''Life after legislature''? Doug White on short-list for Taft job appointment

November 04, 2004
Cleveland Plain Dealer (click to read entire story)

Deters win brings speculation about possible GOP shuffle

State Treasurer Joe Deters won the job of Hamilton County prosecutor Tuesday, positioning Republicans for a round of political musical chairs that could extend from Washington to all corners of Ohio.

Can you say Gov. Portman?

How about Lt. Gov. Womer Benjamin, or even Ambassador Taft?

GOP circles are spinning with speculation about whom Gov. Bob Taft will appoint to succeed Deters and what other vacancies might follow.

Deters' most likely successor is Lt. Gov. Jennette Bradley, an already announced candidate for treasurer in 2006.

Taft won't call her the front-runner but did say, "She's certainly a leading contender for that position."

If Bradley is appointed, the job of lieutenant governor becomes vacant, leaving Taft to fill that traditional stepping-stone post.

Three of his fellow Republican officeholders already want his job: Attorney General Jim Petro, Auditor Betty Montgomery and Secretary of State Ken Blackwell. Taft has shown a reluctance to favor one over the others and none of the three has emerged as party leaders' clear favorite.

Rather than pick sides, Taft could find another contender.

He's giving a close look at Ohio Insurance Commissioner Ann Womer Benjamin, a former state representative from Aurora who is expected to run for auditor or secretary of state in 2006.

She declined to comment.

Senate President Doug White is on Taft's short list, too.

"Early on, I was told I might be considered," White said Wednesday. "I would consider it an honor to be asked."

FLASHBACK: Sen. White admits to existence of HB12 vote trading for Taft job appointments

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