Candidates file to be on ballot in May

2/22/2002

Dozens of candidates for public office flocked to the Lucas County Board of Elections at Government Center yesterday to beat a 4 p.m. deadline to file nominating petitions for the May 7 primary.

The filings indicate voters will decide a tough battle for the Democratic Party nomination for state representative in District 48, where new appointee Edna Brown will face former city Councilwoman June Boyd.

Ms. Boyd, something of a renegade in party politics, is backed by Carty Finkbeiner, the former Toledo mayor, who has promised to help her mount a spirited fight.

Ms. Brown has won the backing of party leaders for the race for District 48. The seat, representing central Toledo, was vacated by Jack Ford, who stepped down to become mayor this year.

The Democratic Party is expected to split down the middle in the race, much as it did last year in the race for mayor of Toledo, when Mr. Ford, the endorsed candidate, defeated fellow Democrat Ray Kest.

Armiya Muhammed, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Toledo last year, will represent the Republican Party in the District 48 race.

The GOP has two candidates for what will be the open District 11 state Senate seat. Kwame Mu'Min, a city council candidate last year, faces Phillip Barbosa in the primary. Democrat Teresa Fedor, a freshman state representative from South Toledo, is giving up her seat to run for the Senate. Linda Furney is leaving the seat because of term limits.

Sandy Isenberg, president of the county commissioners, is unopposed for her party's nomination and will face the winner of the Republican Party primary - either Dock Treece or Michael Troper. Mr. Treece is a former Sylvania Township trustee. Mr. Troper has never run for office.

In the only other countywide race, Republican incumbent Auditor Larry Kaczala is challenged by Democrat Reyes Longoria, Sr.

Two seats on the state 6th District Court of Appeals are up for grabs and Republicans and Democrats will field experienced candidates.

One race will pit common pleas judges Judith Lanzinger, a Republican, and Charles Wittenberg, a Democrat. In the other, Democrat Arlene Singer, a judge on the Toledo Municipal Court, faces Robert Pollex, a Wood County Common Pleas judge.

The 6th District encompasses Lucas, Erie, Fulton, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky, Williams, and Wood counties.

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur is again challenged by Republican Ed Emery. She soundly defeated him four years ago, in part because of his arrest for harassment on Election Day, which played out on local airwaves as afternoon voters headed to the polls.

She is endorsed by the Democratic Party. The Republican Party declined to endorse Mr. Emery.

In Ohio's 5th Congressional District, seven-term incumbent Republican Paul Gillmor faces a primary challenge from state Rep. Rex Damschroder.

In other state legislative races, incumbent Republican Lynn Olman is challenged by Democrat Abbey Mortemore, a first-time candidate in District 46. In neighboring District 47, Democrat Peter Ujvagi, president of Toledo City Council, will face off in November against Republican newcomer Allen Roy. Mr. Roy is a top assistant to Toledo Clerk of Court Maggie Thurber.

In District 49, incumbent Democrat Jeanine Perry is challenged in November by Republican Joseph Lipinski, who has run for the seat several times without success.

Four other common pleas judges, all Democrats, filed for re-election and face no opposition: Democrat Frederick McDonald, Probate Judge Jack Puffenberger, Domestic Relations Judge Norman Zemmelman, and Joseph Flores of the juvenile court.