2010 Primary Voting Recommendation for Greene County Ohio

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Voting RecommendationsMay 4, 2010 Primary - Republicanprepared by D. Riley & T. Corvo

Although there are limited choices because this is only a primary election, the interest level in the 2010election cycle is relatively high for most voters. This is due to the political turmoil ongoing in both

Washington, DC and within the states, and the poor economy coupled with the rapidly rising nationaldebt that is impacting most everyone. The need to tighten governments belts/reduce spending coupledwith the significant desire for restraint in governments influence in our daily lives will hopefully be theoverarching factors in this election cycle.

Voters need to be wary of candidates who are making a career out of being politicians. Careerpoliticians are a primary reason this country is in such dire straits and the problem exists down to thelocal level. Voters need also to beware of candidates who claim to be conservatives, who claim they willbe good stewards of taxpayers money and cut budgets, and who claim family values. It is not who theysay they are, it is who they have shown themselves to be.

State Issues:

1. Issue 1- Proposed Constitutional Amendment for extending the Ohio Third Frontier Program byauthorizing $700,000,000 general obligation bonds: Recommend NO.

Comment: Proponents say this will amendment will not increase taxes. But money does not grow ontrees and ultimately money to support this and other programs comes from taxpayers in one way oranother. The leadership of this state has yet to sufficiently recognize that the state is broke and needs toquite spending, period. Furthermore, the constitutional amendment process should be reserved forimportant and fundamental changes in law, not for making changes in funding that could be handledthrough other legislative processes.

2. Issue 2 Proposed Constitutional Amendment to change the location of the Columbus Casino Facilityauthorized by previous state-wide vote. Recommend NO

Comment: This is an example of the problem that was mentioned in the comment block, Issue 1 above.Because Ohios Constitution previously precluded casinos, an Amendment to the Constitution wasrequired to authorize the building of casinos which was approved by voters in November 2009.However, the Amendment that was approved last November dictated minute aspects of the law thatshould have been handled through the legislative process. Now we are being asked again to amend theconstitution for a minor aspect in the execution of the law. Whats next, a constitutional amendment onwhat the casinos can serve in their buffet lines?

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Candidates:

1. For US Senator: Rob Portman

Comment: Portman is the only candidate on the ballot. However, he has a strong conservative history.

2. For US Representative (Ohio 7th): John Mitchel

Comment: There are two candidates this election cycle, John Mitchel and incumbent Steve Austria.Austrias performance during his first term in office has been unimpressive and if he has shownleadership in pursuing issues important to most, hes kept it well hidden. To be fair, Austria did voteagainst the health care bill, but this may have been more of minority party block vote than reflective ofhis ideological belief.

Austrias opponent, John Mitchel, is a conservative that has spent much of his energy pursuingcorruption in the greater Miami Valley political machines. Although this may have been an admirableendeavor, what has been done by these political machines is history and now is the time for Mitchel toexplain what he would do to change the status quo in Washington. He needs to articulate more on what

he will do on specific issues of regional and national importance. Mitchel is viewed by the local GOPleadership to be a right-wing fringe Republican. Given the past performance of the local GOP partyleadership, this label may actually be a plus. The recommended vote for John Mitchel is a part of anational push to throw out weak or failed incumbents, give party leaders a clear signal on what voterswant, and give new blood the opportunity to enter the political body.

3. For Governor/Lieutenant Governor: John Kasich/Mary Taylor

Comment: Only candidates on the ballot. It should be noted that Kasich was part of the 1994Republican Contract with America and his conservative credentials appear authentic.

4. For State Attorney General: Mike DeWine

Comment: Only candidate on the ballot. There is much dissatisfaction concerning DeWine and his weak

conservative principles. If he had any reasonable competition in the primaries, he would most likely lose

to this competition to represent the Republican Party in Novembers general election. (See the

comments for Auditor of State below.)

5. For Auditor of State: Seth Morgan

Comment: Seth Morgan has shown great promise as a conservative and has challenged DemocraticGovernor Strickland on some issues. The other candidate for this position is David Yost. Mr. Yostdropped out as a candidate for Ohio Attorney General in January of this year to pave the way for MikeDeWine to run for that position. It has been rumored that DeWine donated a considerable amount ofmoney to help Yost change his mind. Presuming it true, this is just another example of good-old-boypolitics. And even though it is just rumored, this in itself is reason enough to vote against Yost.

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6. For Secretary of State: Sandra OBrien

Comment: Jon Husted is competing with Sandra OBrien for this position. Although Husted seems tohave accomplished some good things during his relatively long career as a politician, he appears to bejust that a career politician. His combined time in the Ohio House of Representatives and the OhioSenate is over nine years. He is obviously one of the good-old-boys in the Ohio Republicanestablishment. He says the right things to appeal to conservatives and he makes significant claims of

past performance which could be challenged. Regardless, the problems that Ohio is experiencingmandate new blood and new approaches to problem solving which Ms. OBrien appears better suited toprovide.

7. For Treasurer of State: Josh Mandel

Comment: Only candidate on the ballot. However, Mandel is a conservative Iraq Marine veteran and

won his state legislative position in a predominately Democratic district through exhaustive door-to-door

campaigning. Mandel has an impressive future role to play in conservative politics.

8. For Chief Justice, Supreme Court: Maureen OConner

Comment: Only candidate on the ballot

9. For Justice, Supreme Court (commencing 1/1/11): Judith Lanzinger


10. For Justice, Supreme Court (commencing 1/2/11): Paul Pfeifer


11. For Judge, 2nd District Court of Appeals (commencing 2/9/11): Mary Donovan


12. For Judge, 2nd District Court of Appeals (commencing 2/10/11): George Reynolds

Comment: There are two candidates for this judgeship, the other being Mike Hall. There are no known

criticisms of Mr. Hall that would disqualify him for this position on the Court of Appeals. However,

Mr. Reynolds is well known for his ethical conduct and standards, and is considered to be eminently

qualified. If elected, he would move up from his current position as Chief Magistrate, Greene CountyCommon Pleas Court.

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13. For Member of State Central Committee, Man (10th): David Kearney

Comment: Mr. Kearney is one of two candidates. Mr. Kearney is recommended because he has the

backing of the local conservative element. Joseph Haines, who is the other candidate for this position,

has the backing of the Greene County Republican organization which is considered problematic as long

as Marilyn Reid has any involvement in Greene County politics.

14. For Member of State Central Committee, Woman (10th): Cynthia Bieghler

Comment: Ms. Bieghler is one of three candidates and is recommended because she has the backing of

the local conservative element. Bieghler is very active in the Dayton Tea Party and other local

conservative groups. One of the other two candidates for this position, Brenda Lewis, has the backing of

the Greene County Republican organization which is considered problematic as long as Marilyn Reid

has any involvement in Greene County politics.

15. For State Representative (70th): Jarrod Martin

Comment: Recommending Mr. Martin for a second term in Columbus is the easiest of allrecommendations to make. From his time as a Beavercreek City Councilman to his time as an OhioState Representative, Mr. Martin has not only talked the talk but has also walked the walk when it comesto constraining government and taxes. It should be noted that Mr. Martins competition is a WilliamMiller from Xenia. Mr. Miller claims to have the endorsement of Beavercreek City Mayor ScottHadley. Having the endorsement of Hadley should be the same poison as having the endorsement ofMarilyn Reid. Hadley was on Beavercreek City Council when it voted in the 1990s to approve thecitys golf course. This error in judgment is now costing Beavercreek taxpayers nearly $1 millionannually. Hadleys focus is now to push through a city income tax, probably to pay for his golf coursemistake.

16. For Judge of the Court of Common Pleas: Raymond Dundes

Comment: There are three candidates for this judgeship. Mr. Dundes is recommended because the

professional presentation supporting his candidacy appeared strongest. One of the other two candidates

is Mike Buckwalter. According to a Dayton Daily News article of June 27, 2008 (see link below), Mr.

Buckwalter was a business partner of Marilyn Reid in the failed Wallabys restaurant, which had

problems with liquor license applications and paying back taxes.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/06/26/ddn0

62708reidinside.html

Although Mr. Buckwalter is not mentioned as the origin of any of those issues, any tie-in with MarilynReid, political or business-wise, should be sufficient reason to oppose his candidacy. Reid and herpolitical machine represent the worst in Greene County politics.

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http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/06/26/ddn062708reidinside.htmlhttp://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/06/26/ddn062708reidinside.htmlhttp://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/06/26/ddn062708reidinside.htmlhttp://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/06/26/ddn062708reidinside.html


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17. For County Commissioner: Virgil Vaduva

Comments: This endorsement is one of the more difficult to make since Mr. Anderson is a likable fellow

who has fulfilled his duties satisfactorily. Mr. Vaduvas views on limited government might be taken by

many as extreme until one realizes that Vaduva is a Romanian immigrant and has many life experiences

living under a repressive government. Its understandable then that he identifies himself as more of a

Libertarian. In a year when we need change more than ever, Mr. Vaduva offers a real difference incomparison to a due course candidate. A strong showing at the polls by Vaduva, win or lose, might

help weaken the hold that the current GOP machine and Marilyn Reid have on Greene County politics.

18. For County Auditor: Dick Gould

Comment: There are two candidates for County Auditor, the other being David Graham. As his

campaign literature indicates, Mr. Graham has served as Chief Deputy Auditor for 10 years. His election

as auditor would, for all practical, be a continuation of the current bureaucracy with both its good and

bad points. Once in awhile, all bureaucracies need to be turned on their head by new leadership to avoid

the weve always done it this way phenomena. A change is leadership in the county auditors office iswarranted for this reason. As a final note, at a recent candidate forum, Mr. Gould was the only candidate

that somewhat knew the history of property taxes. Although not a show stopper, its refreshing to see

some candidates actually having a sense of history.

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2010 Primary Voting Recommendation for Greene County Ohio