We need to remind the voters (Fred) that this election in November 2010 is about the "battles won". We do not want "The Empire Strikes Back". To me that represents a return, a regression, a reversal of the improvements for the people of the state of Ohio since the R’s lost in 2006.
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We need to remind the voters (Fred) that this election in November 2010 is about the "battles won".
The SoS office is very important. The Democratic candidate: Maryellen O'Shaughnessy is an excellent example of who we need to elect if we want now better Democrats. We do have to remember that down ballot is very important. Certainly, Governor Strickland is doing a great job showing the contrast between himself and former Congressman, current Fixed News host, former failed Lehman Brothers banker, John Kasich. Do we really want to go back to the rotten cronyism and do nothingness less government for the people of the Ohio TGOPers?
I DON'T!
Here is her Ten Point Plan for the Office of the Secretary of State of Ohio
- Assure trust and integrity in elections
- Improve voting registration, access to voting and turnout
- Help businesses grow, foster job creation and small business startups by expanding business services
- Ensure fairness and openness in reapportionment process
- Continue to try to reduce the impact on General Revenue Fund by the Secretary of State's office
- Hold electronic machine vendors accountable
- Streamline public records, campaign finance reports, and conduct overall operational review of office operations
- Partner with 88 county Boards of Elections
- Build upon and expand "Better Lives, Better Ohio"
- Run for re-election in 2014
You can read the expanded version of this plan here: Ten point plan
Maryellen stated that one important job is the seat on the Apportionment board.
What is the Apportionment board?
Ohio Apportionment Board
The Ohio Apportionment Board is an administrative body which draws the single-member legislative districts for the Ohio General Assembly every ten years following the census. Each of the 33 senate districts is composed of three contiguous of the 99 house of representatives district.
The board has five members:
● the Governor of Ohio,
● the Ohio Secretary of State,
● the Ohio State Auditor,
● a member selected by the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives and the senate leader of the same party
● a member selected by the house and senate leaders of other party.
This format ensures that no party can hold all five seats. At least one seat will belong to the minority party.
In 2001, the board's members were:
● Gov. Robert A. Taft, II (R)
● State Auditor Jim Petro (R)
● Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R)
● House Speaker Larry Householder (R), and
● Senate Minority Leader Leigh Herrington (D)
Democrats controlled the apportionment board in 1971 and 1981. Republicans controlled the Ohio Apportionment board in 1991 and 2001. I know that life isn't fair, but this is not fair. Ohio is fairly even, but why be fair when you can fix stuff to win elections and screw the electorate. The fix was in in 2001. They only win if they fix it and disenfranchise us. We have a 50-50 state with regard to Democrats and Republicans. I think this is good because it makes us very attractive every 4 years during the Presidential campaigns. Unfortunately during the last reapportionment, the Ohio Senate was gerrymandered in such a way as to give us a 3:1 ratio of Republicans to Democrats currently. This worked out fine for the rotten Republican rule that we suffered under for 16 years.
NOT!
This does not foster fairness. I don't believe that the TGOP believes in fairness. To give one example, Ken Blackwell believed in his ideology more that presiding over fair election, Robert Taft who's name equals cronyism. Democrats were given an opportunity since the GOP brand was damaged in 2006, and this gave Democrats an opportunity, in 2006 and again in 2008. I assumed because the T GOP had played itself out during that election cycle.
I prefer his Democratic opponent Maryellen O'Shaughnessy.
Why?
She is a Democrat with strong ties to central Ohio and her family has a long standing history of public service. Public service is still honorable.
She is not anti-government like her opponent, Jon Husted (R). He gives the same boiler plate rhetoric of the TGO(B)P. She believes in public service. She believes that government can help and protect people. Her family has generations of public service. She is a woman and we need more women at the state level. I think that it is shameful that Ohio cannot muster many women for statewide office. Jon Husted (TGOP) as of this date has not debated Maryellen O'Shaughnessy at the City Club of Cleveland forum. This is one of the places where people seeking elected office debate each other in NE Ohio. I guess he is a coward like his fellow TGOPers, Tom (sexist, likely racist used car salesman) Ganley, Josh Mandel (race baiter or racist) running for State Treasurer or Mike DeWine who is supposed to be running for AG (not endorsed by anyone). Looks like the current crop of TGOPers are cowards if they cannot debate in an open forum. Guess they want to win by lying in TV ads. Not sure that will work if Fred doesn't watch the TV much.
Maryellen O'Shaughnessy answers questions
Gerrymandering— verb
to divide the constituencies of (a voting area) so as to give one party an unfair advantage
to manipulate or adapt to one's advantage.
We don't want any more gerrymandering from the rotten TGOP.
If you want to read what Husted has to say for himself, here is his website: Husted for Ohio. It would be nice for him to be honest and say he is against Ohio since he wants to return Ohio to the rottenness of the 16 years of Rethug rule complete with worsening public services, driving people and jobs away at the behest of short term corporate profits and again with the debt clock. He isn't running for US Senate yet. Why does he care when his party created that big debt.
- People matter more than profits.
- The earth is our home, not our trash can.
- We need good government for both #1 and #2.
We can vote
We can encourage others to do the same
We can remind our erstwhile elected officials that they work for us and not just the wealthy and privileged
We can write letters to the editor of the paper and blog
Contact your local Democratic Party and volunteer. You/we can make a difference.
Enthusiasm required!
Her website: Maryellen O'Shaughnessy for SOS
Money helps:Actblue
Crossposted at BPI Campus