For as much as suburbanites like to brag about how awesome their schools are, they seem to have a tough time funding them. More suburban/exurban hypocrisy! Kingfish angry! Kingfish SMASH!

---

 

School levies: Pickerington, Arlington, yes; New Albany, no

 

Wednesday,  November 7, 2007 3:51 AM

 

By Charlie Boss and Mary Beth Lane

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

About half the school-tax requests in central Ohio went down yesterday, including some of the ones with the most substantial consequences.  Canal Winchester, Marysville and Newark schools officials were all talking about cuts after their issues were defeated. New Albany-Plain also failed to persuade voters to provide money for a new building for grades 5-6.

 

More below:

[email protected]

 

[email protected]

 

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/11/07/Levies.ART_ART_11-07-07_A1_3H8CSTI.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101

New Albany-Plain

 

The New Albany-Plain bond issue vote was defeated by 124 votes out of nearly 4,400 cast.

 

The $34 million bond issue was defeated in May by a little more than 100 votes even after school administrators warned that elementary grades would need four trailers to accommodate students this year. The bonds would have paid for a fifth- and sixth-grade building, freeing up classrooms for both elementary and middle schools.

 

"Everybody I've talked to said they moved to New Albany for the education," said school board President Diane Goedeking. "We can't create those educational opportunities in overcrowded conditions."

 

 

 

So the most affluent part of metro Columbus can't afford to deal with its growth?! Judging by their nice new school buildings and huge sports complex, this is surprising news.

I always like how they use the "Kids that live within 2 miles of the school lose busing" as a threat. They shouldn't be on the bus anyway! I bet there would be less sprawl and waste if kids learned the joys of walking to stuff at a young age.

^That two miles really hurts without sidewalks.

Latta wins GOP nod for 5th District race

7,541-vote edge in Wood County made difference

By JOSHUA BOAK

BLADE POLITICS WRITER

 

Graphic: http://toimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=TO&Date=20071108&Category=NEWS09&ArtNo=711080357&Ref=V5&MaxW=500&title=1

 

Wood County carried State Rep. Bob Latta to victory in the 5th Congressional District Republican primary, cushioning him with a 7,541 vote lead over State Sen. Steve Buehrer in the county.

 

That lead withstood erosion as returns from the 15 other counties poured in. With turnout just under 27 percent, Mr. Latta (R., Bowling Green) prevailed with 43.67 percent of the vote. He outpaced Mr. Buehrer (R., Delta) by slightly more than 3 percentage points.

 

...

 

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071108/NEWS09/711080357

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Could all of this GOP bickering be good news for the Dems? as Robin Weirauch looks to win the seat?

I've got a bad feeling about this.  The governor did an earnest job for us, but the electricity lobby was confident playing on their own "turf".

 

Electricity reform is a lesson in profits and politics (Plain Dealer)

 

Posted by John Funk November 12, 2007 02:00AM

 

Senators might have derailed Gov. Ted Strickland's plan for wind farms and other forms of renewable energy.

 

What if your bank suddenly changed your mortgage rate? Bet you'd do what it took to find out why.

 

That's kind of what's happening in Columbus. Lawmakers are trying to figure out how utilities should calculate what you pay for electricity

 

....SNIP...

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2007/11/the_bottom_line_on_electricity.html

 

Nobody runs for mayor, 7 want to wrestle

 

CHILO, Ohio - Village council members get paid $5 per meeting, while the winner of a wrestling match staged in a wading pool filled with pie filling gets $100. Is it any wonder that more people signed up to wrestle than to run for mayor?

 

more below

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071113/ap_on_fe_st/odd_no_candidates_1

Maybe we could get some of the Presidential candidates to mud wrestle instead of those terrible debates!  That goes for both parties!!  Winners of each leg then go head-to-head in November for the presidency!

I think that's the philosophy behind HeadLock08.com.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071212/NEWS09/712120440/-1/NEWS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Article published December 12, 2007

 

Latta coasts to victory for 5th District seat by capturing all counties

By TOM TROY and JOE VARDON

BLADE STAFF WRITERS

 

 

BOWLING GREEN — State Rep. Bob Latta (R., Bowling Green) yesterday won by a large margin the 5th District congressional seat that he lost by 27 votes almost 20 years ago.

 

With all precincts in the 16 counties that make up the sprawling district reporting, Mr. Latta beat Robin Weirauch of Napoleon 56.8 per cent to 42.9 percent to replace the late U.S. Rep. Paul Gillmor (R., Tiffin), who died Sept. 5 of an accidental fall in his Virginia residence. Mr. Gillmor had represented the district since 1989...

 

Contact Tom Troy at: [email protected], or 419-724-6058.

The Democratic party failed to endorese a candidate to run agains Bush rubber stamp and resolute homophobe Mike Turner.

 

So, Datyon uberblogger, neighborhood activitst, advertising guy, and all around gadfly David Esrati (also an ex-Clevelander) has thrown his hat in the ring:

 

From his blog

 

My platform is simple:

 

I believe the average resident of the 3rd District is more afraid of being foreclosed on, going bankrupt, or facing usurious interest rates and fees by our currently unregulated banking industry than being attacked by Osama Bin Laden.

 

I believe that all citizens of the United States should have access to first world health care, without paying 4x more than any other industrialized nation.

 

I believe that an educated public is critical to continuation of our way of life- and that access to adequately funded public schools, with a longer and more rigorous school year is mandatory.

 

I believe that in order to remain competitive, we must have a digital infrastructure that is capable of delivering at least the same data rates as Finland and S. Korea.

 

I believe that the stock market is for long term investing, not a casino for wagering.

 

I believe that for a CEO to earn over a million a year, they must deliver value to their shareholders, or take the company private. I also believe that ratios between lowest paid and highest paid workers need to be in place unless the company is privately held, or owned by the workers. There cannot be rewards for laying off employees, outsourcing jobs to third world nations, while our citizens can’t afford homes.

 

I believe that banks cannot continue to allow consumers access to credit and hike interest rates and fees at the same time. No American should be subject to interest rates of 29%

 

I believe that we must invest in our county, before we spend another dime in Iraq or Afghanistan. It’s time to bring our troops home. We owe the people of Iraq an apology for President George W. Bush’s rash and unwarranted invasion. Only with support of other Arab countries and members of OPEC, shall we remain there to stabilize the country.

 

I believe America must invest in alternative energy, mass transit, and reward companies that encourage employees to live within walking distance. We must end sprawl and the associated costs. It is time to eliminate all corporate welfare except that which encourages progressive, sound development of walking communities to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

 

I believe that the value of the dollar must be restored. This can be achieved through trade policies that don’t contribute to the loss of American jobs to overseas sweatshops and environmentally detrimental production facilities.

 

Lastly, I believe in the power of transparency in Government, and will promise to share and work with my constituents through this website, to make sure that they are well represented by an honest candidate. I will not accept any money from corporations, lobbyists, PACs etc. I hope to run a clean, honest campaign based on the power of my ideas and my personal integrity. Because I am still a working class populist candidate, I may not be able to dedicate the time knocking on doors, kissing babies or wasting time in what passes for a debate these days.

Longtime Dayton activist Esrati to run for Congress

The Democrat plans to run for the Third Congressional district seat now held by U.S. Rep. Mike Turner.

 

By Lynn Hulsey

Staff Writer

 

Saturday, December 15, 2007

 

DAYTON Longtime Dayton activist David Esrati said Friday he will run for Congress.

 

He plans to run as a Democrat in the March 3 primary for the Third Congressional district seat now held by U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville.

 

Democrat Jane Mitakides, who was defeated by Turner in 2004, also plans to run. Turner and former Waynesville Mayor Charles W. Sanders, a Democrat, have taken out petitions from the Montgomery County Board of Elections as well...

 

http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/12/14/ddn121507esrati.html

ELECTION 2008

Democrats hoping to take control of Ohio House

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Aaron Marshall

Plain Dealer Bureau

 

Columbus- Your neighbor probably won't ask you about it. It won't grab as many headlines or get a fraction of the attention as the presidential race, but a 2008 political battle that will rage across Ohio began Friday.

 

It's the fight for control of the Ohio House, where Republicans hope to hold off hard-charging Democrats and maintain their slim 53-46 edge. And it kicked off Friday as the filing deadline was met for the lower chamber's 99 districts that stretch across Ohio...

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

 

[email protected], 1-800-228-8272

 

www.cleveland.com

Graphic on candidates filing for the primary:

 

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/01/05/ballotchart.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

 

March 4 primary petitions filed

Saturday,  January 5, 2008 3:10 AM

By Jim Siegel and Jonathan Riskind

 

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Democrats need a four-seat pickup in November to take control of the Ohio House for the first time since 1994, and Franklin County voters will play a major role in deciding whether that happens.

 

As presidential, congressional, legislative and Supreme Court candidates filed petitions yesterday to meet the March 4 primary ballot deadline, House Democratic leaders point to the 22nd District, stretching from Clintonville to Dublin, as their No. 1 target...

 

 

[email protected]

 

[email protected]

 

www.dispatch.com

Rep. Tim Ryan a rising star for Democrats

Down-to-earth politician could soar to U.S. Senate

Monday, January 07, 2008

Sabrina Eaton

Plain Dealer Bureau

 

Washington -- The face of the Democratic Party's future forgoes shaving once in a while.

 

But Tim Ryan -- a former high school football star from Niles who is already a three-term congressional veteran at age 34 -- never forgoes a chance to snag federal money for his down-at-the-heels district, or tout his party's agenda on the House floor.

 

More Below:

 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

 

[email protected], 216-999-4212

 

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1199698272326880.xml&coll=2

© 2008 The Plain Dealer

 

There is more on this (and other campaign stuff) at the Esrati blog., which is interesting to read as one gets a maverick's take on the issues (Esrati is not a party regular...he is more of a true indepedenent).

 

 

Link

 

 

Dems endorse old foe for Turner

Jane Mitakides, a Washington Twp. businesswoman, lost the same congressional race in 2004.

 

By Steve Bennish

 

Staff Writer

 

Friday, January 25, 2008

 

DAYTON The Montgomery County Democratic Party Thursday night endorsed Washington Twp. businesswoman Jane Mitakides in the March 4 primary election to decide who will face U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, in November.

 

Democrats believe this is the year the party will unseat Turner and put a Democrat in the Third Congressional District seat...

 

Three blog posts by yours truley on Mike Turners' Money

 

Turner's defense contractor donors and his defense budget earmarks

 

 

Turners developer money and his Austin Road earmark

 

 

GOP & Dem fundraising trends in OH 3

 

 

Tim's the Democrats' best candidate to take out old George Voinovich in 2010.  He's a fighting Red Dragon!!

Report Gives Average Performance Marks to Ohio's Government

127th General Assembly The Hannah Report

March 3, 2008 Hannah News Service -

 

A new report released by the Pew Center on the States that graded each state's government on its overall performance put Ohio in the average category.

 

With a "B-minus" grade, Ohio is in the national average with 17 other states in the "Grading the States 2008" survey, which grades state government in areas from budget and finance to roads and bridges. Overall state performance in the survey ranged from A- (Utah, Virginia, and Washington) to D+ (New Hampshire), with 13 states earning grades above the national average and 19 states below the national average...

 

no link provided

Posted by Joseph L. Wagner March 05, 2008 12:23PM

Categories: Election, FYI, Impact, Butt-kicking

 

At least five Republican mayors in Cuyahoga County switched parties Tuesday as part of a carefully orchestrated coup by Democratic Chairman Jimmy Dimora.

 

This increased the number of Democratic mayors to 42; There are 16 Republican mayors, Dimora said Wednesday. ...SNIP...

 

"George Bush made me feel embarrassed to be a Republican. Ken Blackwell [former Ohio secretary of state] made me embarrassed to be a Republican," she said.

 

...SNIP...

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/03/five_suburban_mayors_bolt_the.html

 

There is nothing to be gained by kissing Congressmen Latourette & Regula for earmarked pork projects any further.

 

Latourette used to have this power to stifle mayors and even congressmen and keep them from campaigning for his opponents. No more. They lost the majority in the last election and the trend is not their friend.

 

 

Auditor zaps Blackwell for $80,000 in improper bonuses

Tuesday,  March 25, 2008 11:04 AM

By Darrel Rowland and Mark Niquette

 

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

State Auditor Mary Taylor this morning zapped fellow Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell for more than $80,000 in illegal bonuses to employees departing the secretary of state's office as Blackwell closed his tenure there in 2006.

 

Taylor issued findings for recovery totaling $80,534 against 17 former employees for public monies illegally spent, as well as Blackwell, former Chief Financial Officer Dilip Mehta, and their bonding company Travelers/St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company...

 

 

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/25/bonus.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

 

Full Report (pdf file):

 

http://www.dispatch.com/wwwexportcontent/sites/dispatch/local_news/stories/2008/03/25/taylor_report.pdf

He is supposed to be doing some sort of political organizing outreach in Dayton, and I am curious what you Cincy folks know of him...and what your opinions are of him. 

 

Thanks in Advance

 

Jeffrey.

Never heard of him.

You know how much I love giving opinions but unfortunately I've never heard of him.  Give me some info about him and I will surely give you an opinion though!

He is an OTR person, is or was a director of a group called CONTROL, and had an affliation with a youth center called Elementz, I think also in OTR.

 

 

Gavin Leonard, 24, has been an activist and organizer since the age of 17, when he served as Vice-President of Students for a Free Tibet at New York University.  After leaving school, he began to focus on social justice organizing, and worked on a number of anti-globalization, environmental, and police accountability campaigns in Denver, Cleveland, and Columbus.  Moving to Over-the-Rhine four years ago, Gavin has worked extensively on

police-community relations, and has worked for a low-income housing organization in the neighborhood for over 3 years.  He has committed himself to working with youth on the grassroots level in Cincinnati because he believes it is the best way to make long-term change in peoples’ lives.

 

That's from Elementz's website.

I guess Elementz  is his main deal in Cincy?  I wonde if Michael Redmond has any intel on this

 

He is supposed to be doing some sort of outreach in Dayton to recruit and train "progressive activists".  So was just curious if anyone in Cincy knew about him, as he was based there and did things there, like this Elementz place.

 

 

He's the director at the age of 24. Sounds like a great way to move up the corporate ladder rather quickly.

He was CityBeat's person of the year not long ago... shouldn't be too hard to find that article. He's a hard working, good dude.

I heard him speak at an event a few years ago.  From what I remember his story went something like this:  Went to NYU, moved to Colorado or somewhere to go door to door talking about the environment, somehow ended up in Cincinnati, developed an idea that what the kids of OTR need is a creative outlet, so he opened Elementz (a place with a recording studio, grafiti walls, art classes, etc).  He is a cool guy and a good speaker and I think he has some good ideas for OTR.  One thing I remember distinctly about him is that he opened his speech with talking about how when he wears a suit (like he was) he always wears brightly colored gym shoes and likes to show them off (like he did).  I don't know how helpful that is, but that's about all I know.

I guess Elementz  is his main deal in Cincy?  I wonde if Michael Redmond has any intel on this

 

I've got nothing.  People come, people go....hell, I am still wondering what ever happened to Nick Spenser.

No documentation found for Blackwell's bonuses

State wants $80,000 repaid by ex-officeholder or his workers

Saturday,  April 12, 2008 3:10 AM

By Mark Niquette

 

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Former Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell maintains the bonuses he handed out were legal.

Despite former Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell's contention that he had state approval to give $80,000 in parting payments to employees, state auditors found no documentation or policy to support that, records show...

 

 

 

[email protected]

http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/04/12/bonuses.ART_ART_04-12-08_B5_RF9TLL2.html?sid=101

File this under "holy WTF?!?!?" :-o

 

WKYC Exclusive: Sources say Cuyahoga County Recorder Pat O'Malley to resign

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=89521

 

Kim Wendel 

 

CLEVELAND -- Channel 3 News has confirmed through three sources that Cuyahoga County Recorder Pat O'Malley will resign his position within 48 hours.

 

He is to submit his letter of resignation to the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party by then.

 

It is reported that federal authorities are about to indict O'Malley on child pornography charges.

 

Channel 3 News has learned that O'Malley is out of the country and could not be reached for comment.

 

Stay tuned to Channel 3 News and wkyc.com for detailed updates throughout the day.

And in stranger news, wkyc.com is now stating: "It is reported that federal authorities are about to indict O'Malley on unspecified charges."

 

So which is it?!?

WHOA!

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=419666&r=0&Category=13&subCategoryID=0

 

All veterans eligible for tuition break at Ohio colleges

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

BY PAUL E. KOSTYU

 

One university president called a new effort by the governor to attract veterans to Ohio and its colleges a "stroke of genius."

 

Gov. Ted Strickland signed an executive order today that makes all members of the military honorary Ohioans, no matter what state they were born in or where they live or serve, making them eligible for in-state tuition at all of the state's colleges and universities. That means their tuition is free under both the current and a new federal GI Bill.

 

 

Now can you make all Ohioans that went to school "honorary Ohioans" and wipe off my debt too? ;)

I'm liking that Strickland seems to be able to identify the root of many problems in this area, this is hopefully a great longterm investment.

What's next? Are we gonna pay mexicans to come across the border?!

On the surface, this seems insane. I'm all for the GI Bill, but giving free tutition to people out of state is probably NOT a good investment. Those kind of students are not likely to have many ties to the state, so I can see them leaving real fast after graduation. Ohio needs to focus on all of the neglected students who were born and raised in this (state) motherf$&ker (The Mother of Presidents !!). (-ed)

...

 

 

Wait, wait!! Strickland lowered the cost of tuition to the "in-state" price so that federal GI benefits will cover *all* of the cost of tuition.  We Ohioans don't have to cover all of their tuition.

The reason no other state is doing it is because Ohio is leading the way for once.

 

Whether or not students decide to stay or leave after 4 years this is going to pull a lot of federal funds into our colleges and universities across the state while they're here.

 

Even if the retention of these students is 10%, that's still 10% more than zero.

 

More money + more skilled workers + more solid taxpayers = win for Ohio

Tony Snow was born in Berea, Kentucky and raised in Cincinnati.  He graduated from Princeton High School in Sharonville.  He loved his Bengals.

 

AP video obituary

surely, you must have something nice to say regarding his flute playing, C-Dawg

 

another thread destroyed............

^ I agree.

Edit: Deleted.  Not worth it.

RIP. I may not have been a conservative pundit, but Snow did have some class and was only doing the job he was hired for. A well spoken public servant who had a lot of candor that actually made me respect him in all facets, although I strongly disagreed with his boss's political stances.

I think Seicer put it perfectly. Whether or not you agree with the politics, he did his job well, was a well spoken man, and was respected in the journalistic community.

Well as someone who knew him, I agree with seicer.

Well as someone who knew him, I agree with seicer.

 

Oh lord, here we go ...