Final Campaign 2012 recap

We've covered a lot of ground during campaign 2012, and wanted to recap some of the important pieces you will want to keep in mind.

School Levies
There are a lot of levies on the ballot, as a result of the Kasich budget cuts. You can see a list of them here , organizned by county, type and whether they are requests for new money or continuations.

State Board of Education
There are 7 state board of election seats up for grab, here's our primer on those, including some bios of pro public education candidates.

Voting Checklist
Confused by the shifting voting requirements caused by politicians seeking their own advantage? Here's a handy checklist of what you need to vote, and what your rights are.

Union Candidates
Remember SB5? So do these union members who decided to run for office. If you're lucky, one of them will be on your ballot. One such member is Donna O'Connor, who has inspired so many people with her positive vision and strong leadership. Check the link to see all the union members running on pro-worker platforms.

The Big One - President
We've written a lot about the race for the Presidency, but we'll leave it in the hands of the candidates own visions to make closing arguments

President Obama's 2nd term plan for education.
Mitt Romney: Mr. Corporate Ed.

Issue 2: Voters First, Not Politicians
A YES on Issue 2 puts voters first.

Union member election results

We spolighted all the union members who were running for election to the Ohio General Assembly.

Day 1: Union members running for the Ohio House
Day 2: Union members running for the Ohio House
Day 3: Union members running for the Ohio House
Day 4: Union members running for the Ohio House
Day 5: Union members running for the Ohio House
Union members spotlight - State Senate

How did they do*? 7 lost, 2 very narrowly, but 19 will advance to the general election, including 11 teachers. While Eric Spicer lost, so too did his opponent, the SB5 voting incumbent Rep. Jarrod Martin.

DISTRICT	NAME	UNION	Result	Winner
HD 7	Matt Patten (D)	LABORERS	Winner
HD 16	Todd Laveck (D)	OFT	Narrow loss	Andrew Meyer
HD 20	Marco Miller (D)	IAFF (Ret.)	Loss	Heather Bishoff
HD 21	Donna O’Connor (D)	OEA	Winner
HD 24	Maureen Reedy (D)	OEA	Winner
HD 37	Tom Schmida (D)	OFT	Winner
HD 45	Teresa Fedor (D)	OFT	Winner
HD 47	Jeff Bunck (D)	OEA	Winner
HD 57	Matt Lark (D)	OEA	Winner
HD 58	Bobby Hagan (D)	BLET	Winner
HD 61	Susan McGuinness (D)	ONA	Winner
HD 68	Brad Schaff (D)	USW	Narrow loss	John Ryerson
HD 69	Judith Cross (D)	OEA (Ret.)	Winner
HD 71	Brady Jones (D)	UAW	Winner
HD 72	David Dilly (D)	UMWA	Winner
HD 73	Eric Spicer (R)	FOP	Loss	Rick Perales
HD 76	Mary O’Toole (R)	OEA	Loss	Matt Lynch
HD 81	John Vanover (D)	USW	Winner
HD 87	Dennis Sterling (R)	FOP	Loss	Jeff Mclain
HD 88	Bill Young (D)	OEA	Winner
HD 95	Charles Daniels (D)	OCSEA	Winner
HD 95	Jim Drake (D)	OEA	Loss	Charles Daniels
HD 99	John Patterson (D)	OEA	Winner
SD 6	Rick McKiddy (D)	UAW (Ret.)	Winner
SD 20	Teresa Scarmack (D)	OEA	Winner
SD 24	Tom Patton (R)	IATSE	Winner
SD 26	Tanyce Addison (D)	OEA	Winner

*As reported by the Ohio Secretary of State at 9am 3/7/2012.

Your vote today

Voting is a very personal thing. It reflects values held dear. Some people vote "their" party, some their "conscience", others their profession. Often times these things reflect parts of the same.

Today, is primary day in Ohio. We've covered a lot of the issues and candidates who will be vying for your vote.

Here at Join the Future we'd like you to consider supporting your local schools, their students and education staff. We have published a list of school levies and issues here. School's are facing a budget crisis caused not of their own largesse, but of draconian cuts made by politicians in Columbus who took a pass on making their own tough decisions, and instead passed the buck, to the tune of almost $3 billion over the next 2 years.

While many might look to the general election in November, there are also opportunities today to make a big difference in who those Columbus politicians will be next year.

We're experiencing the effects of bad budgeting and bad policy made in Columbus by out of touch, extreme politicians every day now. We can only change those policies by changing the people who represent us.

We can support candidates who chose to stand with the middle class, not against them. Who understand the importance of public education, not it's privatization.

We spent last week providing some details of candidates who have strong middle class values, who respect working people and who can replace office holders who voted for extreme legislation like SB5 and the budget.

Day 1: Union members running for the Ohio House
Day 2: Union members running for the Ohio House
Day 3: Union members running for the Ohio House
Day 4: Union members running for the Ohio House
Day 5: Union members running for the Ohio House
Union members spotlight - State Senate

So whether you live in HD21 where special education teacher Donna O'Connor is running, or HD70 where Republican cop Eric Spicer is running, understanding that the way to prevent legislation like SB5, or budgets like HB153 from happening again, is to support candidates who share our mainstream values, candidates who won't support legislation that is unfair, unsafe and hurts us all.

DISTRICT	NAME	UNION	PRIMARY	PARTY
HD 7	Matt Patten	LABORERS	N	D
HD 16	Todd Laveck	OFT	Y	D
HD 20	Marco Miller	IAFF (Ret.)	Y	D
HD 21	Donna O’Connor	OEA	Y	D
HD 24	Maureen Reedy	OEA	N	D
HD 37	Tom Schmida	OFT	N	D
HD 45	Teresa Fedor	OFT	N	D
HD 47	Jeff Bunck	OEA	N	D
HD 57	Matt Lark	OEA	Y	D
HD 58	Bobby Hagan	BLET	N	D
HD 61	Susan McGuinness	ONA	N	D
HD 68	Brad Schaff	USW	Y	D
HD 69	Judith Cross	OEA (Ret.)	Y	D
HD 70	Eric Spicer	FOP	N	R
HD 71	Brady Jones	UAW	N	D
HD 72	David Dilly	UMWA	N	D
HD 76	Mary O’Toole	OEA	Y	R
HD 81	John Vanover	USW	N	D
HD 87	Dennis Sterling	FOP	Y	R
HD 88	Bill Young	OEA	N	D
HD 95	Charles Daniels	OCSEA	Y	D
HD 95	Jim Drake	OEA	Y	D
HD 99	John Patterson	OEA	N	D
SD 6	Rick McKitty	UAW (Ret.)	N	D
SD 20	Teresa Scarmack	OEA	N	D
SD 24	Tom Patton	IATSE	Y	R
SD 26	Tanyce Addison	OEA	N	D

Union members spotlight - State Senate

Last week we took a look at the union members who have decided to run for the Ohio House of Representatives. With so many there's a good change you have a union member running to represent you! You can check them out at the following links.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

Today, the day before the primary, we turn our attention to the four union members running for the Ohio Senate. Where the Ohio House has 99 seats, the Ohio Senate has only 33, with only half up for reelection every two years. This year those districts with even numbers are up for reelection.

It should be noted that the districts listed below are new as a consequence of the legislative redistricting process that happened last year.

Senate district 6 - Rick McKiddy (D)

Rick is a retired member of the UAW. Rick is running unopposed in the primary. Paul Isaacs is challenging Lehner for the GOP nod to face Rick in November. Lehner was appointed to succeed State Sen. John Husted when he assumed the office of Ohio Secretary of State. Sen. Lehner voted for SB5 and the budget.

Senate district 20 - Teresa Scarmack (D)

Teresa is a member of OEA. Recognized as a Master Teacher, with 23 years of teaching experience, she is running uncontested in the primary and will face Troy Balderson in the general election. Sen. Balderson was appointed to the Senate in 2011 form the House, where he voted for SB5 and the budget.
You can learn more about Teresa, here.

Senate district 24 - Tom Patton (D)

Tom is a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States (IATSE), President of Treasurers and Ticket Sellers Local 756 and AFL-CIO delegate. He was one of the few Republican senators to vote against SB5. He faces Jennifer L. Brady in the general election.
You can learn more about Tom, here.

Senate district 26 - Tanyce Addison (D)

Tanyce is a member of OEA. Tanyce is a recently retired Elgin teacher of the year. Her opponent, David Burke, voted YES on SB5. He was appointed to Karen Gillmor's Senate seat after she voted YES on SB5. You can learn more about Tanyce, here.

Union members spotlight - day 5

This is the final day five of our week long spotlight on union members who have decided to run for the Ohio House of Representatives.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4

It should be noted that the districts listed below are new as a consequence of the legislative redistricting process that happened last year.

House district 88 - Bill Young (D)

Bill is a member of OEA and an award-winning Social Studies teacher. He will be facing incumbent Rep. Rex Damschroder in November. Damschroder was absent for the vote on SB5, but did vote for the budget bill which contained many similar provisions as SB5, while also deeply cutting education funding.

House district 95 - Jim Drake (D) and Charles Daniels (D)

This is the only race where two union members will face each other in a primary.
Jim Drake is a member of OEA. Jim is a twenty-year veteran high school teacher, He worked in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Education to implement the Ohio Entry-Year Teacher Program, and served as both vice-president and president of the St. Clairsville Education Association.

Jim is a member of the Ohio Foreign Language Association and has served on the OEA’s Fund for Children in Public Education State Council, Legislative Committee, and is the current chair of the Organizing Strategy Committee. He currently teaches Spanish at St. Clairsville High School. You can learn more about Jim, here.

Charles Daniels is a member of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA). You can follow Charles on Facebook, here.
Incumbent Jack Cera (D) is running for reeelction in district 95, so the incumbent of current District 93, Republican Andrew Thompson will be the primary opponent of the eventual Democratic primary winner. It will be no surprise ot learn that Rep. Thompson was a big supporter of SB5 and the budget which passed the buck to the schools and local governments.

House district 99 - John Patterson (D)

John is a member of OEA. since 1983 John taught U.S. History at Jefferson Area High School. While at Jefferson, John has coached girls basketball, boys baseball, golf, and for the past 12 seasons, boys’ cross-country. During this he has been very active in the Jefferson Area Teachers’ Association, and has been the chief negotiator for his union since the late 1980′s.
He will be facing incumbent Casey Kozlowski in November, one of the few Republicans to buck party pressure and vote against SB5. He did however for the budget.
You can learn more about John, here.

Monday we will turn our attention to union members who are running for the Ohio State Senate.

The real fight over SB5 is still ahead

Yesterday was the filing deadline for candidates wishing to run for the Ohio General Assembly. We had looked earlier at the impact of incumbents of the Ohio House of Representatives voting for SB5 would have on their reelection chances.

14 SB5 supporters could not survive a 5% swing from their margin of victory in 2010 (2 didn’t even reach the 50% threshold due to a third party taking significant support). With only a 10-seat margin to maintain control, it is quite possible that control of the Ohio House will swing away from the Republicans and back to the Democrats.

Such a swing, could put a halt to the Governors radical agenda and turn the remaining 2 years of his first term into a lame duck effort.

Now some of this calculation is complicated by the recent redistricting, but as Gongwer notes, the 2012 elections are shaping up to be a continuation of the fight over SB5

SB5 Redux?: In some ways, the contest for control of the House next session is shaping up as a proxy battle between the two sides in the fight over the collective bargaining law changes (SB 5) that voters rejected last month in a referendum vote.

House Democrats, for example, noted that a number of educators have filed to run and Speaker Batchelder said the GOP newcomers include an ample amount of businesspeople.
[...]
Rep. Debbie Phillips (D-Athens), the House Democratic Caucus Campaign co-chair, said 2002 Teacher of the Year Maureen Reedy, who is seeking the open 24th House District seat in Franklin County, is among at least 10 teachers running for the House as Democrats.

"State budget cuts and the unfair attacks in SB5 have put educators and our children's education directly in the crosshairs of the Republican's anti-middle class agenda and teachers are standing up, fighting back and getting involved," Rep. Phillips said in a release. "We are very excited to have so many great teachers running for office. They are trusted and well known in their communities, which are two key components of electoral success."

While some candidates might have a difficult task ahead of them due to the gerrymandering of districts, the overwhelming rejection of SB5 is likely to create some very sharp contrasts for voters to decide upon.