Race is on for the 28th Senate District

Potential candidates have until Jan. 2 to say they want to run for the Ohio Senate's 28th District seat.

Some big-name local politicians already are positioning themselves to replace Sen. Leigh Herington (a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Criminal Justice, which has held six hearings on HB12 to date) in November 2004. The Democrat from Rootstown Township must leave the job because of term limits.

Summit County Councilwoman Kim Zurz of Green and Portage County Commissioner Chuck Keiper are considering a run on the Democratic side. Meanwhile, Republicans are making no secret they want former state representative and congressional candidate Ann Womer Benjamin in the race.

Many from her party believe she could end the Democrats' 35-year hold on the seat.

Of course, that assumes Womer Benjamin, the head of the state Department of Insurance, joins the field.

"I have a huge job at the Department of Insurance,'' she said last week. "I'm really focused on the Department of Insurance.''

Senate President Doug White, R-Manchester, said he is eager to have Womer Benjamin's help and believes it further would cement Republican dominance in the General Assembly.

"I'm thrilled she's willing to consider it,'' he said. "She's an excellent legislative candidate.''

Click here to read the entire story in the Akron Beacon-Journal.