Statehouse in GOP control

Democrats were hoping to pick up a seat by virtue of a victory in one of three hotly contested seats.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Republicans will maintain control of the Ohio Legislature.
It appears that the GOP will extend its dominance of Democrats by a seat in the Senate, 22-11, and its advantage in the House beyond the current 59-40.
Senate President Richard H. Finan, a Cincinnati Republican, said Republican victories in tight races in northern and southern Ohio on Tuesday did much to extend the Republican advantage.
"It bodes well for the Republican leadership," said Finan, who must depart the Senate at the end of the year because of term limits. In the current Senate, the GOP outnumbers Democrats 21 to 12.
Democrats were hoping to pick up a seat by virtue of a victory in one of three hotly contested seats -- two in northern Ohio and one in southern Ohio. But it was not to be.
"One of the things we have said is there needs to be more debate here," said Senate Minority Leader Gregory L. DiDonato, a Dennison Democrat.
"With these gaps widening, it's only going to continue to allow a lot of bad policy being passed. I think there was some hopes that by closing the margin, it would allow more balance, more debate," DiDonato said.
Democratic Sen. Mike Shoemaker, a Bourneville Democrat, was beaten by term-limited state Rep. John Carey, a Wellston Republican, in southern Ohio's hotly contested 17th Senate District.
Northern districts
In northern Ohio's 13th Senate District, which takes in Lorain, Huron and a part of Seneca County, incumbent Republican state Sen. Jeffry Armbruster appeared to survive a strong challenge from Democratic challenger Sue Morano.
In Summit County, incumbent state Sen. Kevin Coughlin, a Cuyahoga Falls Republican, survived a challenge from Democratic candidate Tom Bevan in another hotly contested race in the 27th Senate District.
As of early today, Democrats in the Ohio House were poised to lose at least a couple of seats total even though several House seats changed hands. In the current Ohio House, Democrats are outnumbered by Republicans 59 to 40.
House Minority Leader Dean DePiero of Parma said Democrats were expected to pick up a seat in Portage County and a seat in Franklin County.
But DePiero said Democratic seats in the Cincinnati and Springfield areas and in southern Ohio were expected to be lost to the GOP.
"We were tremendously outspent. We were able to mostly hold," DePiero said.
Democratic wins
In Portage County, Democratic candidate Kathleen Chandler defeated Republican Terri Hauenstein in the hotly contested 68th House District.
In the Columbus area, Democratic candidate Dan Stewart prevailed against Republican candidate David Dobos in the 25th House District.
On the other hand, Democratic incumbent state Rep. Wayne Coates in Cincinnati's 28th House District lost to Republican Jim Raussen, according to unofficial returns. Democratic incumbent state Rep. Joe Sulzer of Chillicothe lost to Republican candidate Jim Schlichter of Washington Court House in the 85th House District.
In Springfield, Democratic incumbent state Rep. Ron Rhine lost to Republican state Rep. Merle Grace Kearns in the 72nd House District, according to unofficial returns. Portions of Rhine and Kearns' previous districts were combined during legislative reapportionment.
Republican House Speaker Larry Householder couldn't immediately be reached to comment late Tuesday.