Democrat gubernatorial candidate chooses 2010 BFA PAC "D"-rated running mate

by Chad D. Baus

The Gongwer News Service reported last week that Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Ed FitzGerald has selected Senate Minority Leader Eric Kearney to join him on his quest to oust Republican Gov. John Kasich next year.

"Ed is proud to announce State Sen. Eric Kearney as his running mate & the next Ohio Lt Gov," the Cuyahoga County executive's Twitter account announced Wednesday.

Sen. Kearney (D-Cincinnati), an attorney who was originally appointed to the Senate in 2005, is term limited at the end of next year. He was elected minority leader last year.

The Democrat, a friend of President Barack Obama, founded Sesh Communications, one of the largest African-American publishing companies, which publishes The Cincinnati Herald, The Northern Kentucky Herald, and the Dayton Defender.

During his time in the legislature, Kearney has amassed an extensive voting record against the self-defense and gun rights of Ohioans. He voted against Castle Doctrine, against Ohio's Statewide Preemption of local gun control laws, and against Restaurant Carry. His votes on those bills earned him a D-rating from the Buckeye Firearms Association PAC in 2010.

Last year, after voting against HB 495, which eliminated the "demonstrated competency" requirement for second and future CHL renewals and fixed the definition of a "loaded gun" to match the commonly accepted definition, Kearney tried to use the mass murder in the "no-guns" Sandy Hook Elementary School to manipulate Gov. John Kasich into vetoing the bill, which had nothing to do with schools or license-holders.

He has, in three separate legislative sessions, introduced a bill designed to add an additional 10 years to a prison sentence if a gun is used to cause injury to or death of a child, but in that time never specified once why he believes a murderer should receive less time in prison because he used a knife to murder his victim instead of a gun.

Eric Kearney's presence on the Democratic ticket will no-doubt prove to be a powerful deterrent to any gun voters who pulled the lever for the Democrat candidate (pro-gun Gov. Ted Strickland) in the last election from considering doing so again.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary, and BFA PAC Vice Chairman.