Congressman Ney's decision to step down after the end of this term has created a wave of interest  from Republican state leaders in Ohio.   One of those leaders interested is State
Senator Joy Padgett who received good news and bad news this week.  The good news is that her potiential campaign was quickly endorsed by House Majority Leader John Boehner.  The bad news is that Padgett will need to get approval from Secretary of State Blackwell in order to campaign for this office, due to state election law. In Ohio,
there is an “obscure provision” that “bars a candidate who
loses a primary election from seeking office in that year's general election.  Padgett ran for lieutenant governor on
this year's ticket with Attorney General Jim Petro, who lost.”

Where do we go from here?  “Ohio
Republican Party spokesman John McClelland said party officials aren't sure
whether Padgett will be eligible. He said they will ask Secretary of State Ken
Blackwell – who won the GOP gubernatorial primary – to rule on Padgett's
eligibility.”  McClelland went
on to add “‘We can't discuss any potential
replacement, but we're confidant that we'll field a very strong, visionary
candidate that is capable of winning that seat.”

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