Coleman quits race for governor

The Columbus mayor's wife recently pleaded guilty to drunken driving.
BY JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman withdrew Tuesday from the race for the Democratic nomination for governor, citing a need to spend more time with his family and the challenges of running Ohio's capital city.
& quot;It's clear that I would have had to put everything secondary & quot; to run for governor, Coleman said from his conference room at city hall.
& quot;I will not sacrifice my family to campaign for governor and sacrifice being mayor, & quot; Coleman said.
Coleman's departure leaves at least two Democratic candidates for governor: U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon and former Cleveland-area state Rep. Bryan Flannery. Coleman, who said he believed he could have captured the Democratic nomination next year, said he made the decision around Thanksgiving and said that his wife's recent legal problems did not factor into it. Family concerns
Coleman's wife, Frankie, pleaded guilty Nov. 9 in Franklin County Municipal Court to charges of drunken driving and failure to control. Mrs. Coleman was cited after a vehicle she drove hit a parked truck in the Columbus suburb of Bexley in late October.
Also, the Coleman family had been concerned about their son, J.D., a U.S. Marine who had been with Lima Company, which had sustained heavy casualties. J.D. Coleman recently returned home with other members of the unit.
& quot;I love my family above all other things, & quot; Coleman said.
& quot;I love my city too. My mission is not yet done here, & quot; said Coleman, who has been mayor since 2000. He was re-elected to another four-year term in 2003.
Coleman wouldn't endorse any of the remaining Democratic gubernatorial candidates as he exited the race. Coleman said he's encouraging others to get into the race, forcing a potential Democratic primary election next May.
& quot;I think there should be a primary, & quot; Coleman, 51, said. & quot;I've always believed a primary is a good process.
"Primaries ... offer a chance to debate the issues, & quot; Coleman said. & quot;We need to debate the issues. & quot;
His prediction
Coleman said the next governor will have to focus on creating jobs in Ohio, encouraging business expansion and small-business growth as well as work on adequate funding for schools and opening access to health insurance for Ohioans.
& quot;The next governor is going to have to get the job done, & quot; Coleman said.
In a statement issued through his campaign, Strickland praised Coleman as a & quot;man of deep personal integrity and great public leadership.
& quot;As he has shown time and time again, his commitment to family and the people of Columbus is absolute, & quot; Strickland's statement said.
Flannery, who has served as a state representative from the Cleveland area and unsuccessfully ran for secretary of state in 2002 against Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell, vowed to reach out to Coleman supporters.
Flannery said he expects to formally declare his candidacy for governor in mid-December and also announce a running mate.
State Sen. Eric Fingerhut, a Cleveland Democrat in his second four-year Senate term, said he is considering running for governor and that Coleman's departure leaves a & quot;void in the campaign. & quot; Fingerhut said he expects to announce his political future soon.
Fingerhut unsuccessfully ran against Republican George V. Voinovich last year for U.S. Senate.
The Democratic Party gubernatorial jousting continues as the state party tries to find a new chairman. Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Dennis L. White is resigning effective Wednesday.
Republican Gov. Bob Taft, in the third year of his second four-year term, is barred by term limits from running again.
Blackwell, State Auditor Betty Montgomery and State Attorney General Jim Petro are vying for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Statewide candidates must file nominating petitions by Feb. 16.