Historical background Ohio gubernatorial election, 2006

1 historical background

1.1 national attention
1.2 ohio, blackwell, , 2004 election
1.3 republican control
1.4 important scandals

1.4.1 bob taft
1.4.2 thomas noe , coingate

historical background
national attention

as election approached, there increasing national attention on ohio gubernatorial election, focused largely on ability of republican party maintain control in ohio. results in ohio in 2006 regarded possible bellwether 2008 presidential election; ohio considered crucial swing state, 20 electoral votes. since republican party s inception in 1854, no republican presidential candidate has ever been elected office without electoral votes of ohio. in contrast, democratic candidate has won national election without support of ohio 7 times (1836, 1844, 1856, 1884, 1892, 1944, 1960). overall, ohio s electoral votes have gone winner of election 78% of time.

comedian , talk-show host jon stewart taped daily show october 30 november 2, 2006, @ roy bowen theater on campus of ohio state university. series of episodes entitled battlefield ohio: daily show s midwest midterm midtacular , intended bring further national attention election in ohio. second time show had been filmed in location other new york city.

ohio, blackwell, , 2004 election

ohio played decisive role in 2004 presidential election, ohio s electoral votes have been sufficient swing election george w. bush john kerry had kerry won in ohio. given importance of state, blackwell s role in conduct of election closely scrutinized. ohio secretary of state, blackwell state s chief elections officer. honorary co-chair bush re-election campaign in ohio , prominent backer of ballot measure ban same-sex marriage on same ballot.

leading election blackwell made number of decisions election process, of placed additional restrictions on voting. opponents argued blackwell s decisions have effect of suppressing turnout among vulnerable populations, of whom expected vote kerry in presidential contest—and blackwell had conflict of interest co-chair of bush s re-election campaign. supporters argued secretary of state had been partisan political office , there nothing wrong blackwell having preference in presidential elections; denied blackwell s decisions designed benefit bush.

reaction blackwell s conduct strong coalition of left-leaning organizations attempted amend ohio constitution abolish secretary of state s oversight of elections, part of package of election reforms. proposal rejected voters in november 2005. dissatisfaction blackwell s involvement in 2004 election apparently hurt him ohio s african-american community; according exit polls, blackwell received 20% of vote in 2006, compared higher showings in previous races. exit polls showed confidence in election process among ohio voters lower voters in florida, state produced unprecedented five-week post-election fight in 2000. among voters confident votes counted accurately, blackwell led strickland.

republican control

entering 2006 campaign, ohio had been dominated decade republicans. republicans had held governorship sixteen years, occupied statewide constitutional offices, , controlled both houses of state legislature.

important scandals
bob taft

at low point in popularity in november 2005, taft garnered 6.5% approval rating. according polling organization survey usa, lower proportion governor in united states. poll taken in may 2006 indicated 2% of ohio residents approved of taft s performance. low approval ratings led pollster john zogby comment, m not aware of s ever sunk lower.

taft s low approval ratings follow several years of scandals. in 2005, taft pleaded no contest 4 ethics violations involving illegal gifts totaling $5,800. convicted of 4 misdemeanors , ordered pay $4,000 fine , apologize people of ohio. taft ohio governor convicted of crime while in office.

thomas noe , coingate

in 1996 republican controlled ohio general assembly removed restriction requiring state investments in safer, though lower-yielding, bonds. after restriction eliminated, hundreds of millions of dollars in state funds invested number of investment firms close ties republican party. among investments $50 million of ohio bureau of workers compensation fund given thomas noe, investor in rare , unusual coins , major donor republican party including then-governor bob taft.

in 2005 revealed noe account $13 million of original investment. among missing funds 2 coins worth on $300,000 alone. throughout 2005, there protracted legal battle on release of records noe claimed privileged , prosecutors claimed in public domain. ohio supreme court ruled 5-2 in favor of prosecutors. on february 13, 2006, noe indicted on 53 counts, including: engaging in pattern of corrupt activity (which carries mandatory 10-year sentence), 11 counts of theft, 11 counts of money laundering, 8 counts of tampering records, , 22 counts of forgery. charges accuse noe of stealing $2 million. on november 20, 2006, noe found guilty of theft, money laundering, forgery , corrupt activity, , sentenced serve 18 years in prison, fined $213,000, ordered pay $2 million cost of prosecution , make restitution ohio bureau of worker s compensation.

also in 2006, noe pleaded guilty 3 charges of using on dozen people in 2004 illegal conduits make donations george w. bush s re-election campaign of on $45,000 in order skirt laws limiting donations in federal campaigns $2,000. noe convicted , sentenced 27 months in federal prison , ordered pay $136,000 fine.