2 South Side women added to list after coroner’s rulings

January 03, 2004
Columbus Dispatch

In the final days of 2003, the coroner ruled that two South Side women were victims of violence, meaning Columbus ended the year with 112 homicides- a 38 percent increase from 2002, when there were 81. The last time the number hit 100 was in 1994.

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By Jim Siegel
Gannett News Service Columbus Bureau
January 3, 2004

COLUMBUS -- The next two weeks will be key to determining whether a deal is reached between Gov. Bob Taft and House leaders over a bill allowing Ohioans to carry concealed handguns, a Taft spokesman said Friday.

When lawmakers return from their Christmas vacations this week, the gun bill they passed in mid-December will still be waiting for them.

Although the House and Senate passed the bill, final formalities remain. The bill is still sitting on the desk of House Speaker Larry Householder. He and Senate President Doug White have to sign the measure before it officially goes to Taft.

The governor's office has been trying to work out a deal so he doesn't have to veto the bill, which would set up a veto override showdown with fellow Republicans in the Legislature.

Householder can hold onto the bill as long as he likes, and as long as he does the clock does not start on the 10-day window in which Taft must sign the bill, veto it or let it become law without his signature.

Orest Holubec, spokesman for Taft, said something should happen within the first half of January. A spokesman for Householder said that, as of Friday, there is no progress to report.

"We have not heard either way from House leadership what they are planning on doing with it," Holubec said. "We have no reason to be pessimistic."

Term limits help to change Statehouse

01/03/04
Cleveland Plain Dealer

Columbus- Taxes, term limits and debate over concealed weapons could help reshape the Ohio General Assembly after the March 2 primary.

Friday was the date for candidates to file for all 99 Ohio House seats and the 16 even-numbered Senate seats that will be on the ballot this year.

Nine representatives and seven senators will leave their posts because of term limits. Some - including Republican Rep. Jamie Callender of Willowick - hope to move from the House to Senate. Callender faces what is expected to be a spirited primary challenge from Rep. Tim Grendell, a Chester Township Republican.

Democrats who have filed to run in the 18th Senate District include lawyer John Hawkins and Danielle Deighton. The candidates are vying for the seat to be vacated by Sen. Bob Gardner, a Madison Republican, who cannot run again because of term limits.

In Callender's open House seat, Democrats are running two-term Willowick Mayor Lorraine Fende. Two Republicans - Christopher Galloway and Greg Schmidt - are competing for the chance to oppose her.

One of the few Republican incumbents facing a challenge from his own party is Sen. Bob Spada of North Royalton. Although he championed the successful prescription drug legislation, he irked some conservatives by voting against legislation that would allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons.

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