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A national Democratic leader attributed the general success in the midterms to very high enthusiasm levels, and that’s true for explaining the success at winning many congressional, statehouse and gubernatorial races.

But this absolutely did not apply to Ohio, where Democratic turnout crashed and enthusiasm was extraordinarily low, even though Ohio was one of the top Senate battleground states.

As a result, the Democratic candidate for governor in Ohio lost by 25.5 points, other statewide candidates lost by large margins, and the Senate race in Ohio was lost by a larger margin (6.6 points) than in any of the top ten battleground states. The next worst performance was in North Carolina, where the Democrat lost by 3.5 points. Jim Jordan won re-election by a 38.6-point margin, even though he was in the national spotlight for potential criminality.

There is no doubt that Ohio stood out for poor performance compared to virtually all other states. Ohio Democrats ought to be asking why and holding their state party leaders accountable.

Workers at the 88 E. Broad St. Starbucks store will be striking Thursday, November 17 from 5 am until 5 pm in solidarity with their fellow workers across the country.

They join a total of over 100 stores taking part in the Red Cup Rebellion, a nationwide Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) strike demanding Starbucks fully staff all union stores and begin bargaining in good faith.

According to LaborNotes.org, a ULP strike is different than an economic strike, which seeks higher wages, because a “union hits the bricks to protest an employer violation of the National Labor Relations Act.” And under National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) law, a ULP offers greater protections than an economic strike because “an employer can never permanently replace workers striking to protest an unfair labor practice.”

Ohio Democrats were wiped out in the Nov. 8 election. Let the excuse-making begin.

Democrats in the state of Ohio have become like Democrats in Delaware County, where I reside. When you can’t win and you can’t even get close to electing Democrats, hold nice social gatherings and create an elaborate committee structure to divert the blame from the party leaders.

The Ohio Democratic Party, what of it there is, has moved into full public relations mode to try and save the jobs of its chair Liz Walters and her underlings.

Chris Redfern, the chair a decade ago, traveled from county to county after the party was whipped (though not as badly as this year) with charts and maps of how progress was being made and how the victory was just around the corner, if only brother Redfern were kept on the job.

The theme of the salon was “The Impact of the 2022 Elections: Local, National and International.” It was available live on Zoom and Facebook Live.

Link to salon video

NORML Appalachia of Ohio and Sensible Movement Coalition added Corning, Kent, Laurelville, Rushville & Shawnee to the list of Sensible Cities in Ohio. This makes a total of 36 communities including Toledo, Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. With these communities no longer tied to archaic Marijuana Laws, local law enforcement can now concentrate on legitimate criminal concerns. 

Don Keeney, Executive Director from NORML Appalachia of Ohio stated, “another election cycle, where Ohioians exercise their right to Home Rule. It’s a great feeling to guide them on a true path of democracy, the way it was intended. We’re seven years into the process and close to three million citizens, in 36 cities, towns & villages have been freed from Ohio’s oppressive laws. We will continue with our goals, one community at a time.” 

Any citizen of Ohio can initiate the process of placing the Sensible Marihuana Initiative on the Ballot, in their community, by simply contacting NORML Appalachia of Ohio.

Joe Motil, former Columbus City Council candidate and longtime community advocate who is circulating petitions to run for Mayor in the 2023 May primary election states, “I wish to congratulate Columbus City Councilwoman Elizabeth Brown on her appointment as President and CEO of the YWCA. And I also want to thank her for occasionally displaying a much-needed independent voice on City Council. If elected as mayor of Columbus I would have enjoyed working with her.”

Against my better judgment, yet keeping my promise, I offer below my predictions for the statewide races on Election Day Nov. 8.  Don’t call your bookie on my advice.

I wrote down what my head told me the outcome would be and then I wrote down what my heart told me the outcome should be. I averaged the two. After each prediction, I offered some comments, the snarkier the better.

U.S. Senate: Tim Ryan 50.01%, J.D. Vance 49.99%

Ryan’s relentless campaign is pushed over the top by the votes of the Ohioans of Ukraine ancestry who block voted for Ryan, who supports the war, over Vance, who does not.

Governor: Mike DeWine 57%, Nan Whaley 43%

DeWine defined Whaley inaccurately as a bad mayor. She never answered. The rest was easy. Sadly.

Attorney General: Dave Yost 51%, Jeff Crossman 49%

Yost barely survives vigorous campaign by future Democratic star. Yost’s run for governor in 2026 is toast.

Secretary of State: Frank LaRose 58%, Chelsea Clark 42%

Trump-loving, double-talking, erstwhile election denier moves to the head of the list of aspirants to take on Sherrod Brown for the U.S. Senate seat in 2024. He still stinks.

Columbus voters will decide three Issues on Tuesday’s ballot, and all three will change the Columbus City Charter. The city’s constitution since 1914, which can only be changed by a vote of Columbus’ citizens.

There’s Issue 19, which could ban citizen-initiatives seeking to create a “monopoly” or “special privilege.” Issue 20, which would make the City’s hiring process more subjective and less objective. And Issue 21, which could allow for virtual meetings for public bodies of the City and special emergencies for City Council.

From North Linden, to off-campus, to Hungarian Village, all three issues are flying under the radar. Even for those who regularly vote.

The Columbus Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB) met on November 3, 2022,  for the 15th time, admitting they are confused about key aspects of their power to discipline sworn officers of the Columbus Division of Police (CPD).  

Willard McIntosh, the only member of the board previously sworn to serve as a Columbus police officer, summed up their concerns well:

“My family, my friends, say, ‘What can you guys do?’ 

And when I explain it, to be honest, they say, ‘Oh so, nothin’?’  

Really.” 

Janet Jackson, the chair of the board, had invited several Assistant City Attorneys to the meeting to help the board prepare to review the first thirty investigations completed by Inspector General Jacqueline Hendricks, in attendance.

Jackson began the meeting by thanking City Attorney Zach Klein, who was sitting at the table with the board members, and his staff for doing a wonderful job responding to the needs of the CPRB, acknowledging that she is not his only client and that his office is very busy.

Governor Mike DeWine stuck his finger in the eyes of the Columbus Dispatch by not coming in for a pre-election interview.

His punishment? The newspaper endorsed Nan Whaley, who showed up for the interview, in a meandering long-winded article that concluded: “We urge you to vote for Nan Whaley for governor.”

The editorial, done by a newspaper that used to endorse a multitude of candidates and often played the role of kingmaker in close races, marked another reverse in a policy announced more than a year ago that the newspaper would no longer be telling its readers what to think, but rather would be conducting a “conversation” on its formerly called opinion pages.

The endorsement was released online early Friday morning and is destined to be featured on the section page of the newspaper’s Conversation section on Sunday, two days before the election.

It marked the second reversal of policy in a week at the central Ohio media outlet because the previous Sunday, the Dispatch endorsed Tim Ryan for U.S. Senator under the headline: “Vance Is No Stateman, Vote Ryan for US Senate.”