Ohio FOP endorses candidates

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police, the state’s largest police organization, is endorsing all of the incumbents in the four statewide races including U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, over state Treasurer Josh Mandel, a Republican.

“Sen. Brown was one of our strongest allies in the fight against SB 5/Issue 2,” said FOP President Jay McDonald. “He is also one of the strongest supporters of law-enforcement issues in the United States Senate, and our members of the FOP in Ohio are proud to stand with Senator Brown for his re-election.”

The organization endorsed then-incumbent U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, a Republican, over Brown in 2006. It’s been 24 years since the FOP endorsed a Democrat for the U.S. Senate.

The FOP, with 25,000 active and retired members, also announced Tuesday the endorsements of three incumbent Ohio Supreme Court justices: Republicans Terrence O’Donnell and Robert Cupp and Democrat Yvette McGee Brown.