Dispatch: Householder aims at run for governor down the road

In just six years as a House member, Larry Householder has fashioned himself into perhaps the most dominating politician on Capitol Square, filling the power vacuum created by a governor who has been reluctant to lead. The speaker of the Ohio House won't run for governor in 2006, but he plans to be ready in 2010 if a Republican isn't occupying the office, or in 2014, when, at age 54, he'll still be relatively young.

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Meanwhile, Householder is charting a course to a lesser statewide office after he is forced by term limits to leave the legislature at the end of 2004. "Hopefully, in 2006, there's going to be someplace downticket,'' he said en route to Waverly. "I'd love to have an opportunity to run for state auditor or state treasurer.''

Both GOP-controlled offices likely will be up for grabs in 2006 with Treasurer Joseph T. Deters determined to run for attorney general and Auditor Betty D. Montgomery intent on a gubernatorial bid.

"If those don't work out, hopefully there's someplace for me as far as state government is concerned so that I can continue service,'' Householder said.

That place might be the lieutenant governor's office. Householder has formed a strong alliance with Attorney General Jim Petro, who also plans to run for governor in 2006. Householder helped nudge the once-moderate Petro to the right for the expected Republican gubernatorial primary and was instrumental in helping Petro land a coveted endorsement from the National Rifle Association for the 2002 election. Petro now employs the same aggressive media consultant and fund-raiser that Householder has used to increase the GOP majority in the House.

"I would tell you that if Jim Petro came to me and said, 'Larry, I think it would be in the best interests of the people of the state of Ohio for you to run as lieutenant governor with me,' I would take that into very strong consideration,'' Householder said.

OFCC PAC Commentary:
As the '06 Governor's race starts to heat up, some of the early comers can already be weighed in terms of their support for the self-defense rights of Ohioans.

Former Attorney General and current State Auditor Betty Montgomery fought to continue the state's ban on concealed carry, even as two courts and four judges found the law to be unconstitutional. During the 2002 election season, she claimed that she was bound by her job requirements to defend the Constitution on the CCW matter. We're not sure which part she was defending - it certainly wasn't Article 1, Section 4. She also told OFCC PAC's Vice Chairman that she opposes CCW personally, and has ignored repeated requests from OFCC PAC for an official position statement in the early days of her 2006 gubernatorial campaign. (For a recent ThisWeek article comparing Jim Petro's performance as Attorney General to Montgomery's, click here.)

Montgomery's challengers for the Republican nomination in 2006 will be Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, and Attorney General Jim Petro. Both men are already campaigning, and both men are including strong support for the Second Amendment and Ohioans' right to self-defense in their campaign platforms.

As for Larry Householder, his support for Ohioans' right to self-defense has been clearly displayed through his efforts to pass a "good" concealed carry reform bill in the 124th and 125th General Assemblies, and also for his vigilance in killing HB274 after a Dick Finan-led Senate amended it beyond recognition. "Governor Householder" sounds mighty fine to us.

Click here to read the full story in the Columbus Dispatch (subscription site - paid access only)