Public Policy Advocates

Ohio Voters Approve Veterans’ Compensation

State Issue 1, which authorizes the state of Ohio to borrow and spend $200 million to “provide compensation to Ohio veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq conflicts, and to pay for the administration of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts Compensation Bond Retirement Fund and the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts Compensation Fund,” passed easily with over 70% of the vote. Veterans who served in the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan will receive a $100 bonus for each month they served, not to exceed a total of $1,000 per veteran. Those who served in other locations will be eligible to receive up to $500.

Ohioans Approve of Livestock Standards Board Amendment

Ohio Issue 2 will create a 13-member state livestock care standards board to establish standards for the care and well being of livestock.  Supporters of Issue 2 said it will provide Ohio with an expert board to set up comprehensive oversight of livestock care.  Opponents said Issue 2 is an effort by larger, “factory” farms protecting their interests, and that it doesn’t belong in the Ohio Constitution.  With the help of endorsements from Governor Strickland and Senator Voinovich, among others, Issue 2 passed easily, with 64% support.

Ohio Voters Amend Constitution to Allow for Casino Gambling

Ohio’s most contentious ballot issue in 2009 was Issue 3, an amendment to the Ohio Constitution allowing for the creation of a casino in each of four metropolitan areas: Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Toledo.  Supporters of the issue claimed that it would create 34,000 jobs in the state and encourage almost $1 billion in local spending, while also contributing much needed tax dollars to the state.  Opponents of Issue 3 claimed that any jobs created might not go to Ohioans, and the negative social problems associated with gambling, namely crime, prostitution, and drugs, would outweigh any financial benefits provided.

Both sides of the issue spent millions on television commercials trying to convince voters.  In financial reports filed on October 22nd, the Ohio Jobs and Growth Committee, Issue 3 supporters, reported expenditures of nearly $32 million, while Truth PAC, Issue 3 opponents, reported expenditures of approximately $5 million.  In the end, voters approved of the plan to allow casino gambling in Ohio, passing the amendment by a narrow margin of 53% to 47% against.

Cuyahoga County Voters Approve Measure to Reorganize County Government

Cuyahoga County residents voted on rival issues regarding county reform in the wake of the corruption that has been dominating headlines for the last several months.  Issue 5 proposed the creation of a study council to analyze county government and issue a recommendation for how to re-align county officials.  Issue 6 proposed to bypass any study council, instead reorganizing county government by removing the county commissioners and replacing them with a county council and a County Executive. 

Issue 5 failed by a vote of 72% to 28%, while Issue 6 passed by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.  Because Issue 6 passed and Issue 5 failed, Cuyahoga County’s government will be reorganized going forward.  Instead of a three-member board of commissioners, each elected by a countywide vote, there will be an 11-member county council, each representing a specific Ward, led by a County Executive, which will be elected at-large.  The County Auditor and Treasurer will be combined into one position, known as a Fiscal Officer.  Finally, the County Engineer and Sheriff will be appointed by the county council.

A Look at Key Races: Possible Predictors for Mid-term Elections in 2010

Bob McConnell Defeats Creigh Deeds for Governor of Virginia

The Virginia Governor’s race was not expected to be very competitive, as Republican candidate Bob McConnell had shown a solid lead in polls as election day aproached.  McDonnell, currently Virginia’s Attorney General, faced off against Democrat State Senator Creigh Deeds.  This race was a rematch of sorts, as McDonnell beat Deeds in 2005 for Attorney General by a mere 400 votes.  The Governor’s Mansion has been occupied since 2002 by Democrats Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, whose terms end this year.  However, despite the recent history of Democratic Governors, as well as President Obama winning the state’s 13 electoral votes in 2008, Republican candidate McConnell was able to win back the seat by a tally of 59% to 41%. 

Christopher Christie Defeats Incumbent Jon Corzine for Governor of New Jersey

Perhaps the most highly anticipated race of the 2009 election cycle on the national scene was the race for Governor of New Jersey.  The seat is currently held by Democrat Jon Corzine, who previously served as one New Jersey’s U.S. Senators.  Prior to his political career, Corzine also served as the President and CEO of Goldman Sachs.  He was challenged by U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie.  Christie was able to successfully use Corzine’s past dealings with Goldman Sachs to attack his economic credentials.  This race received significant outside attention, including campaign appearances by President Obama and RNC Chair Michael Steele.  In the end, Chris Christie came out on top, unseating Corzine by a 49% to 45% final margin, with Independent candidate Chris Daggett grabbing the final 6%. 

Democrats Win in New York’s 23rd District Special Election

When President Barack Obama nominated U.S. Representative John McHugh (R-NY) to be the Secretary of the Army, it created a vacancy in upstate New York’s 23rd Congressional District, which has been held by the Republican party since 1993.  This race immediately grabbed the attention of several Conservative pundits and media personalities including Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh.  The Republican nominee, state assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava, emerged from a seven-way primary in order to earn her place on the ballot.  One of her primary opponents, businessman Doug Hoffman, later received the endorsement of the Conservative Party in order to receive a spot on the ballot.  The Democratic party selected local attorney Bill Owens after considering roughly a dozen potential candidates.

Early prognostications were that the Republican nominee would be able to retain the seat easily.  However, the conservative base of the party began defecting, instead endorsing the Conservative Party nominee, Mr. Hoffman.  Beck, Limbuagh, and Sarah Palin, among others, endorsed Mr. Hoffman.  They viewed Ms. Scozzafava’s positions on Cap and Trade legislation, Stimulus spending, and other issues, as being out of line with the conservative base of the party.  Polls taken a week before Election Day showed Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Owens receiving approximately 35% support, and Ms. Scozzafava receiving approximately 20%, with 10% undecided.  On October 31, Ms. Scozzafava suspended her campaign and endorsed the Democrat, Mr. Owens, shortly thereafter.  This development made the race fairly unpredictable heading into Election Day.  In the end, Mr. Owens won the race with 49% to Mr. Hoffman’s 46%.  Ms. Scozzafava, whose name remained on the ballot due to her late departure from the race, tallied 5% of the vote.