Dispatch: Reidelbach won’t seek final term in legislature

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Rep. Linda Reidelbach, considered one of the most conservative members of the General Assembly, told party officials last week that she will not run for re-election in 2006.

From the story:

The Columbus Republican could have run for one more two-year term before being forced out by term limits.

"She said she was heading into her last term, and there are a lot of things important to her in her life in addition to public service," said House Speaker Jon A. Husted, R-Kettering. "She thought long and hard, talked to family and prayed about it, and felt there were other things she wanted to do going forward."

Husted said he didn’t talk to her about whether she will fill out the remaining year of her term. He presumes that she will.

"Linda was a strong conservative voice and she always represented the issues she cared about well, and we’ll certainly miss that about her," Husted said.

The Dispatch article named two front-runners which it says have emerged to replace Reidelbach: Blendon Township Trustee Kevin Bacon and Columbus lawyer William Todd. Doug Preisse, chairman of the Franklin County Republican Party, said endorsements will be made Jan. 11.

Rep. Reidelbach is a two-time endorsee of this political action committee. We join with Speaker Husted in expressing how much she will be missed.

2006 is going to be a crucial election for the protection of and advancement of gun rights. The entire Ohio House and half of the Senate are up for reelection. Some strongly pro-gun legislators are term limited and cannot run again. There is much work to be done if we are to continue to have a strong pro-gun majority in Columbus.

The May primaries are right around the corner. Please consider putting your name in now as a volunteer so that we can hit the ground running in preparation for the 2006 elections. Also, a year end donation would help us be prepared to help educate voters on which candidates they can count on to protect and advance their hunting and self-defense rights.