From Dayton Daily News…
Ohio Senate candidates say jobs biggest issue
State Democratic chairman watching 5th District ‘closely’ as GOP thinks seat
is vulnerable.
By Lucas Sullivan, Staff Writer
9:47 PM Friday, October 15, 2010
DAYTON — Despite a geographic advantage for Democrats, the state Republican Party believes its challenger, Bill Beagle, has a legitimate shot to defeat incumbent Fred Strahorn in the 5th District Ohio Senate race.
Strahorn, D-Dayton, was appointed to the seat last year after Democrat Tom Roberts was appointed by Gov. Ted Strickland to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
Term limits would have forbidden Roberts to run for re-election this year.
The Senate district encompasses most of the city of Dayton, Jefferson Twp., Harrison Twp., Trotwood, Riverside, part of Huber Heights, all of Miami County and a small portion of Darke County.
The 5th District seat has long been held by Democrats, most recently by Roberts and former Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin.
In the 2006 election, Roberts won with 59,766 votes to then-Trotwood Mayor Don McLaurin’s 38,248 votes.
However, with enthusiasm running high among Republicans this year, the state Republican party is putting up a fight for the seat. The Ohio GOP has paid for at least two television commercials for Beagle, a former Tipp City councilman.
Beagle, the landlord of about a dozen properties in Miami County, said his experience as a small-business owner makes him a better choice for the position because he understands fiscal responsibility and how to create jobs.
“Unemployment is the biggest problem in the area and I think we’re on the wrong track (to curb it),” Beagle said. “I have a track record of making decisions when I was a council member that showed we can live within our means, not raise taxes and return a surplus to the budget.”
Beagle also said he wants to conduct a study of possibly privatizing the state’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to see if it can be cost-effective to the state. He has also attacked Strahorn for voting in favor of a bill late last year that postponed previously passed income tax rate reductions.
“Raising taxes in this environment is a bad idea,” Beagle said. “Voters are already frustrated.”
Strahorn said he voted for the bill because the reductions would strip $800 million from the state’s education budget and said neither of his opponent nor Republicans have offered another solution.
He said the state’s steady unemployment rate decline the last five months shows Democrats are starting to turn the state around.
“We passed two budgets and didn’t raise taxes,” Strahorn said. “I have a proven record of integrity and a work ethic with the ability to understand tough policies and ideas. I have worked hard for the folks in my district.”
Strahorn said if re-elected his top priorities will be bringing jobs to the area and improving public education.
“We need a skilled work force,” he said. “There are jobs that go unfilled because people don’t have the right skills.”
Strahorn dismissed two of Beagle’s Republican Party-funded commercials saying, “They attack me for things I can’t even vote on like federal health care policies. I’m not in Congress.”
Chris Redfern, state Democratic Party chair, said state Republicans have more money to spend because the national party is receiving more money from foreign corporations, which is freeing up more money for local races.
“The Republicans tried the same thing against Tom Roberts when he was in office and it didn’t work,” Redfern said. “They might have more money, but we have the better candidate.”
That said, Redfern confirmed he is watching the race “very closely.”
Republicans currently control the Ohio Senate 21-12.
Greg Gantt, Montgomery County Republican Party chair, said Strahorn’s job performance has “opened the door” for a tight race and Redfern should be concerned.
“A lot of people we talk to are frustrated with the incumbent,” Gantt said. “Bill is very passionate about the office and is very committed to it. I think everyone he meets is drawn to him because of that.”
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