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Bailey Takes Taxpayer Protection Pledge |
Added
Feb. 27, 2008 |
PRESS
RELEASE FROM AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM
Contact: John Kartch (
jkartch@atr.org
or 202-785-0266) |
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[See PDF of Document] |
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Nathan Bailey (R-OH) signs the Taxpayer
Protection Pledge
Congressional candidate signs taxpayer
protection pledge
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nathan W. Bailey, a Republican
running for Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District seat,
recently signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge
sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). The
Pledge commits signers to “oppose any and all
efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates
for individuals and/or businesses … and oppose any
net reduction or elimination of deductions and
credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further
reducing tax rates."
ATR
has offered the Pledge to all candidates for federal
office since 1987. To date, President George W.
Bush, 41 U.S. Senators, and 194 members of the U.S.
House of Representatives have signed the Pledge.
Additionally, seven Governors and over 1,200 state
legislators have signed the Pledge.
“Americans, now more than ever, need leaders
committed to fiscal responsibility and pro-growth
economic policies,” said Grover Norquist,
president of ATR.
“By signing the Pledge, Mr. Bailey
demonstrates his allegiance to hard-working
taxpayers nationwide, as well as dedication to
taxpayers in Ohio. I applaud him for his leadership
and dedication to the ideals of limited government.”
“I strongly encourage every candidate for
federal and state elective office to sign the
Pledge,” Norquist continued.
Copies of the Pledge are available at www.atr.org or
by calling (202) 785-0266
###
Americans for Tax Reform is a non-partisan coalition
of taxpayers and taxpayer groups who oppose any and
all federal and state tax increases. For more
information, or to arrange an interview with Mr.
Norquist please contact John Kartch at (202)785-0266
or by email at
jkartch@atr.org.
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Schmidt faces two GOP challengers |
February 24, 2008 |
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BY
MARGARET A. MCGURK | MMCGURK@ENQUIRER.COM |
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Jean
Schmidt took the 2nd Congressional District in a
special election in 2005 to succeed Rob Portman. She
faced a primary challenge in that race, in the 2006
race for her first full term and again this year.
Such intra-party opposition to an incumbent is rare.
After the 1993 special election that first sent him
to Congress, Portman never faced a primary challenge
in six regular elections. Portman also won every
general election with more than 70 percent of the
vote.
One primary opponent, former Hamilton County
Commissioner Phil Heimlich, dropped out in late
January, saying the late entry of state Rep. Tom
Brinkman made the ballot too crowded to beat
Schmidt. Heimlich also had lost the Hamilton County
Republican Party endorsement to Schmidt by a 2-to-1
vote.
Now, only Brinkman and a little-known first-time
candidate stand between Schmidt and the November
election - which promises yet another fierce assault
from Democrats.
Schmidt attracts such opposition in part because she
has come so close to losing.
Political pros were shocked in 2005 when her
Democratic opponent, Paul Hackett, drew 48 percent
of the vote in what had been an unshakably
Republican district. In 2006, Victoria Wulsin came
even closer, losing to Schmidt by about 2,700 votes.
Jean Schmidt
Schmidt, 56, has lived all her life in Miami
Township. She studied political science at the
University of Cincinnati and went on to success in
her family real estate business. She was elected
township trustee in 1989, then to the Ohio
legislature in 2000. She and her husband, Peter,
have one adult daughter.
Schmidt has been a lightning rod for criticism
almost since she entered the House. She made
national headlines - and a Saturday Night Live
parody - when she used the word "coward" in
responding to Iraq war opponent and decorated
Vietnam veteran U.S. Rep. John Murtha, a
Pennsylvania Democrat.
She drew angry responses with remarks about
substandard veterans care and storing nuclear waste
in Pike County.
Those matters, she has said, are in the past and
unworthy of rehashing.
Her Democratic opponents describe her as a Bush
administration puppet, a charge she refutes by
pointing to her voting record, which pegs her
alignment with the president at 83 percent. She also
cites bipartisan efforts with Ted Kennedy and other
Democrats.
Asked to describe her most important philosophical
difference with Brinkman, she said, "I will reach
across the aisle and work with Democrats.
(Republicans) can be so hard-edged in our beliefs
that we can't work together."
As of the end of 2007, she had raised $379,691 from
more than 267 individuals and 110 PACs. The largest
single contribution was $5,000 from the Dealers
Election Action Committee of the National Automobile
Dealers Association.
Online: www.jeanschmidt.com
Thomas Brinkman Jr.
Brinkman, 50, of Mt. Lookout, became active in
Republican politics even before he graduated from
George Washington University, where he studied
history and politics. He has worked in the printing
industry for 30 years. He and his wife, Cindy, are
parents of six children.
Brinkman also is an Ohio state legislator known as a
rock-ribbed conservative and an implacable opponent
of tax increases. As founder of COAST (Coalition
Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes), he
repeatedly has helped defeat school tax levies and
other tax measures.
Brinkman's campaign is based largely on his
assessment that Schmidt's performance in office has
been too liberal for 2nd District tastes. His own
positions follow a strict line; for instance, he
sponsored a bill to make all abortions felony
offenses in Ohio.
Brinkman is also a supporter of conservation
activities, including creation of bike trails and
outdoor recreation areas, which he said had made him
unpopular with some fellow Republicans.
His pursuit of a failed petition drive to repeal a
gay rights ordinance in Cincinnati brought him under
fire when two women were found to have falsified
petitions. The judge on the case slammed Brinkman as
"the real criminal" for his role in the matter.
Brinkman denied he did anything wrong, and was never
charged in the case.
Brinkman said in Congress he would continue to
oppose any plan to raise taxes, and support easy
public access to all government spending records.
His year-end campaign statement indicates he raised
$4,820. Two people, Jean and Albert Peters of
Anderson Township, accounted for $4,600 of that
amount.
Online: www.gobrinkman.com
Nathan N. Bailey
Bailey, 26, is an accountant who lives in
Stonelick Township in Clermont County. His campaign
has been chiefly an online effort, with Facebook and
MySpace pages. He said he joined the race largely to
encourage young Republicans to vote. He said he
admires Schmidt, and that his chief advantage over
her would be "I could serve for 40 years."
Bailey said he has spent $1,355, but accepted
only $250 in donations, turning down other offers.
Online: www.nathanbaileyhq. com |
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Republicans challenge Schmidt |
February 1, 2008 |
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BY
RODNEY BECKWITH - CLERMONT SUN |
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The
race for Ohio's Second Congressional District in the
Republican primary narrowed from four to three
candidates recently with Phil Heimlich's withdrawal
from the race.
Currently, two candidates, Nathan Bailey and
Tom Brinkman, are challenging incumbent Jean Schmidt
for the seat.
Bailey, an accountant working in Milford, is
an Owensville resident. According to Bailey,
given his professional background, spending
responsibly is of tremendous importance to him,
specifically when it applies to the U.S. Government.
"My background in finance has given me a keen eye
for areas of wasteful spending," said Bailey.
"Fiscal responsibility is very important to me.
We are not balancing the budget, and we are not
raising taxes. We should not raise taxes, but that
means we need to get spending under control."
At the age of 26, Bailey admits that he may
appear young for the office, but said that his youth
is an advantage. In a time when civic responsibility
seems to be on the decline, Bailey said that
younger Americans can and will become more active in
the political process.
"My generation is finally getting involved in
politics," said Bailey. "They are
getting passionate about the issues and I think it's
a great thing. However, many of them are not
adhering to the traditional values of the GOP. I am.
If I can gain the trust of older Ohioans and the
attention of the inspired youth, I can lead our
district forward. Our open-mindedness is often times
interpreted as being a lack of principal. I assure
you that is not the case."
Bailey said that he believes in being
available to his constituents, even if he doesn't
agree with the direction they want him to take.
He said that the entire district needs to have their
opinions listened to, and their problems addressed.
In addition, Bailey said that immigration and
national security are important issues, noting that
controlled immigration falls in line with
traditional American principles.
Further, Bailey, a family man, said that
maintaining a pro-life stance is important to him.
"The voters should not choose me simply because I
am running against the incumbent," said
Bailey. "They should not choose me until the
have talked with me or know where I stand. I
encourage and beg them to get in contact. I am
working for Ohioans, for Americans, for families,
and the cause of freedom."
Brinkman, a current Ohio state legislator, is
seeking to serve on the national stage. Known for
his idealism, Brinkman is running in part on his
reputation as a fighter for what he believes in.
"Tom has spent the last seven-plus years in the
state legislature fighting for limited governement
and lower taxes," said Jason Gloyd of the Brinkman
campaign. "He has dealt with these issues there and
is ready to deal with them in Washington."
According to Gloyd, one of Brinkman's strengths is a
more personal form of representations, which
includes a lot of time spent with constituents in
his constituency.
"Tom spends every night back home with his wife, not
in Columbus," said Gloyd. "He comes back and goes to
over 200 community meetings a year. This is the type
of representation we deserve, someone who is in tune
with the people and who will answer their
questions."
Brinkman's theme this election is "Promises Made,
Promises Kept." According to Gloyd, if Brinkman says
he will do something in his campaign, he can be
trusted to do it.
"The out of control spending of our government has
to be our number one priority," said Gloyd. "The
first of the baby boomers are starting to receive
their social security benefits this year and at it's
current rate will bankrupt the system in 10 years.
We have promised these benefits and we must meet
that promise."
Jean Schmidt, the incumbent this election, has
represented the second congressional district for
three years.
"I have worked diligently for my constituents,
worked with local elected leaders and our business
community to build our infrastructure and attract
new jobs to our communities," said Schmidt. "I have
worked hard to ensure that their voices are heard in
Congress."
According to Schmidt, a hard-working attitude makes
an invaluable tool for someone in her position.
Focusing on the needs of thousands of constituents,
she said, can be challenging.
"My hard work and dedication to the people of the
Second Congressional District, I work to stay
mentally and physically fit so that I can be the
best representative possible," said Schmidt.
"Nationally, the economy is currently our most
pressing issue; I am working with the Republican
leadership as they negotiate a plan to help
stimulate our economy. Additionally, we must
continue to work on fixing our immigration system
and finding a way to stem the tide illegal
immigration. Health care continues to be an issue
that needs to be addressed during this session and
the next in Congress. Finally, we must remain
steadfast in our fight on the war on terror, and
protecting our homeland and troops around the
world."
Schmidt said that working hard to attract local
business from major corporations will be a priority,
as will be continuing economic development and
transportation improvements throughout the eastern
corridor.
"The Second Congressional District is a large and
diverse district, stretching from the urban center
of Cincinnati to some of the most rural and
disadvantaged parts of the state," said Schmidt. "I
believe I am the most qualified and experienced
candidate to address the needs of the district. I am
proud of my record of accomplishment and look
forward to continuing my work for the people of
Southwestern Ohio." |
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Bailey now counts on two hands |
January
23, 2008 |
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CONTRIBUTED BY JUSTIN BURWINKEL |
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In
light of Phil Heimlich’s withdrawal from the GOP ‘s
2nd Ohio District U.S. House race, Nathan W.
Bailey of Stonelick Twp. can now see an opening.
What was once a tightly packed field of experienced
political heavy-weights is now just a two man bid
for the incumbent, Jean Schmidt’s, office.
“Mr. Heimlich was quite capable of competing with
[Schmidt],” said Bailey, “but I respect his
decision to withdrawal.” Heimlich had been a
leading oppositionist to Jean Schmidt. The question
of who will fill this void remains. Bailey said,
“I’m not so much against Schmidt as I am for
Change.”
Three weeks into the year 2008, and already it is
quite clear that this will be a year of political
“change.” The fear for Republicans across the
country is that of losing still more seats in
congress. “Washington is broken. It’s too
polarized. The people want; the people deserve
better,” Bailey ranted.
A recent poll conducted by Jean Schmidt’s campaign
had showed: Schmidt 51%, Heimlich 31%, and Brinkman
9%. Bailey, an account by trade and not
included in the poll, optimistically calculated
“That puts me at eight percent. Now that Heimlich is
out, we’re counting with both hands!” |
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Heimlich bows out of 2nd District race |
January
23, 2008 |
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POSTED
BY HOWARD WILKINSON |
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UPDATED. 1:40 p.m.
Former Hamilton County commissioner Phil
Heimlich has ended his bid to unseat Rep.
Jean Schmidt in the 2nd Congressional
District primary.
In an e-mail release Wednesday morning,
Heimlich cited two reasons for his
withdrawal - the Hamilton County Republican
Party’s endorsement of Schmidt last Friday
and the recent entry of State Rep. Tom
Brinkman Jr. into the race.
"Mr. Brinkman’s candidacy serves no purpose
other than to assure Representative
Schmidt’s re-nomination,’’ Heimlich said in
the news release. "There is no reason to put
the Republican Party through a tough primary
battle when victory isn’t possible."
Barry Bennett, Schmidt’s congressional chief
of staff, said Schmidt "considers Phil a
good Republican with a lot to offer the
party in the future."
Friday night, the Hamilton County Republican
Party’s executive committee passed over two
Hamilton County Republicans - Heimlich and
Brinkman - to endorse Schmidt, a Clermont
County Republican. The vote was not close -
Schmidt was the favorite of 69 members,
while Heimlich had 33 votes and Brinkman 5.
Heimlich – who entered the congressional
race after losing his county commission seat
to David Pepper in 2006 - told the Enquirer
Wednesday morning that he had no real
expectation of picking up the county party
endorsement in Hamilton County – or any of
the other six counties in the 2nd
Congressional District.
"County party organizations have a tendency
to back the incumbent, even when it is to
the detriment of the party,’’ said Heimlich.
Heimlich had put together a formidable
campaign organization, complete with paid
staff and a slick campaign website. Through
last fall, he had raised more money than
Schmidt. He said Wednesday that his campaign
had raised about $350,000.
Some of that money, Heimlich said, would be
used to pay campaign staff and outstanding
bills. The rest, he said, he would keep in
his campaign account "for opportunities that
may come up in future years."
Heimlich said he will ask election officials
in all seven counties of the 2nd
Congressional District to remove his name
from the March 4 primary ballot.
Heimlich’s withdrawal means that Schmidt
will face two opponents in the March 4
primary – Brinkman and Nathan Bailey,
little-known Republican from Stonelick
Township in Clermont County.
Heimlich's full statement:
Ever since the endorsement decision was made
by the Hamilton County Republican Executive
Committee on Friday, I have been discussing
the future of my campaign with my wife, my
family, my advisors and many of my
supporters.
In light of the outcome of the Hamilton
County endorsement, and with the late entry
of Tom Brinkman into the race, I am
announcing today the end of my candidacy for
Congress.
Mr. Brinkman’s candidacy serves no purpose
other than to assure Representative
Schmidt’s renomination. There is no reason
to put the Republican Party through a tough
primary battle when victory isn't possible.
To do so would only lead to the ultimate
benefit of the Democratic Party and its
liberal agenda.
I offer my heartfelt thanks to all the
donors, volunteers and grassroots activists
who supported our effort to keep this
district in Republican hands. Their
generosity and commitment will always be
deeply appreciated.
Finally, I am requesting the various Boards
of Elections within the district remove my
name from the primary ballot if possible
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Bailey seeks to attract young
voters |
January
19, 2008 |
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CONTRIBUTED BY JUSTIN BURWINKEL |
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Encouraged by the trends documented in the current
presidential primaries, Nathan W. Bailey of
Stonelick Twp. entered the race to earn the
republican nomination for Ohio’s 2nd District seat
in the U.S. House of representatives. Bailey, age
26, hopes his youthfulness will attract the
attention of younger voters. “My generation wants to
have a say now. I think we’re ready for it,” Bailey
said.
Presidential hopeful Ron Paul (R) saw great success
from young supporters through his campaign’s
extensive online presence. According to The
Associated Press, Paul’s campaign collected a record
setting 6 million dollars on December 16, 2007
alone. Bailey did not compare himself to Paul, but
he did offer, “I’ve made myself available online. I
hope it pays off.”
At his campaign’s webpage, www.nathanbaileyhq.com,
Bailey offers an index of his stances on the issues.
He also has a portal through which visitors can
question him. “I’ll answer anyone,” Bailey said,
“and they remain anonymous unless they choose to
send their name.”
He’s calling his campaign a grassroots effort. “I
want to know what the people want. It’s their
government. I just want to give it back [to them],”
Bailey said. He has until the March 4th primaries to
convince voters that he is the one “to change the
face of politics and the effectiveness of
government.” |
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Stonelick Twp. man shoots for
Schmidt's seat |
January
10, 2008 |
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BY
JEREME SIMMONS | JSIMMONS@COMMUNITYPRESS.COM |
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STONELICK TWP. - Nathan Bailey, 26, of Stonelick
Township in Clermont County thinks he is the right
man for the Republican nomination in the race for
the U.S. House of Representatives Second District.
"I
am a Republican that wants to give the country back
to the people," Bailey said. "I don't feel that the
other candidates really want to do that. I want to
represent the people, the constituency, the way it
was intended by the constitution."
Bailey was raised just outside of Owensville and
attended St. Louis Catholic School and later
graduated from Clermont Northeastern High School. He
received a business administration degree with a
concentration in accounting from Shawnee State
University in Portsmouth, Ohio, according to Bailey.
"I have wanted to be in politics since I was 16,"
Bailey said. "I decided to run for Congress back in
April. I think that being new could be an advantage
for me. People can look at what the others have done
and see that they don't like the way this or that
has happened. They can't say that about me."
Bailey said he isn't worried about being the new kid
on the block and said, "If you can't start big,
there is no reason to start."
"It is really up to the people to decide who goes
where," Bailey said.
Bailey said his priorities include his pro-life
beliefs, balancing the budget, fiscal responsibility
and removing the influence of lobbyists from the
halls of congress.
You
can find out more about Nathan Bailey by visiting
his Web site at
www.nathanbaileyhq.com. |
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Who filed for what? |
January
5, 2008 |
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FROM
The Cincinnati Enquirer |
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CLERMONT COUNTY
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COUNTY OFFICES
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Office |
Democrat |
Republican |
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County Commission, Seat 1 |
Theresa Conover |
Mary Walker*, Archie Wilson,
Ed Humphrey, Melvin Dean |
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County Commission, Seat 2 |
Alex Lambros, Thomas J.
Auxier |
Bob Proud * |
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Prosecutor |
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Don White * |
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Treasurer |
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Robert J. True * |
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Recorder |
Terry A. McCoy |
Debbie Clepper, Roger Maham |
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Engineer |
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Patrick Manger * |
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Coroner |
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Brian Treon * |
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Sheriff |
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A.J. "Tim" Rodenberg * |
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Clerk of Courts, Common
Pleas |
Gregg Conrad |
Barb Wiedenbein * |
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CONGRESS |
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Seat |
Democrat |
Republican |
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2nd Congressional District |
Victoria Wulsin, Stephen
Black, William R. Smith |
Jean Schmidt *, Phil
Heimlich, Tom Brinkman,
Nathan W. Bailey |
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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Seat |
Democrat |
Republican |
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Senate District 14 |
Holly Stutz |
Tom Niehaus * |
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House District 88 |
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Danny R. Bubp * |
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House District 66 |
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Joseph Uecker * |
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JUDGES |
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Court |
Democrat |
Republican |
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Clermont County Juvenile
Court |
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Stephanie Wyler * |
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12th District Court of
Appeals |
Bruce Carter |
Robert Ringland |
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12th District Court of
Appeals |
Laura Curliss |
Mary McElwee, Robert
Hendrickson |
* Incumbent |
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Challengers
eyeing Schmidt's District 2 office
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January 5, 2008 |
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BY JEREME SIMMONS | JSIMMONS@COMMUNITYPRESS.COM
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CINCINNATI - U.S. Rep. Jean
Schmidt (R-2nd District) will face
three challengers in the upcoming
Republican primary, according to the
unofficial candidate list released
by the Hamilton County Board of
Elections Jan. 4.
The challengers include current Ohio
Rep. Tom Brinkman of the 34th House
District, former Hamilton County
Commissioner Phil Heimlich and
Batavia resident Nathan W. Bailey.
Schmidt won her first full term in
the 2006 election with a victory
over Democratic candidate Victoria
Wulsin. Both Brinkman and Heimlich
repeatedly stated in recent
interviews that Schmidt's candidacy
will not be able to withstand
another strong challenge from Wulsin,
or any other popular Democratic
contender.
Schmidt's campaign manager Bruce
Pfaff acknowledged the tight race,
but blamed a nation-wide Democratic
"tsunami" that swept over national
elections in that tough election
cycle. Pfaff said Republicans in
general had issues battling the
repercussions from an unpopular war
and flagging support for the
president.
"The key for me is winning the
primary and keeping the district in
Republican hands," Heimlich said.
"Because of the poor performance,
the district is at risk. The
Democrats are targeting it and it is
my goal to keep it in Republican
hands."
Brinkman added: "The question
becomes, who will get the Republican
voters to come out and vote
Republican? My record shows that I
can do that."
Pfaff, who worked on Rob Portman's
first campaign, sees voters focusing
on Schmidt's achievements in
Congress and her successful
representation of the district's
values, as the reason she will most
likely win the primary.
The Community Press was unable to
reach Nathan Bailey at press
time. |
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Republicans
galore |
January 04, 2008 |
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FROM The Enquirer - Politic Extra |
Posted by Jessica |
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It looks like more than a fair share
of Republicans will be jockeying for
congressional and general assembly
seats in March. According to the
Hamilton County Board of Elections,
as of Thursday:
-Three Republicans were planning to
challenge Republican Jean Schmidt
for her 2nd Congressional District
seat. Tom Brinkman, Phil Heimlich
and Nathan W. Bailey. So far
only Victoria Wulsin has filed on
the Democratic side.
-Two Republicans are facing off so
far for the 30th district race for
state representative: Richard
Hammersmith and Bob Mecklenborg. The
winner would likely face Democrat
Bob Klug.
-In the 34th district, three
Republicans have filed: Greg Delev,
Russ Jackson and Peter Stautberg.
Only one Democrat: Jeff Sinnard.
-And in the 35th district, it's
become a three-way Republican race
between Grace Kendrick, Ron Maag and
John Rabenold. No Democrats have
filed yet. |
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posted by Jessica at
1/04/2008 12:14:00 AM
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