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January 12, 2006,
Ohio -
With the candidate-filing deadline for the May primary little
more than a month away, the slate of potential entrants for two
seats at stake on the Ohio Supreme Court remains undetermined.
Republicans said they
are certain of one of their candidates: incumbent Justice
Terrence O'Donnell. Elected in 2004 to serve out the remaining
term of former Justice Deborah Cook, he will seek election to a
full six-year term of his own.
Five appeals court
judges from across the state have met with Republican officials
to discuss seeking the party nomination to challenge for a
second court seat now held by incumbent Democrat Justice Alice
Resnick.
Justice Resnick,
convicted of drunken driving and handed a public reprimand last
year, has not announced whether she will run for re-election.
No Republicans have
declared for the seat, but five have talked with party
officials. They are Judges Susan Brown, 10th District, Columbus;
Michael Corrigan, 8th District, Cleveland; Bob Cupp, 3rd
District, Lima; Mary DeGenaro, 7th District, Youngstown; and
Stephen Powell, 12th District, Middletown.
John McClelland,
state GOP press secretary, said the party will endorse a
candidate, likely at a meeting of the state central and
executive committee expected to be held before the end of
January.
"We have asked all of
our committee members to save every Friday from now through the
end of the month," Mr. McClelland said.
Two Democrats have
declared their intention to seek the party nomination to oppose
Justice O'Donnell. Common Pleas Judge A.J. Wagner of Dayton and
Judge William O'Neill of the 11th Ohio District Court of Appeals
announced for the race last year.
Brian Rothenberg,
state Democratic Party spokesman, said no decision has been made
about issuing an endorsement. "What Chairman (Chris) Redfern has
indicated is at some point there will be a committee of the
executive committee that will meet to make a recommendation one
way or the other on endorsing," he said.
Should Justice
Resnick decide against seeking another term, Judge Peter Sikora
of Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court said he would enter the race
in an attempt to succeed her. Judge Sikora was a Democratic
Party nominee for the Supreme Court in 1996, losing to former
Republican Justice Andrew Douglas.
Political control of
the court is not at stake in this year's elections. Republicans
hold a 6-1 edge, and only one GOP seat is in play.
 Jeff Longstreth
Jeff Longstreth
Executive Director
Ohio Citizens
Against Lawsuit Abuse
614-224-1435
www.ohiocala.org
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