Young Democrats run (not Kerry-related, but an inspiring story from Ohio)

Although, I would venture to say that they're inspired by Kerry. I mean, what story about the Democratic Party's success isn't Kerry related?



Article published Saturday, December 17, 2005

Youth likely to carry torch for Democrats in Ohio House races

By JANE SCHMUCKER
BLADE STAFF WRITER

In Ohio's northwestern-most counties, which haven't elected a Democrat to the Ohio House of Representatives in about 40 years, the Democratic Party is expected to field a 19-year-old college freshman studying political science and a 24-year-old master's degree student in public health for the 74th and 75th District House seats.

Ben McCullough, who graduated from Williams County's Edon High School in May, said he will decide next week, while he's home on break from Wittenberg University, whether to run for the 74th District seat, which represents all of Fulton and Williams and much of Defiance counties. The seat is now held by Steve Buehrer (R., Delta), who can't run again because of term limits.

Party leaders said they fully expect Mr. McCullough, who is majoring in political science and minoring in philosophy, to run.

In the 75th district, Angie Byrne of Van Wert, who is to finish her master's degree focusing on health behavior and promotion in the spring at Ohio State University, said she is committed to running for the seat that represents Henry, Putnam, Paulding, and Van Wert counties. It is now held by Jim Hoops (R., Napoleon), who also cannot run for re-election because of term limits.

The last Democrat to represent counties in either the 74th or 75th district was Martin W. Feigert, who represented Van Wert County in the House of

Representatives as late as 1963-64 after being elected in 1962, according to the Ohio Democratic Party.

"It's not exactly a Democratic stronghold," said Robert Dempsey, campaign director for the Ohio Senate Democrats. He does not yet have a candidate for the Ohio Senate's 1st District seat, which represents Fulton, Williams, Defiance, Van Wert, Putnam, Paulding, Henry, Hancock, Hardin, and a portion of Auglaize counties.

Mr. Buehrer and Mr. Hoops have been campaigning for that seat on the Republican ticket.

Mr. McCullough, whose political resume includes serving as president of his high school class and National Honor Society and going to Buckeye Boys State, is the youngest candidate Ohio Democrats expect to put on the ballot.

And Ms. Byrne, who spent nine months volunteering at a Christian youth center in southeastern Kentucky after finishing her bachelor's degree in political science at Ohio State in 2003, is one of the youngest.

They are expected to campaign against Republicans with far more experience.

If Mr. McCullough runs, he would face Marcus Bowling, a former editor of the Fulton County Expositor; Bruce Goodwin, an administrator at Four County Career Center, and Ted Penner, a lawyer, certified public accountant, and township trustee in Defiance County.

Ms. Byrne's Republican competitors are expected to include Ohio Sen. Lynn Wachtmann (R., Napoleon), who cannot run for the Senate again because of term limits, and Paulding County Commissioner Tony Burkley.

If Mr. McCullough runs, he would face Marcus Bowling, a former editor of the Fulton County Expositor; Bruce Goodwin, an administrator at Four County Career Center, and Ted Penner, a lawyer, certified public accountant, and township trustee in Defiance County.

Ms. Byrne's Republican competitors are expected to include Ohio Sen. Lynn Wachtmann (R., Napoleon), who cannot run for the Senate again because of term limits, and Paulding County Commissioner Tony Burkley.


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