Mr. White goes to Washington?

The Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting that former state Senate President Doug White is interested in seeking election to a U.S. House seat vacated by Rep. Rob Portman when he accepted President Bush’s nomination to serve as U.S. Trade Representative.

From the story:

More than a half-dozen people are leaving the door open to run for Portman's 2nd Congressional District seat following his nomination Thursday as U.S. trade representative. The heavily GOP district stretches from eastern Hamilton County and southern Warren County east to Pike and Scioto counties.

Gov. Bob Taft must schedule a special election once the U.S. Senate confirms Portman, likely in about a month.

"Anybody who has committed their life to serving never says never," said Ohio Department of Commerce director Doug White, a Republican and former Ohio Senate president from Adams County. "I am exploring the possibility with friends and political supporters that I have."

It was just a few short months ago that White accepted an appointment from Bob Taft to the job of state Dept. of Commerce Director. White’s appointment to some state government job had been anticipated ever since he and a few other term-limited Republicans refused to commit to a veto-override in the state Senate on a concealed-carry bill. The reason they refused? Because they were looking for, in White's own words, "life after the legislature" – cushy job appointments from Taft.

Judging by his willingness to acknowledge the trading of votes for personal favors, if Mr. White goes to Washington, Ohioans in the 2nd Congressional District would have no reason to believe he would take the same stands against corruption as "Mr. Smith" once did so famously on the silver screen.

Related Stories:
Click here to hear White explain why he was unable to find the votes to beat a threatened Taft veto on Ohio's Concealed Carry Reform bill. The 4 minute report was filed by Ohio Public Radio on December 17, 2003.

''Life after the legislature'': Doug White likely Taft pick for commerce dir.

Senator: "Republicans sometimes forget that they're Republicans''