Republican incumbents face Democratic challengers in Ohio Supreme Court races

YOUNGSTOWN

Two Ohio Supreme Court justices who started serving less than two years ago, face competition from a Cleveland-based judge and an outgoing state House member from Warren.

One race pits Justice Judi French, chosen by Gov. John Kasich to replace retiring Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, effective Jan. 1, 2013, against Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge John P. O’Donnell.

The other has Justice Sharon L. Kennedy, who beat Yvette McGee Brown in November 2012 for an unexpired term seat, challenged by state Rep. Tom Letson of Warren. Justice Kennedy has served as a justice since Dec. 7, 2012.

Though Ohio Supreme Court candidates run in politically-partisan primaries, they are on the general- election ballot without party affiliation.

The two incumbents are Republicans while Judge O’Donnell and Letson are Democrats.

Read more about the candidates in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.