In the Democratic primary for US Senate: Lee Fisher

One of the things Jennifer Brunner and Lee Fisher agree on in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by George V. Voinovich is that whoever wins will be a stronger candidate in November because of the primary experience.

That’s a position that runs counter to the conventional wisdom that a primary race consumes financial resources that could be better spent in the general election. But Brunner and Fisher say their primary has forced them to both work harder than they might normally do at this time of year, articulating their positions on the issues in meetings with voters across Ohio.

The only thing that approached rancor between the candidates during their separate endorsement interviews with Vindicator editors was an accusation by Brunner that Fisher has actively discouraged established Democratic donors from contributing to her campaign, an accusation that Fisher denies.

Looking ahead

While Fisher and Brunner are keenly interested at this point of the campaign in making their own best case for being the Democratic nominee, it’s clear that both are also looking ahead to their Republican opponent, Rob Portman, a former congressman and trade and budget official in the George W. Bush administration. Brunner characterized Portman as a “hard core conservative,” especially on matters of trade. Fisher said Portman is the “ultimate Washington insider” and a symbol of Bush-era policies that damaged Ohio’s economy.

Both are lawyers. Brunner, 53, of Columbus, has been in private practice, was elected to Franklin County Common Pleas Court in 2000 and has been secretary of state since January 2007. Fisher, 57, of Shaker Heights, has practiced law, served in the state Legislature for a decade, four years as attorney general, three-plus years as lieutenant governor and director of development and seven years running the nonprofit Center for Families and Children in Cleveland.

And both place economic development and job creation high on their priority lists. Additionally, Brunner advocates strong banking regulation reform, better use of stimulus money to improve the state’s infrastructure, allowing people collecting unemployment insurance to have part-time jobs to offset the amount of unemployment payments they receive and protecting pension and health-care benefits for retirees.

Fisher also wants to speed the use of stimulus money to create jobs, establish tax credits tied to job creation, use TARP funds to encourage community banks to provide loans that create jobs, encourage the development of clean-energy industries and provide mortgage relief by allowing bankruptcy judges to alter loan terms to allow families to avoid foreclosure.

Those are solid talking points for any Democratic candidate, which should appeal to a broad cross-section of voters in an Ohio primary. And both candidates are good at making their cases.

Making a choice comes down to experience. And even though Brunner has a strong resume — lawyer, judge, overseer of elections in the state — Fisher has the more varied background, in government and out.

The development edge

Of special importance and interest in the Mahoning Valley is Fisher’s experience with economic development. As director of development, a post he gave up as the demands of campaigning grew greater, Fisher was involved in developments at the General Motors Lordstown plant, V&M Star expansion and Turning Technologies in Youngstown, among other projects here and across the state.

He knows the area particularly well, he’s watched the Mahoning Valley stumble and begin to pick itself up from a close vantage point. He gives every indication that in the Senate he would be a strong advocate for policies that will help the Valley and its people.

In the May 4 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, The Vindicator endorses Lee Fisher.