Brinkman Says Ohio Senate President Bill Harris Rigged SW Ohio GOP Appointment: FOI Uncovers Letters Backing Schneider

CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Former State Rep. Tom Brinkman says a public records request shows that Ohio Senate President Bill Harris concealed letters of recommendation supporting Michelle Schneider when she sought the District 7 Senate seat that covers Warren and Hamilton counties. Brinkman says one of the hidden letters came from the family of Robert Schuler, the incumbent who died in office last year. The GOP Senate caucus appointed Shannon Walker Jones to the vacant seat last summer. Brinkman contends a biased selection process was used in Columbus to seat Jones and "is not only un-Republican, it is un-American." Schneider is now challenging Jones in the May GOP primary.

Brinkman's claim that the appointment process was a sham rigged by Harris emerged in a letter that is circulating among Hamilton County Republicans. The letter says Jones raised $170,000 from First Energy Corp., an Akron utility company, and its coal suppliers. It claims Harris created a 7-member selection committee that focused on Jones fundraising prowess rather than her lack of support among Cincinnati-area Republicans:

"When the 'selection committee' recommended Ms. Jones, they disregarded written letters of recommendations for Michelle Schneider that . . . had been signed by (among many others) Commissioner Greg Hartmann, Prosecutor Joe Deters, Clerk of Courts Patty Clancy, Engineer Bill Brayshaw, County GOP Chair Alex Triantafilou and former Ohio Senate Presidents Aronoff and Finan. Michelle's support from Warren County elected officials was equally impressive, with letters from their County Commissioner, current and former Sheriffs, and county Engineer, Treasurer, Clerk of Court and Coroner.

"After the 'selection,' I made a public records request for all correspondence to the State Senate in support of any of the candidates. To my surprise, I found that the Senate President had withheld from his hand-picked selection committee many letters of recommendation, including one from the Schuler family. In contrast, only one countywide elected official (from Warren County) endorsed Ms. Jones. There were no letters of support from any Hamilton County resident. In light of this serious imbalance in local support, I question how the 'selection committee' could have recommended Ms. Jones over Michelle Schneider."

Schneider is a former state representative from suburban Cincinnati. She also was the mayor of Madeira. She is challenging Jones, who lives in Springboro, a city in Warren and Montgomery counties that is a suburb of Dayton. Jones got the Senate appointment in August 2009. Brinkman also applied for the Schuler vacancy.

Ohio GOP Legislative Leaders: Shooting More Than The Breeze

COLUMBUS (TDB) -- Ohio's two highest-ranking GOP lawmakers have accepted invitations to an annual firearms outing later this month where --between the shots at clay pigeons -- pro-gun rights activists intend to lobby them for a measure expanding the state's legal definition of self-defense.

The Buckeye Firearms Association says the opportunity to shoot alongside Senate President Bill Harris and House Speaker John Husted on August 18 is a chance to meet the Republican leaders "and encourage them to make plans to put (Castle Doctrine) HB264/SB184 on a fast track."

The price is $75 and includes ammo, plus 50 targets. Shotguns and pistols will be on hand for those who don't bring their own weapons. This shooting fest is named for John Wayne, the movie actor, and is sponsored by the Delaware County Republican Party. Invitations say "Corporate Contributions are Welcome! Proceeds benefit DCRP 'Get Out The Vote' Efforts." All the firing will take place at the BlackWing Shooting Center, which looks like a superb complex to spend time squeezing off some rounds while supporting efforts to get more people to vote.

The Castle Doctrine movement is a National Rifle Association-backed effort that would broaden citizen rights to use force on suspected intruders. The NRA says:

"Castle Doctrine, in essence, simply places into law what is a fundamental right: self-defense. If a person is in a place he or she has a right to be -- in the front yard, on the road, working in their office, strolling in the park -- and is confronted by an armed predator, he or she can respond in force in defense of their lives (sic)."

At the moment, Ohio's right of self-defense is more narrowly drawn. Basically, someone has to be in mortal danger before they can shoot to kill. The NRA view of the expanded right of self defense is here.