Second Republican eyes U.S. Senate seat

Kevin Coughlin, when he was a Repubilcan state senator from Cuyahoga Falls.

A second Republican has formed a federal campaign committee to run for the U.S. Senate.

Former state Sen. Kevin Coughlin of Cuyahoga Falls said that he filed paperwork this week with the Federal Elections Commission for the Senate seat now held by Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Last week, Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, also a Republican, formed a campaign committee with the FEC to launch his candidacy for the Senate.

Neither one has formally declared his candidacy, but both are raising money.

“Establishing Team Coughlin allows me to give the race careful consideration and to raise money. While I have no formal announcement planned at this time, I am getting a very positive response,” Mr. Coughlin told The Blade.

He said he’s been urged by a number of individuals and conservative groups to run for the Senate.

“Like a lot of people I believe that our government taxes too much, spends too much, regulates too much, and listens too little,” Mr. Coughlin said.

Mr. Coughlin, 40, owns Lexington Strategic, a business that provides “strategic counsel and management services to a variety of local, regional, and national clients.”

He served in the state House of Representatives from 1997-2001 and in the state Senate from 2001-2011, stepping down because of term limits.

He has a bachelor’s degree and a master's degree in public administration from Bowling Green State University.

Senator Brown was elected to the Senate in 2006 and is expected to seek re-election.

Contract Tom Troy at: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419-724-6058.