43
Using some bits, leaving out pieces
On the side
Unusual twist: Richard D. Stobbs and Donald K. Allen, the two Republicans who lost their party’s May primary for the 6th Congressional District seat, are urging voters to not support Bill Johnson, the winner of that contest, in the November general election.
Stobbs and Allen, both military veterans, say Johnson is being dishonest by claiming time he spent in the Air Force Reserves as being on active duty. The only problem is, except for one minor exception, the allegation is false and recklessly wrong.
During Johnson’s 27 years with the Air Force, he spent about 18 months in the Reserves in the late 1970s to finish his college education. But the rest of his military career was on full-time active duty until his retirement in 1999, despite his defeated challenger’s incorrect claims.
Stobbs and Allen also say they’re outraged that Johnson, a retired lieutenant colonel, claimed he sent men “into harm’s way.” Johnson said he deployed two members of his communications unit to Saudi Arabia in 1996. One of his men was injured in a blast in support of combat operations.
The campaign of Chief Justice Eric Brown of the Ohio Supreme Court isn’t telling the whole story.
In an e-mail to campaign supporters, the chief justice used a partial statement Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger said to me in response to a question about the court’s operations since April.
That’s when Chief Justice Brown was appointed by Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, to replace the late Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer. Brown won the Democratic primary for the chief justice position.
Brown’s campaign e-mail reads: “Using a cooperative approach to problem solving and his thoughtful and respectful demeanor, Chief Justice Brown is proving to be such a leader. Even Justice Judith Lanzinger, a Republican running for re-election, told the Youngstown Vindicator on Monday, ‘The work is definitely getting done, and I think Chief Justice Moyer would be very pleased by that.’”
Justice Lanzinger said that, but Chief Justice Brown’s campaign e-mail fails to include the entire statement that appeared in the newspaper.
The rest of the quote is: “We had a chief justice with 18 years of experience, and we now have someone appointed to the spot with [less] experience. That would tell you something right there.”
That’s hardly a ringing endorsement, and it’s obvious that Justice Lanzinger prefers Justice Maureen O’Connor for the chief justice position in the Nov. 2 election.
Judicial races are typically boring.
The Supreme Court candidates acknowledge that few people understand what judges on any bench do.
Judicial races are very important.
But voters don’t find them interesting, primarily because they aren’t.
That can’t be said for the chief justice race.
Justice O’Connor didn’t hold back much when I asked about Chief Justice Brown.
“I believe that, at this point, the Ohio Supreme Court is akin to a rudderless ship without a leader, without direction, and post-Nov. 2 [Election Day] that will change,” she said.
In response, Chief Justice Brown told me: “I have been an effective leader on the court. ... My style is very hands-on. I don’t lead by press conference. I work with others to come up with solutions to problems. Certainly, there’s a lot of talk this campaign season.”
His campaign followed with the e-mail describing Justice O’Connor as “an out-of-touch politician.”
It also reads: “Ohioans have a clear choice between a politician and a distinguished jurist to lead Ohio’s highest court.”
A Columbus Dispatch poll has Justice O’Connor well ahead of Chief Justice Brown.
How popular is Justice O’Connor with voters? In 2008, she received 30,544 votes more for a Supreme Court judge seat than President Barack Obama did in the state of Ohio.
Judge Mary Jane Trapp of the Warren-based 11th District Court of Appeals said that was enough evidence to convince her to run against Justice Lanzinger rather than Justice O’Connor.
“I had to evaluate where I could best win,” she said.
Even if Chief Justice Brown and Judge Trapp lose, there will be a Democrat on the Ohio Supreme Court in 2011.
Even if Strickland loses his re-election bid, he’ll be in office long enough to appoint Justice O’Connor’s replacement should she win the chief justice race.