2010 Election ballot begins to take shape as candidates line up

The 2010 election season is beginning to shape up, with candidates taking out petitions to challenge incumbents not only in the November general election but also in the May primaries.

Republican Mike Hunter has taken out a petition to run against state Rep. Debbie Phillips, D-Athens, for Ohio's 92nd House district. Hunter is scheduled to make the official announcement of his candidacy at The Market on State rotunda at 10 a.m. today (Monday).

"I've got petitions out there circulating," Hunter confirmed Friday. Hunter declined to discuss his candidacy any further until the announcement.

Hunter is the former commander of the Ohio State Highway Patrol post in Athens and retired in 2003 after more than 28 years of service. He later served as interim police chief for the city of Nelsonville. Hunter has lived in Athens for the last 15 years.

Phillips officially filed her petition to run for re-election at the Board of Elections Friday. She is serving her first term in the state General Assembly. Prior to her election to the Statehouse, Phillips served as the Fourth Ward member of Athens City Council. In 2008, she beat Athens County Auditor Jill Thompson in a tight race for the House seat, earning 50.47 percent of the vote to Thompson's 49.53 percent.

"I have been humbled and encouraged by the support of many people throughout this region, and I hope to have the opportunity to continue to serve," Phillips said in prepared remarks to a crowd of supporters after she filed Friday. She cited education reforms and efforts to encourage southeast Ohio economic development as her major accomplishments. She also spoke of goals such as continuing efforts to build Ohio's role in advanced and clean energy.

"I am working on bills to help businesses make energy-efficiency improvements, to strengthen rules requiring mortgage holders to enter mediation with homeowners to prevent foreclosures, and to encourage home-energy audits," Phillips said. "I am working with area schools to ensure that the education reforms are working for them. And I am listening to constituents about what we need to tackle next."

For her part, Thompson announced that she will seek re-election as county auditor at a campaign kick-off at the Oak Room in Athens on Thursday. Athens City Auditor Kathy Hecht has expressed interest in challenging Thompson. Earlier this month she said she remained undecided on the matter and was still gauging support. Hecht could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

Athens County Democratic Party Chair Bill Bias said Sunday that several Democrats are considering a run against Thompson.

"I would expect an announcement hopefully by the end of the week," he said.

Meanwhile, at least two Democrats have taken out petitions to challenge Athens County Commissioner Lenny Eliason in the May primary. These include Nelsonville businesswoman Miki Brooks and 2008 commissioner primary candidate Charlie Adkins of Albany.

Previously, Adkins lost a coin-toss after tying with contender Jim Pancake in the Democratic primary for former Commissioner Bill Theisen's open seat. Republican Larry Payne later defeated Pancake in the general election.

Adkins is a former union president at Ohio University, leading the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1699 Council 8 for 20 years. He also chaired the statewide Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) board for several years. Adkins is retired from OU.

Adkins has named his father, former Athens County Commissioner Tommy Adkins, as campaign manager, and has said that if elected, he will make himself visible throughout the county, working with constituents.

Charlie Adkins said he brings something different to the table than any other candidate. "I just think I could bring a different view and a different dynamic there," Adkins said. "I think all three of us bring something different to the table. I just think that what I can bring is a better deal."

Brooks works as a realtor with Ohio Realty. She is also a member of the Nelsonville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, president of the Stuart's Opera House Board of Directors, and retired as a guidance counselor from Tri-County Career Center. Owner of FullBrooks Café located on the Nelsonville Public Square, Brooks said she is also involved in Nelsonville's Final Fridays and helped organize North Pole Nelsonville last year.

When asked about her potential run last August, Brooks said she sees running for the office as a big job interview with a lot of people.

"And then you trust that they will make the right choice about who to hire, and that's basically what they're doing," Brooks said.

Athens County Republican Party Chair Pete Couladis has said that several Republicans are also eyeing the county commissioner seat, but did not name them. Couladis himself has taken out petitions to run for the GOP's state central committee. Couladis ran for the same position two years ago, and said that he wanted to give it another try.

Athens County Common Pleas Judge Michael Ward, a Republican, has also taken out petitions to seek re-election. Bias said he knows of several Democrats "mulling" a run against Ward.

Former Athens County Democratic Party Chair Susan Gwinn is also now again seeking elected office. Gwinn has filed for re-election to the seat on the party's central committee that she's held for more than a decade. The position is that of committee representative for the Athens South precinct (county precinct 39). Gwinn resigned as party chair Jan. 12, a day after learning that she had been convicted of two misdemeanor counts of falsifying campaign-finance reports. She has asked the judge to set aside her conviction.

At the national level, the Republican primary to challenge U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, for Ohio's 18th Congressional District is filling out.

The 18th District includes a long stretch of eastern and southeast Ohio, including the northern part of Athens County. State Sen. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, joins former Magistrate Judge Jeanette Moll from Zanesville, former state Agriculture Director Fred Dailey, Licking County businessman Patrick Carlisle and Newark businessman Beau Bromberg in the primary, scheduled for May 4.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, D-St. Clairsville, represents the remaining portion of Athens County in Ohio's 6th Congressional District. He is also up for re-election, but is not known to have any challengers at this time. Couladis said he knows of several potential challengers to Wilson who have yet to announce their candidacy.

The filing deadline for the May primary ballot is Feb. 18.