News Intelligence Analysis
More join crowd of people
running for state office
GOP, Dems not lacking for primary candidates
August 30, 2005
By Jim Bebbington
DAYTON | Candidates are beginning to line up for the 2006 elections for statewide offices.
Colin Beach, a 26-year-old Butler Twp. man who recently graduated from law school, announced Monday he is running as a Republican next year for Ohio Secretary of State.
It is Beach's first run at public office.
More than 30 family and friends attended Beach's formal announcement in a reception room at the Schuster Center for the Performing Arts.
"In recent years, our state has suffered from not having enough good candidates from which to choose," Beach said. "In recent days, we have seen ethical violations at the highest levels of government, and the tide needs to be turned."
Beach is a graduate of Butler High School and attended Wittenberg University and Capital University, where he said he was vice president of the Federalist Society chapter.
He is the third local person to announce runs for statewide office next year. Montgomery County Treasurer Hugh Quill, a Democrat, is running for state treasurer and county Common Pleas Judge A.J. Wagner, also a Democrat, is running for Ohio Supreme Court.
Next year's statewide offices are being hotly contested because most of the current occupants are either prevented by term limits from running again or else are seeking other offices.
Democrats also consider Republican office-holders vulnerable because of the recent scandals in Columbus.
On the Republican side, Auditor Betty Montgomery, Attorney General Jim Petro and Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell all want to be governor, as does Pete Draganic, a contractor from Cleveland. Gov. Bob Taft cannot run again.
Democrats lining up for the governor's race include U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, D-Lisbon, and Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman.
Other Republicans who are considering running for secretary of state include state Rep. Jim Trakas, R-Independence; Ann Womer Benjamin, director of Ohio's department of insurance; and Greg Hartmann, the Hamilton County clerk of courts.
Democrats considering running are Jennifer Brunner, a Franklin County Common Pleas judge; Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy; and Peggy Zone Fisher of the Cleveland area, wife of former attorney general Lee Fisher.
For attorney general, Republican contenders being discussed include state Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chesterland, and Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien. The former law director for the city of Cleveland, Subodh Chandra, is seeking the job as a Democrat.
For treasurer, state Treasurer Jennette Bradley, a Republican, is seeking to retain her office. Quill and Franklin County Treasurer Richard Cordray are running on the Democratic side.
For state auditor state Rep. Mary Taylor, R-Uniontown, is a possible candidate, as are Democrats John Reardon, the Mahoning County auditor; and House Minority Leader Chris Redfern of Catawba Island.
Contact Jim Bebbington at 225-2262.
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