Ohio Republicans get ready for changeover

The change is partly generational, and partly a reflection of the party’s current fortunes.

COLUMBUS (AP) — A new generation of leaders is about to take the helm of the Ohio Republican Party, as party elders step down and the Bush administration prepares to hand over the reins in Washington.

Bob Bennett, the 69-year-old chairman of the state party, will turn control of the party to 40-year-old Deputy Chairman Kevin De- Wine in January. Congressman Ralph Regula, 83, is stepping down as well, leaving 72-year-old U.S. Sen. George Voinovich as the elder statesman of the Ohio GOP.

Professor John Green of the University of Akron says it’s natural to see a changing of the guard at the end of an eight-year-old administration in Washington.

“Generational change tends to be accelerated when the party is in trouble,” Green said.

Green pointed to 2006 as a time when losses by Republican statewide candidates derailed the ascent of some officials, and opened the door to others.

Ken Blackwell served as Ohio secretary of state before getting trounced by Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland in the governor’s race, and Betty Montgomery lost her race for attorney general to Democrat Marc Dann, who has since resigned.

Some Republicans argue that the changeover in leadership is less a circumstance of falling political fortunes, and more a reflection of rising talent.

“It’s the natural order of things,” said state Rep. Shannon Jones, 38, a Republican from Springboro. “We’re really lucky in Ohio, quite frankly, because we have some amazingly talented leaders [House Speaker] Jon Husted, Kevin De- Wine, [state Auditor] Mary Taylor. Despite their youth, they have some tremendous experience. I think that’s going to serve the party and the state of Ohio very well.”

Ohio Republicans are making their mark on the convention in Minnesota this week.

First Energy and an Akron area businessman are sponsoring a reception honoring Taylor on Monday night. Phone giant AT&T will sponsor a reception honoring DeWine at an 11 p.m. reception at a local pub. Husted will share the spotlight with Senate President Bill Harris of Ashland at a reception Wednesday afternoon at a museum.

“I think we are in a great spot as a party, having new faces and new folks and new energy and ideas on the horizon,” DeWine said.

That future isn’t guaranteed, however. It largely depends on Republicans’ performance in the 2010 election, when they will be gunning for the seats of governor and secretary of state.

Both positions hold a seat on the state Apportionment Board, which draws legislative districts every 10 years after the U.S. Census. The Legislature draws congressional districts.

Republicans will have to retain Taylor’s seat, and gain either the governor’s office or the secretary of state’s office to control the Apportionment Board.

“If the Republicans don’t win either, the Democrats will draw the lines and you’ll see some of these rising stars will disappear,” said former Senate President Richard Finan.