The Labor Day weekend is traditionally considered the true start of campaign season. Now that we're past that, the campaigns are intensifying. It's the time when voters are more likely to pay attention to the choices they will be making in November.
One person who keeps tabs on what鈥檚 going on year-round in the world of politics is longtime political watcher and political reporter for WVXU in Cincinnati .
Attorney General
Of the five major statewide races, only one of them 鈥� the governor鈥檚 race 鈥� has received significant attention. Democrat Rich Cordray will face Republican candidate and current Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine in November.
But Wilkinson said he expected more media attention for the race determining DeWine鈥檚 replacement as Ohio鈥檚 next Attorney General.
鈥�(The race) deals with so many hot button issues and there鈥檚 so much for the opposition to run on,鈥� Wilkinson said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e basically running against Mike DeWine.鈥�
Republican State Auditor and Democrat are the candidates. While Dettelbach has spent the past few months raising funds and promoting his messages, Wilkinson said it is hard for him to get his message out with DeWine and Cordray 鈥渟ucking all the air out of the room.鈥�
One of Dettelbach鈥檚 messages is based around ECOT, the failed charter school that still owes $60 million to the state. DeWine has been criticized for not going after the school, but recently against several of its former officials and companies owned by the school鈥檚 founder Bill Lager.
鈥淭hat scandal has touched a whole lot of primarily Republican office-holders in Columbus,鈥� Wilkinson said.
State Auditor
The Attorney General鈥檚 race is not the only one touched by debate and policy surrounding ECOT. The race for State Auditor 鈥� with Republican former Senate president and Democratic former congressman 鈥� is also affected by ECOT.
鈥淜eith Faber took a whole lot of money from ECOT and has returned it,鈥� Wilkinson said. 鈥淏ut it still begs the question: why did (he) take that much money from an organization like this?鈥�
But, according to Wilkinson, it is not just ECOT that could be a focus.
鈥淚 think the Democrats are doing the best they can to make it a referendum on (ethical problems in the legislature), whether it鈥檚 ECOT or any other number of issues, (including) Cliff Rosenberger, the investigation against the former Speaker of the House,鈥� he said.
Rosenberger, a Republican, resigned earlier this year into his relationship with payday lending lobbyists.
Secretary of State
One of the most important races this November focuses on two candidates from Northeast Ohio with two seemingly similar campaign platforms. Democratic State Representative and Republican State Senator will face off for Secretary of State this election.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 see a great deal of difference between the two of them,鈥� Wilkinson said. 鈥淚 think Kathleen Clyde has been a more aggressive advocate of allowing people to vote under any circumstances.鈥�
Clyde has also been vocal against Ohio鈥檚 voter purging process, which was upheld through in June. Clyde has said to the practice if elected.
LaRose also supports opening up voting and has even .
鈥淗e almost sounds like a Democratic liberal when he鈥檚 talking about the electoral system,鈥� Wilkinson said.
State Treasurer
The final race of note, and likely the most overshadowed state race, is the race for State Treasurer. Wilkinson called Democratic candidate 鈥渁n interesting guy.鈥� Richardson was the chairman of the Board of Trustees at the University of Cincinnati, but is also known for his bid in the primary election for Cincinnati mayor last year, which he lost.
Wilkinson said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper has always liked Richardson.
鈥�(Pepper) thought (Richardson) would make a great statewide candidate, and particularly because the fact he鈥檚 African American,鈥� Wilkinson said. 鈥淎nd he鈥檚 the only African American out there on the ticket.鈥�
is Richardson's opponent.
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