Stark Democrats endorse Fisher in Senate race

Leaders of Stark County Democrats have sided with Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher in the inter-party fight for an open U.S. Senate seat.

The party’s county executive committee voted during a Saturday meeting to endorse Fisher over Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

Fisher and Brunner are competing for the Democratic nomination in the race to succeed Sen. George Voinovich, who will retire at the end of this year.

Randy Gonzalez, chairman of the Stark County Democratic Party, said the party doesn’t always endorse in statewide primary races but did this year because it believes both candidates can serve Democrats well in different roles.

“Lee Fisher will be a great senator,” Gonzalez said in an e-mail.

“This is a very important race, and Jennifer Brunner is a great secretary of state (whom) we do not want to lose.”

Gonzalez said keeping Brunner in her current job will preserve her spot on the apportionment board that will rework congressional districts after the 2010 Census. He described that board’s work as “of the utmost importance to us.”

Ohio is likely to lose one or two districts in the redistricting.

State Sen. Jon Husted, a Republican, is running for secretary of state.

Voinovich is a Republican. Rob Portman, a former U.S. representative from Ohio and a senior official during the administration of President George W. Bush, is seeking the Republican nomination in the U.S. Senate race.

The Stark County Democratic executive committee also endorsed:

• Rep. John Boccieri for re-election to the 16th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Boccieri is now in his first term.

• Gov. Ted Strickland for re-election.

• Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray for re-election.

• Kevin Boyce for re-election as state treasurer.

• David Pepper for state auditor. Pepper now is a Hamilton County commissioner.