From the PD

Gary Suhadolnik, the ultra-conservative Republican from Strongsville who made his mark in Columbus by introducing bills that would, for example, ban adoption by "an individual who practices homosexuality," sports a Strickland bumper sticker on his car. Suhadolnik left the Ohio Senate in 1999 and is now executive director of the Ohio Turnpike Commission.

For obvious reasons, Suhadolnik opposes Blackwell's proposal to lease the Ohio Turnpike for up to $6 billion, but he demurred when asked why he supports a candidate that the Ohio Republican Party has labeled as a liberal tax-and-spend Democrat who, among other faults, has voted to support same-sex unions.

"I'm working at the turnpike; I don't know that I'm required to answer your question, am I?" Suhadolnik said, chuckling. "I know I don't have the right to privacy, but don't I have freedom of speech?"

Figures.

Laura Bischoff of the Dayton newspaper shoots more clay pigeons than Ted Strickland:

He gets to congratulate me more often than I can return the favor. In our round, I hit 15 of 25, while he got 10.

Strickland, who grew up in rural Scioto County, is chagrined to be beaten by a rookie from the suburbs but is a good sport.

Where was gun-hater, Lee Fisher, during all of this?

In related news, Blackwell hit 18 of 25. Ted had to borrow a gun, while Ken owns a "Browning 525 shotgun, Merkle 147 shotgun, Baretta 526 shotgun, Ruger .22 target pistol, and a Colt 45."

COLUMBUS (9/8/06) – Taking his hypocrisy to a new and unprecedented height, Marc Dann admitted in today’s Toledo Blade that he accepted $60,000 in campaign contributions from a convicted racketeer and members of his family.

“Marc Dann should be ashamed of himself,” said Montgomery Campaign Manager Shane Ostrowski. “Once again, he is holding those around him to a higher standard than he holds for himself.”

News reports show that since 1998, Dann has received $60,000 in campaign contributions from convicted racketeer Sam Lucarelli and members of his family – more than any other candidate.

“Nearly 10 percent of Marc Dann’s current campaign efforts have been underwritten by a convicted racketeer and his family,” Ostrowski said. “It’s shocking that, as a candidate for attorney general and potential chair of the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, he would accept these dollars. Ohioans should have grave concerns about Marc Dann’s ability to serve as the state’s top law enforcement official.”

In light of these facts, the Montgomery campaign today called on Marc Dann to provide Ohio voters with a list of all contacts and conversations he has had with anyone from the Lucarelli family and to provide answers to the following questions:

1. As a candidate for attorney general and potential chair of the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, do you think it’s appropriate to accept campaign contributions from a convicted racketeer or members of his family?
2. What promises did you make in return for contributions from any member of the Lucarelli family?
3. Why did you wait until the Toledo Blade publicized your relationship with a convicted racketeer before agreeing to return the tainted money?
   
4. How many times did you meet with any member of the Lucarelli family, what was discussed and who was present?
5. When did you first learn that Sam Lucarelli was a convicted racketeer?
6. As a criminal defense attorney, how many organized crime figures have you represented?