Despite yesterday’s weather, 38 percent of registered voters in Franklin County ventured into the rain to cast their votes. However, the statewide voter turnout was higher with 47 percent of registered voters in Ohio going to the polls.
As predicted, there was a Republican sweep in the majority of statewide election races. Republicans have controlled the jobs of governor, attorney general, auditor, secretary of state and treasurer since 1994.
Gov. Bob Taft easily defeated Democrat Tim Hagan with 58 percent of the vote as opposed to Hagan’s 38 percent. Taft’s victory means Jennette Bradley will become the nation’s first black female lieutenant governor. This victory also causes a vacancy on Columbus City Council. Bradley, who was first elected to city council in 1991, was serving her third four-year term.
Incumbent Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell beat State Rep. Bryan Flannery.
Attorney General Betty Montgomery, a Republican, defeated Democrat Helen Smith for the state auditor position.
State Auditor Jim Petro, who was blocked from running for re-election due to term limits, beat Democrat Leigh Herington in the attorney general race.
Republican incumbents Pat Tiberi and Deborah Pryce, whose districts are adjacent to campus, won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Ohio’s U.S. House seats will be cut from 19 to 18 because districts were redrawn this year to reflect lower population figures in the 2000 census.
Republicans also won two Ohio Supreme Court seats. Victories by Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton and Lieutenant Governor Maureen O’Connor were expected to switch a 4-3 majority on many issues, including school funding, insurance and lawsuit liability cases.
Issue 1, which would have given judges the option of treatment instead of jailtime for nonviolent drug offenders, was defeated by a wide margin.
However, Issue 3, a bond issue and tax levy to help improve the condition of Columbus City Schools, was passed by voters.
Although Democrats lost the majority of their races, the atmosphere at Democratic Headquarters was hopeful towards the future. The Democrats said they realize a lot of work needs to be done, but they will be back in 2004.
