Jim Hughes to Take Stivers’ Place on Ballot for Ohio Senate District 16
From The Dispatch:
Even before Stivers made his announcement, Ohio Senate leaders had worked out a deal to back Rep. Jim Hughes to take his place on the ballot.
Hughes, a Columbus Republican, wanted the job nearly five years ago but was passed over in January 2003 when GOP leaders picked Stivers, at the time a lobbyist for Bank One. Now, Hughes has the endorsement of Senate President Bill M. Harris, R-Ashland.
The situation aggravated Rep. Larry Wolpert, a Hilliard Republican who also wanted to run for the Senate seat. He said he called Harris yesterday morning to let him know of his interest, only to be told that the deal with Hughes was set already.
“I never had a shot,” Wolpert said, adding that his political career will end when term limits force him out at the end of 2008. “I’m totally surprised that a deal was cut behind the scenes already.”
The 16th Senate District covers the western third of Franklin County, including Upper Arlington, Clintonville, Dublin and Hilliard.
I’m surprised that Wolpert is this candid with what really happened. I guess he should have been concentrating on other things instead of spending endless late nights editing his long awaited CAP (”Citizens Amendment for Prosperity”) tax-limitation Amendment that he has been writing since 2006 to help Jim Petro’s gubernatorial campaign.
This is great news. Jim Hughes is a class act and is on the right side of all the issues. He is the best candidate for the Senate Seat. He defended his House seat last year even after it was targeted by Redfern. No one will outwork Jim Hughes and he is laser focused. I look forward to helping him get elected and so should you!
He is a good guy. And he sponsored the official state amphibian bill!
All the more reason to support him!!
Did he vote for Bob Taft’s tax increases ???????