GOP spent heavily to boost majority

Ohio House Republicans spent almost $6 million to increase their majority to 62-37 for the upcoming legislative session, and on the Senate side, Republicans spent $4.6 million to increase their majority to 22-11.

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GOP spent heavily to boost majority
State races in House, Senate cost the party total of $10.4 million
Sunday, December 15, 2002
Lee Leonard and Katy Waters
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Ohio House Republicans spent almost $6 million to increase their majority to 62-37 for the upcoming legislative session.

Post-election reports filed Friday with the office of Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell showed that the House GOP spent $1 million after Oct. 17, coupled with $4.8 million spent earlier in the campaign that ended with the Nov. 5 election. House Democrats spent $1.2 million.

On the Senate side, Republicans spent $4.6 million to increase their majority to 22-11. Democrats spent $804,657. Republicans held onto the closely contested seat of first-term Sen. Jeffry J. Armbruster of Lorain County and defeated veteran Democratic Sen. Michael C. Shoemaker of Ross County.

Republicans dominate the House, 59-40, and the Senate, 21-12, in the session that ends Dec. 31.

The Senate Republican report showed that state Rep. John A. Carey Jr., R-Wellston, was the "million-dollar man'' in defeating Shoemaker with a TV campaign costing $999,100. Senate Democrats reported contributing $80,000 to Shoemaker's campaign.

Armbruster received television time worth $723,323 to edge Democrat Sue Morano after a recount, while appointed Sen. Kevin J. Coughlin, R-Cuyahoga Falls, won for the first time with a TV blitz costing $910,500.

Sen. David Goodman, R-Bexley, reported spending $170,944 in defeating Democrat Debra Payne of Gahanna, who spent $107,393. Goodman received an additional $486,713 from the Senate GOP caucus for almost five weeks of television ads.

During the latest reporting period, the Ohio Republican Party reported raising $2.1 million and spending $2.4 million. The Ohio Democratic Party raised $1.6 million during the same period and spent $2.1 million. Both parties had more than $1 million on hand when the reporting period began Oct. 17.

The Republican party donated $1.6 million in services to various candidates, while the Democratic party furnished $1.3 million in services such as printing, postage and campaign literature.