additional procedural hurdles for plaintiffs to additional defenses for employers — that would impact more than just the sexual orientation and gender identity provisions of this bill, extending into all of the state’s civil rights provision.

Although some of the Chamber’s other amendments were added in committee, Rep. Gerald Stebelton apparently wanted a vote on the floor today regarding these other amendments (available on pages 1889-1895 in the PDF of the House Journal).  The Democrats, however, presented an amendment to the same section of the bill before Stebelton could be recognized to bring his amendment forward.  Under the House’s rules, thus, Stebelton’s amendment was declared out of order.

Rep. Lehner obliquely referred to the matter in her speech, calling the Democrats’ action “disturbing.”  Rep. Bacon also spoke on the floor more directly about the action, suggesting that debate on the Stebelton amendment, regardless of outcome, could have brought more Republicans to support the bill.  In a news conference following the bill’s passage, Rep. McGregor appeared to confirm Bacon’s suggestion, saying that the Democrats’ procedural move to block Rep Stebelton’s amendment “turned some [GOP] colleagues off” to the bill.

Next up for the bill is the Ohio Senate, which is overwhelmingly controlled by Republicans and where the Ohio Chamber of Commerce is sure to find a more “interested” audience for its views on the bill.

Equality Ohio Exec. Dir. Lynne Bowman, with sponsors Reps. Stewart and McGregor, at a news conference following the EHEA's passage.

The day’s House Journal, as it relates to the vote on H.B. 176, can be found below the jump, as well as news releases from the Ohio Democratic Party and Equality Ohio.  The day’s full journal can be found here (PDF).

* = Apologies to Rep. Matt Dolan, who I had missed in my initial run through the roll call.

* * * * *

Ohio House Journal, September 15, 2009
H.B. 176 Vote

The question recurring, “Shall the bill as amended pass?”

The yeas and nays were taken and resulted – yeas 56, nays 39, as follows:
Those who voted in the affirmative were: Representatives

Belcher Blair Bolon Book
Boyd Brown Carney Celeste
Chandler DeBose DeGeeter Dodd
Dolan Domenick Driehaus Dyer
Foley Garland Garrison Gerberry
Goyal Hagan Harris Harwood
Heard Hite Koziura Lehner
Letson Luckie Lundy Mallory
McGregor Moran Murray Newcomb
Okey Otterman Phillips Pillich
Pryor Sayre Schneider Skindell
Slesnick Stewart Sykes Szollosi
Ujvagi Weddington Williams B. Williams S.
Winburn Yates Yuko Budish-56.

Those who voted in the negative were: Representatives

Adams J. Adams R. Amstutz Bacon
Baker Balderson Batchelder Blessing
Bubp Burke Coley Combs
Daniels Derickson Evans Gardner
Goodwin Grossman Hackett Hall
Hottinger Huffman Jordan Maag
Mandel Martin McClain Mecklenborg
Morgan Oelslager Ruhl Sears
Snitchler Stautberg Stebelton Uecker
Wachtmann Wagner Zehringer-39.

The bill passed.

Representative Stewart moved to amend the title as follows:

Add the names: “Bolon, Dyer, Garrison, Murray, Otterman, Pillich,
Slesnick, Szollosi, Weddington.”

The motion was agreed to and the title so amended.

The title as amended was agreed to.

* * * * *

Ohio Democratic Party News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2009
Contact: Seth Bringman
614-221-6563 ext. 145

Ohio Democratic Party Praises Passage of H.B. 176

Bill Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

COLUMBUS – Today, the Ohio Democratic Party praised the passage of H.B. 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act, a bill to prohibit discrimination in housing and employment based on sexual orientation and gender identity. All House Democrats supported the bill. It is the first bill that was passed in the Statehouse when legislators returned to session today and the first bill in our state’s history that would expand rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Ohioans.

“With today’s historic vote, we are one step closer to ensuring that Ohioans will not be fired or kicked out of their homes just because of who they are or who they love,” said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern. “The fact that all House Democrats supported H.B. 176 is a testament to our Party’s commitment to equality for all Ohioans. I congratulate Equality Ohio and their coalition partners, the Human Rights Campaign and Stonewall Democrats, as well as Representative Dan Stewart, House Leadership and all who worked so diligently to make passage of this bill possible. We urge Senate President Bill Harris to move it through committee and to a vote on the Senate floor.”

The LGBT Caucus of the Ohio Democratic Party joined LGBT groups in working to pass this bill. The Ohio Democratic Party is the only State Party in the country with a full-time staff member dedicated to outreach to the LGBT community.
-30-

* * * * *

Equality Ohio News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | September 15, 2009

Anti-Discrimination Law Passes Ohio House of Representatives

History is made in Ohio

For Immediate Release: September 15, 2009
Contact: Lynne Bowman 614-563-5274

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Today, with a vote of 56 to 39, the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 176, the Equal Housing and Employment Act. The House vote marks the first time in Ohio’s history that a vote on the floor of either chamber has occurred on legislation protecting people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity in Ohio.

“With the passage of the Equal Housing and Employment Act, today the members of the House sent a clear message,” said Lynne Bowman, Executive Director of Equality Ohio, the state’s advocacy organization for LGBT issues. “Discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity will not be tolerated in Ohio, regardless of where a person lives, works or plays.”

House Bill 176 was introduced in early May of 2009 with 27 co-sponsors, including primary sponsors Rep. Dan Stewart (D, Columbus) and Rep. Ross McGregor (R, Springfield) and passed out of the State Government committee in June on an 8/5 vote. It has the support of more than 150 faith groups, local governments, and community organizations across Ohio. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the NFIB and the Ohio Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management have all taken a neutral position on the bill.

“I am pleased to stand with my 55 colleagues in the House who voted yes on HB176 today,” said Representative Stewart. “We worked together to craft a bill that protects more Ohioans and is good for business. The bipartisan support it has achieved to date should make one thing clear: equality in housing, employment and public accommodations is not a partisan issue in Ohio.”

Currently, 20 states and the District of Columbia, 11 of Ohio’s 13 public four-year universities, 17 Ohio cities, over 90% of Fortune 500 companies, the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives all offer similar protections. Governor Strickland has indicated support for the legislation. The bill now heads to the Senate.

“Now that House Bill 176 has passed the House, we look forward to the opportunity for full hearings in the Senate,” said Representative McGregor. “The Senate has indicated that they are focusing on issues that will stimulate the economy in Ohio. We believe they will find that House Bill 176 does just that by telling business owners and the employees they are trying recruit, that Ohio is a place that welcomes everyone.”

“This success was made possible because of the conviction of legislators who believe this is the right thing to do and because of activists from across Ohio who work to make our state a place where everyone can feel at home. We are now one step closer because of each of them,” commented Bowman.

###

Kurt

In the Akron City Council Democratic Primary on Tuesday, Sandra Kurt — previously discussed at Law Dork — won with nearly half the votes cast in the five-person race and ended the night with nearly double the votes of her nearest competitor:

City of Akron Ward 8 Council
(Vote For Not More Than ) 1
(WITH 21 OF 21 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
SANDRA KURT . . . . . . . . . 1,122  49.56
BRUCE BOLDEN . . . . . . . . . 566  25.00
RAYMOND COX . . . . . . . . . 348   15.37
WILL PADILLA . . . . . . . . . . 196  8.66
MARIAN L. SHANK . . . . . . . 32  1.41

Congratulations Sandra, a successful openly LGBT Ohio candidate!  Cox, who came in third Tuesday, had been appointed to the position earlier this year, so — technically — Kurt already has unseated the incumbent.  Kurt now will face Republican Elizabeth Berry Smith, who garnered 355 votes as the sole candidate in the Republican primary, in November.

Mary Cheney with her longtime partner, Heather Poe, with whom she is raising a child.

While Liz Cheney busies herself with defending her father’s pro-torture policies, Mary Cheney — his openly lesbian daughter — is engaged in another destructive exercise: supporting anti-gay candidates!

What’s more, she’s doing this by injecting herself into a race where the Republican has an established anti-gay record and both Democrats have very pro-gay records — and right here in Ohio!

According to Raw Story:

Mary Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney and onetime gay outreach director for Coors Brewing Company, gave $1,000 to a Republican Senate hopeful who voted against same-sex marriage and allowing gay couples to adopt children in the District of Columbia.

Cheney, 40, has a two-year old son with her partner of 17 years, Heather Poe. The donation to former Rep. Rob Portman (R-OH) was made in May. Portman is seeking the Senate seat that will be vacated by Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) when he retires in 2011.

Portman voted for the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2004, an anti-gay attempt that Republican Ohio Reps. Hobson and Pryce and all of Ohio’s Democratic representatives opposed.

The Democratic candidates, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, support all LGBT equality efforts, up to and including marriage equality.

It’s too bad that Mary Cheney, like her father, can claim to be supportive of LGBT equality, but is unwilling to take the steps needed to bring her party along on the issue.

Sandra Kurt

The Akron Beacon Journal took some of its precious editorial space on Sunday, when circulation numbers are higher and people have more time to read, to endorse Sandra Kurt for City Council.  The Beacon Journal editorial board, endorsing Kurt over the person appointed to the seat when a vacancy occurred earlier this year, writes:

The overriding question is which one would make the most valuable contribution on this council, advancing not only the interests of the ward, but the city as a whole. In other words, which candidate possesses a set of skills not found on the council?

We recommend the election of Sandra Kurt on Sept. 8.

The board went on to describe her experience with “complex projects,” having been Goodyear’s “project manager for corporate facilities planning and operations analysis” in Akron for the past five years, and her support for regionalism.  Although not mentioned in the editorial, Kurt is openly lesbian and has been endorsed by the Victory Fund, which supports openly LGBT candidates for public office.

Kurt would become one of the more prominent elected LGBT officials in Ohio should she win a place on Akron’s city council.  Although Cleveland has an openly gay city council member, Councilman Joe Santiago failed even to receive the support of Cleveland Stonewall Democrats for his re-election bid.  Columbus has not had an openly LGBT council member since Gov. Ted Strickland picked then Councilwoman Mary Jo Hudson to run the state’s Department of Insurance.

ON THE WEB: Sandra Kurt for Council