FLASH: Republican Sen. Spada's anti-CCW mailer paid for by OhioGOP

Ohioans For Concealed Carry has obtained a political mailer sent to voters in Senate District 24, which attacks a Democrat candidate for his support of concealed carry.

On the eve of the election, an 8 ½” x 11” full color mailer bearing the name of the Ohio Republican Party, and Chairman Robert Bennett, was mailed to residents in Republican Sen. Bob Spada’s Senate district. The mailer attacked Democrat Robert Matuis for supporting “dangerous ideas”, and for not understanding “what Cuyahoga County families need to protect themselves,” because he “supports allowing people to carry concealed weapons.” (click on image to download a .pdf copy) The mailer improperly sourced these outrageous statements to the “Ohioans For Concealed Carry Website”.

As reported by the OFCC PAC last week, Bob Spada is the only anti-concealed carry candidate to win reelection in the Senate. Spada is seeking the #3 leadership spot in the Senate Republican Caucus, and the vote is scheduled for later today.

Spada has confirmed to OFCC his campaign sent the mailer. OFCC has spent the past week contacting a number of legislators, county GOP chairs, and officials at OhioGOP in a concerted effort to ascertain what the Ohio Republican Party and Senate Republican Caucus leadership knew about this anti-CCW mailer, and when they knew it. We are told answers will be forthcoming...

UPDATE!
The Gongwer News Service is reporting that Sen. Spada was elected this morning by the Senate Republican Caucus to serve as majority whip during the 126th General Assembly. He had been seeking the #3 position, assistant president pro tempore. That position went to 2004 OFCC PAC endorsee Randy Gardner.

Senate Republicans also elected 2002 OFCC PAC Endorsee Senator Bill Harris of Ashland to serve as Senate president, and Senator Jeff Jacobson was selected as president pro tempore.

Gongwer reports that to resolve a tie vote between Senators Jacobson and Gardner, caucus members agreed to add two yet-unnamed leadership positions that will go to Senators Steve Austria and 2002 OFCC PAC Endorsee Jay Hottinger, respectively.