Yes they will and Yes they have one. Ted Strictland is going to be the Democratic candidate for the Senate in 2006. Strickland was going to run for Ohio Governor, but changed his mind. He just announced that he will not run for the governorship in 2006 but will "likely" run for the Senate.
Here is Strickland's biography.
Congressman Ted Strickland was born on August 4, 1941 in Lucasville , Ohio . The son of a steelworker, and one of nine children, Ted spent his childhood active in church and school life.
Ted attended Asbury College in Kentucky , receiving a B.A. in History and Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. Ted continued his studies at the University of Kentucky , receiving a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology in 1980.
Ted is married to Frances Smith Strickland of Simpsonville, KY. Frances is an educational psychologist and author of a widely used screening test for kindergarten-age children. She has also authored a children’s book, The Little Girl Who Grew Up To Be Governor.
Professionally, Ted has served as a minister, a psychologist, and a college professor. He was the director of a Methodist children’s home, an assistant professor of psychology at Shawnee State University , and a consulting psychologist at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF).
During his last five terms in Congress, Ted has served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he has fought to secure a meaningful prescription drug benefit under Medicare and to reform the managed care industry. Ted is also an active member of the Congressional Steel Caucus and has fought to protect American industry and jobs from unfair foreign competition.
Last term, Ted also became a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. As a member of that committee, he has been tireless in his advocacy for full funding of promised veterans’ health programs.
Strictland is a Congressman from Southern and Eastern Ohio. He is a minister, a family man, and he has great grass roots ties.
Strickland has spent 15 years as a Congressman representing Republican MUST HAVE counties in Southern Ohio. He lost his seat in 1994 but won it back in 1996. He has had no trouble beating RINO Republicans in counties Bush easily carried in 2004.
Strickland will have great shot at beating DeWine. A Democrat with solid Democratic support, vetrans support and the religious voter support couldn't win many Ohio elections against a RINO could he?
People who had a lot to do with making Dayton close for Bush in 2004, won't lift a finger for Dewine in 2006. Dewine has ticked off the grass roots. If he wants to be reelected he needs a 100 percent conservative voting record for the remainder of this term and a ton of fence mending. He is too busy kissing the Media's butt to do anything except tell us he is great.
I don't think DeWine can beat Strictland, but Kasich could.
Why would DeWine do this? It was a stupid move on every level.
I could be wrong, but I used to listen to WKBN talk radio in Youngstown until Clear Channel bought it in the late '90's. Seems to me Strictland is REALLY REALLY liberal especially for Ohio. He used to be interviewed on KBN local talk before he got knocked out. He and Trafficant represented side by side districts and agreed on virtually nothing as I remember. Didn't he re-locate to run and isn't his district now the one that runs along the Ohio river valley all the way from Youngstown to south of Columbus and is 3 mis. wide or less?
Interesting that after ten p.m. on the Friday of a three-day weekend there is a live person answering the phone.
It's rare to find that in the 202 area code during business hours of the work week.
John Kasich
2021 E. Dublin-Granville Rd.
Suite 161
Columbus, OH 43229
Phone 614-785-1600
Fax 614-785-1611