Columbus: Parties pick candidates to run for positions on state Senate

August 19, 2004
Columbus Dispatch

by Lee Leonard

Katherine Thomsen, who lives in the Grandview Heights area and works at Ohio News Network, will carry the Democratic flag against Republican state Sen. Steve Stivers.

Thomsen was selected by the Franklin County Democratic Party to replace Melissa A. Mahoney of Dublin, who withdrew from the contest. Yesterday was the final day to slate candidates for the Nov. 2 ballot with local boards of election.

Stivers, appointed in 2003 for the remaining two years of a term, will be facing his first election in the district. Don Eckhart, of Galloway, an independent candidate, also is in the race for the 16 th District, which encompasses western Franklin County.

The major parties failed to fill out their slates in the nine contests for state representative in Franklin County.

Rep. Larry Wolpert, a Hilliard Republican, will be unopposed, as will Democrat Mike Mitchell, who beat Rep. Larry Price of Columbus in the primary. Republican Kenneth R. Besser of the East Side dropped out of the 26 th District race and was not replaced.

Republican Rep. Geoffrey C. Smith of Upper Arlington has no official Democratic opponent. But Pat Byrne, who lost to Smith as a Democrat in 2002, is running as an independent, having failed to qualify for ballot status as a Democrat.

In the 19 th District, two Canal Winchester residents will square off: Republican Rep. Larry L. Flowers and Democrat Antoine Wright. Richard W. Otten Jr. of New Albany is the Green Party candidate.

Democrat Michael J. Murdock of Westerville will test Republican Rep. Jim McGregor of Gahanna in the 20 th District.

In the nearby 21 st District, Republican Rep. Linda J. Reidelbach of Columbus will defend her seat against Democrat Abramo Ottolenghi of Worthington.

Republican Rep. Jim Hughes of Clintonville faces Democrat Brian McCann in the 22 nd District. Democratic Rep. Dan Stewart of the West Side will encounter attorney Andy Bowers, a Republican, in the 25 th District.

Rep. Joyce Beatty of Columbus, a Democrat, faces Republican Ryan T. Homan of East 13 th Ave. in the 27 th District, according to the Franklin County Board of Elections.

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