COAST today issued its 2008 candidate endorsements, enthusiastically backing Steve Chabot's re-election to Congress, Pat DeWine's elevation to the Common Pleas Court bench, and returning Rob Goering as County Treasurer. Pat DeWine and Rob Goering were instrumental in 2008 in defeating Todd Portune's Super-Sized Jail Tax. COAST thanks them warmly for their courageous leadership on this issue. The remainder of the candidate endorsements are listed below.
PRESIDENT/VICE PRESIDENT - COAST Endorsement -- John McCain & Sarah Palin (Republican)
Chuck Baldwin & Darrell L. Castle (Constitution Party)
Bob Barr & Wayne Allyn Root (Libertarian)
Richard Duncan & Ricky JohnsonCynthia McKinney & Rosa A. Clemente (Green)
Brian Moore & Stewart Alexander (Socialist)
Ralph Nader & Matt Gonzalez
Barack Obama & Joe Biden (Democratic)
Donald K. Allen & Christopher D. Borcik (Write-in)
Jonathan Allen & Jeff Stath (Write-in)
James R. Germalic & Martin Wishnatsky (Write-in)
Alan L. Keyes & Brian Rohrbough (Write-in)
Platt Robertson & Scott Falls (Write-in)
Joe Schriner & Dale Way (Write-in)
COAST holds its nose in choosing between two major party candidates who simply fail to understand the plight of everyday taxpayers, but Obama will be worse. Palin shows promise of being a new principled future of the GOP.
OH ATTORNEY GENERAL - NO COAST Endorsement
Richard Cordray (D)
Mike Crites (R)
Robert M. Owens
U.S. CONGRESS, 1ST DISTRICT - COAST Endorsement -- Steve Chabot (R) (with enthusiasm)
Steve Driehaus (D)
Rich Stevenson (Write-in)
Eric Wilson (Write-in)
Chabot has consistently worked to contain taxes and spending. He is one of the most conservative members of an increasingly unprincipled GOP. Driehaus promises to follow the Barney Frank tradition of fiscal irresponsibility. Chabot has earned our trust and deserves to be re-elected.
U.S. CONGRESS, 2ND DISTRICT - NO COAST Endorsement
David H. Krikorian
Jean Schmidt (R)
Victoria Wulsin (D)
James J. Condit, Jr. (Write-in)
COAST wretches at Schmidt's cynical new advertisement in which she claims to fight for limited government and lower taxes. In addition to being a serial embarassment in Washington, she is also a pronounced sell-out of her conservative Republican constituency. Her departure can not be too soon, but her two opponents have failed to distinguish themselves on tax and spending issues, leaving COAST suspicious that they will be just as bad...they certainly could not be worse.
STATE SENATOR - 8TH DISTRICT - No COAST endorsement
Daniel J. McCarthy (D)
William J. Seitz (R)
It's hard to imagine a candidate who speaks so conservatively, yet sells out his conservative west-side constituency more thoroughly, but Bill Seitz has distinguished himself in promoting increases in property taxes, sales taxes, cigarette taxes, gasoline taxes, and alcohol and tobacco taxes. Unfortunately, we have no hope his opponent will be any better. Our advice: sit this one out.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE - 28TH DISTRICT - No COAST endorsement
Virgil G. Lovitt II (R)
Connie Pillich (D)
Virg Lovitt supports higher sales taxes and funds for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the "arts." He has been overtly hostile to a limited government agenda and thinks Todd Portune deserves re-election to the County Commission. Unfortunately, his opponent did not respond to the COAST questionnaire. COAST elects to sit on our hands as Lovitt seeks help from the conservatives in his district. Yuck!
STATE REPRESENTATIVE - 29TH DISTRICT - No COAST endorsement
Louis W. Blessing, Jr. (R)
Adam Noe (D)
STATE REPRESENTATIVE - 30TH DISTRICT - No COAST endorsement
Bob Klug (D)
Bob Mecklenborg (R)
Mecklenborg promised in his heavily contested Republican primary to oppose funding for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. It took him only four months to break his promise. It appears he has a promising career in politics.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE - 31ST DISTRICT - COAST endorsement -- Steve Johnson (R)
Denise Driehaus (D)
Steve Johnson is a bright light in a sometimes dreary year. This newcomer has the brains and energy to take Columbus by storm!
STATE REPRESENTATIVE - 32ND DISTRICT - No COAST endorsement
Theo Barnes (R)
Dale Mallory (D)
STATE REPRESENTATIVE - 33RD DISTRICT - No COAST endorsement
Thomas G. Brown (R)
Tyrone K. Yates (D)
We appreciate Tyrone Yates' courageous leadership against his own Party on the Super-Sized Jail Tax and on the new Proportional Representation proposal. This democrat maverick deserves admiration, but is still too willing to embrace big government for COAST's tastes.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE - 34TH DISTRICT - COAST endorsement -- Peter Stautberg (R)
Jeff Sinnard (D)
Oh how we wish Tom Brinkman had one more term, but we will settle for Mr. Stautberg. It appears he has much to learn about taxes and spending, and we hope he is listening.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE - 35TH DISTRICT - COAST endorsement -- Ron Maag (R)Marcia Garrison (Write-in)
Jonathan Morris (Write-in)
COAST co-endorsed Maag in the primary and has high hopes for him as our new State Representative. We hope he learns the lessons against excessive taxes and spending better than his most disappointing predecessor.
HAMILTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER - COAST endorsement -- Ed Rothenberg (R)
Todd Portune (D)
On the one hand, COAST Board member Ed Rothenberg is a principled and consistent voice for limited government. Without his insistence in May and June of 2007, the sales tax would be 1 cent higher today. On the other hand, Todd Portune is a sinister and consistent agent for unrestrained growth in government. His COAST questionnaire says he might raise the sales tax yet again without a public vote. He is a malignant tumor on the County that cannot be excised too soon.
HAMILTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER - COAST endorsement -- Greg Hartmann (R) Chris Dole (D)
Greg has been a leader in the Red Light Camera ban and shows great promise in understanding the need for a limited government agenda. Despite tremedous pressure, he refrained from joining the Republican chorus in 2008 for a Super-Sized Jail Sales Tax increase and was almost alone in calling for Bob Taft to resign before the end of his term. We encourage Mr. Hartman to fulfill his great potential in his first term on the Commission.
CLERK OF COURT OF COMMON PLEAS - COAST endorsement -- Patricia M. Clancy (R)Martha Good (D)
We do not forget that Clancy, like so many other Republicans voted for each and every one of Bob Taft's tax increases, and we see zero evidence she learned her lesson, but we will hold our nose and vote for her to prevent this important office from falling into the hands of someone perhaps marginally worse. Yuck number 2!
COUNTY RECORDER - COAST endorsement -- Rebecca Prem Groppe (R)
Wayne Coates (D)
Groppe has grown into her role as Recorder and resisted pressure to endorse the Super-Sized Jail Sales Tax increase. COAST recommends her return to office.
COUNTY TREASURER - COAST Endorsement -- Robert A. Goering (R) (with enthusiasm)Steve Brinker (D)
COAST cannot thank Rob Goering enough for endorsing a "no" vote on the Super-Sized Jail Sales Tax increase. His vision and insight into County budget issues, and his tremendous courage in just the right timing helped turn the tide in COAST's favor on this defining issue for a decade. Thank you Rob Goering! Let's return him to office.
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT - 6 YR TERM - COMM. 1-1-09 - COAST Endorsement -- Maureen O'Connor
Joseph D. Russo
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT - 6 YR TERM - COMM. 1-2-09 - COAST Endorsement -- Evelyn L. Stratton
Peter M. Sikora
JUDGE OH COURT OF APPEALS - FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT - COAST Endorsement -- Lee Hildebrandt
JUDGE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS - 6 YR TERM - COMM. 1/04/09 - COAST Endorsement -- Pat DeWine (R) (with enthusiasm)
Norma J.H. Davis
JUDGE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS - 6 YR TERM - COMM. 1/01/09 - COAST Endorsement -- Melba D. Marsh
JUDGE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS - 6 YR TERM COMM. 2/10/09 - COAST Endorsement -- Fred Nelson
Jerry Metz
JUDGE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (UNEXPIRED TERM ENDING 1/01/11) - COAST Endorsement -- Russell J. Mock
Jody Luebbers
"her two opponents have failed to distinguish themselves on tax and spending issues, leaving COAST suspicious that they will be just as bad."
ReplyDeleteYou have got to be kidding me!
David Krikorian is a Libertarian: the sole existence of that party is to create smaller government!
It looks like we didn't do our research into Krikorian before deciding not to endorse him.
Came here to second what was said about Krikorian. I'm pretty sure a Libertarian can be trusted to lower taxes and spending.
ReplyDeleteSame goes for Attorney General. Robert Owens is another Libertarian and the only candidate with no ties to special interests.
From "Protecting Ohio Taxpayers & Consumers" on http://owens2008.com/issues/ :
"-Returning monies collected by the AG’s office back to the people’s treasury, eliminating the current “slush fund” system
-Eliminate large dollar no-bid contracts from the AG’s office"
I am very disappointed in the lack of endorsement for these two candidates.
We have come out with our own endorsements to counter yours. You guys are going down tomorrow! Our way is the way of the future. We are making sure the Republican Party continues to be the party of tax-and-spend. Tax us more!
ReplyDeletehttp://republicans4highertaxes.blogspot.com/2008/11/endorsement-wrapup.html
Krikorian did have some support from the board, but the fact that he has only voted in Democratic Primaries made his arguement sound shallow. Would he be better than the other two? Perhaps.
ReplyDelete"Krikorian did have some support from the board, but the fact that he has only voted in Democratic Primaries made his arguement (sic) sound shallow. Would he be better than the other two? Perhaps."
ReplyDeleteThank you for your response. It's nice to know that consideration was given.
However, Krikorian voted in Democratic primaries because of his opposition to GOP policy on issues of civil liberty but has never opposed to policies that limit the power and financial clout of government.
Krikorian, as a small business owner, is vehemently opposed to undue taxation ad regulation. How can a man possibly vote not only against his own ideals but against his own prosperity?
Additionally, what about Robert Owens for Attorney General?