43
Ohio Dems in state of flux
On the side
An early start: The deadline to file for the May 2015 primary for Youngstown City Council seats isn’t until Feb. 4, but Joe Rafidi, a former attorney, is planning to run for the 7th Ward seat.
Rafidi wrote on his Facebook wall that he was running after a murder on South Avenue, near where he lives and works.
On a Rafidi for City Council page, he wrote: “Lets Help Restore LAW & ORDER In The 7th Word. More small businesses need to be encouraged to open and expand in the ward.” He meant 7th Ward, but it’s still funny — at least to me.
Rafidi resigned in June 2009 from practicing law while disciplinary action was pending against him.
The Ohio Supreme Court’s disciplinary counsel contended Rafidi falsely claimed his law firm paid $8,000 for a 19-foot powerboat when he actually accepted it from a client as part of a retainer fee for legal services in 2006. Rafidi was found guilty in Youngstown Municipal Court to a misdemeanor motor-vehicle title offense in that case.
Councilman John R. Swierz, D-7th, cannot seek re-election next year because of the city’s term-limits law.
The Dec. 16 meeting of the Ohio Democratic Party’s executive committee to select a successor to outgoing Chairman Chris Redfern could result in more in-fighting among a political party that is already in disarray.
The top two contenders to emerge are:
Sharen Neuhardt, who lost two congressional races in 2008 and 2012, both by large margins, and was the party’s lieutenant governor’s candidate in this year’s gubernatorial train-wreck campaign.
David Pepper, a former Hamilton County commissioner and Cincinnati councilman who’s twice lost statewide races — auditor in 2010 and attorney general in 2014.
Other contenders include outgoing state Rep. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, Geauga County Democratic Chairwoman Janet Carson, former Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, and others who quite frankly don’t have a prayer of winning.
The decision will be made by the party’s 148-member executive committee.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, the highest elected Democrat in the state, is throwing his support behind Neuhardt.
The decision is a curious one to a number of prominent Democrats, who personally like Neuhardt but say she hasn’t been able to win, was on the ticket that saw the second worst defeat for a Democratic gubernatorial candidate in the state’s history, and has shown little ability to generate interest in her campaigns leaving them to wonder how can she do it for other candidates.
Brown told me that he’s backing Neuhardt because she’s “accomplished, smart, successful as an activist, successful in her law practice, and she’s going to be the first woman to head the state party.”
Brown said the gubernatorial defeat of Ed FitzGerald, the party’s nominee, “wasn’t her fault. She performed well. She’ll clean house at the state party. She’s the best candidate and she’ll be a leader. It’s been the good-old-boy party for too long.”
The senator, who had private interviews with every candidate for the job, said he’s been whipping votes for Neuhardt and “she’s got way more votes than anyone else.”
In a letter to supporters, Neuhardt wrote that she’s not running for office again and would devote all of her time to ensure “that our party has adequate resources and organization.”
A number of party insiders say Pepper has the inside track to winning the job because of his aggressive campaigning, ability to raise money — he raised about $4 million in the AG race and it doesn’t hurt that he’s personally wealthy — though he’s lost twice statewide with those attributes. Also, he’s teamed with state Sen. Nina Turner, the failed secretary of state candidate. Despite her defeat last month, Turner, who is black, has influence with minorities in the party.
Hagan picked up a key endorsement from U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland. Ryan’s endorsement was announced Wednesday, the same day he and the state’s three other U.S. House Democrats wrote a letter that they were backing principles and not a particular candidate. But Ryan is getting a pass because Hagan is a longtime political ally, and the two are from the Mahoning Valley.
Hagan said he’s got about 20 votes “I’m sure I can count on. We’ll see what happens.”
Hagan said he’s heard Pepper has the most votes among the candidates seeking the chairmanship.
Hagan said the party has lost its direction and needs to get back to focusing on working-family issues such as fighting for Social Security stabilization, health care coverage, unemployment insurance, raising the minimum wage, being pro-union, among others.
“It’s important to be different from Republicans,” he said. “We shouldn’t be Republican-light. We’ve gotten away from those important issues that made the Democratic Party relevant.”
If Hagan sees he can’t win, he may ask his supporters to back someone else, but he isn’t prepared to say who yet.