Current Lt. Gov. Maureen O'Connor and Democrat Tim Black, candidates for Ohio Supreme Court, were entertaining last night as they sparred on a live statewide television forum.

O'Connor, who has been well ahead in most public-opinion polls, appeared confident while Black's responses were often dry, almost robotic. He exhaustively repeated the fact that he has served nine years as a judge, while at the same time he criticized O'Connor as a career politician with little bench experience.

But O'Connor countered out that Black sits on a municipal court, "the very lowest level" in the court system. She went on to say that she has "been blessed (by) wonderful experiences'' as a magistrate, judge, Summit County prosecutor and lieutenant governor -- and is proud to be seeking another statewide office.

Addressing a question about the frequency of narrow, 4-3 decisions on many cases, O'Connor said: "The public should be concerned about an activist court whose decisions benefit special interest groups such as the one my opponent pledged allegiance to." O'Connor referred to a statement Black made this year when announcing his campaign, that the "seat belongs to labor."