by Jennifer on 03.20.2010
On May 4th, I am competing against the state's Lieutenant Governor for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat now held by retiring Sen. Voinovich. Polls show each of us has strong support for the nomination.
The Ohio Democratic Party has so far remained neutral in this primary. Just last week my opponent delivered a letter to the state party asking for its endorsement.
The Ohio Democratic Party Executive Committee meets Wednesday, March 24, 2010, and its bylaws require endorsement consideration to move forward. Early voting begins in just 10 days on March 30th.
Until now, the party has remained neutral. We need your help to keep it that way--not just for me, but for Ohio.
A state party endorsement at this late date provides no conceivable benefit for anyone but my opponent. As Democrats, we're all in this together. A party endorsement would alienate supporters of the candidate not endorsed and hurt party unity after the primary election.
Let's face it, the real fight here is against electing Rob Portman, whose record of free trading and hard core conservative voting as a Washington insider in Congress has lost jobs for Ohio and will take us backward not forward. Help us keep the Democratic Party unified and stop an endorsement in the U.S. Senate race in Ohio. Please sign our online petition for NO ENDORSEMENT in the U.S. Senate primary on May 4th!
Please forward this to your friends and family and have them sign, too! Tell the Ohio Democratic Party to let the voters decide. Sign the petition now.
Many thanks.
Jennifer Brunner
Ohio Secretary of State and
Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate
PS - Remember history: In 1982 there were contested Ohio Democratic primaries for Governor, Secretary of State and Treasurer. The state party decided not to endorse in any of these races. Democrats went on to capture all statewide offices in the fall. But in 1994 the party broke with tradition and endorsed Joel Hyatt over Mary Boyle in the contested U.S. Senate primary. Mike Dewine defeated Joel Hyatt. It took 12 long years to get this seat into the capable hands of Sen. Sherrod Brown.
After signing the petition, please volunteer, tell your friends, contribute to our campaign -- and vote in the primary election on May 4th!
Read More | Comments
by Jeff on 03.19.2010
Yesterday evening the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats voted to endorse Jennifer in the U.S. Senate Democratic primary. Coming on the heels of her endorsement by the Stonewall Democrats of Summit County, this endorsement is particularly significant because Cleveland is the home of her primary opponent and the endorsement was actively sought by both candidates. According to the by-laws of the organization, the endorsement required a 60% or higher vote.
Jennifer has long been an outspoken advocate for marriage equality and against employment and housing discrimination on the basis of gender identification or sexual orientation, and she has called for the repeal of the Don't Ask/Don't Tell policy. She received the RISE (Recognition in Strengthening Equality) Award at a candlelight vigil for equal rights for the GLBT community last July in Worthington, Ohio.
Upon learning of the endorsement, Jennifer described it as "fantastic news" and said she was "extremely grateful."
UPDATE: Here is a statement from Robert Rivera, President of the Cleveland Stonewall Democrats:
"After serious and thoughtful discussion and debate that reflected support for both candidates, the members of Cleveland Stonewall Democrats voted to get behind Jennifer Brunner, an advocate for full LGBT equality her entire political career, and to work for her victory on May 4th and in November."
Read More | Comments
by Jeff on 03.18.2010
Congratulations to Jennifer on her induction into the Hungarian Hot Dog Bun Walls of Fame at Tony Packo's! Awards and recognition are nothing new for our courageous Secretary of State, but enshrinement of one's signed hot dog bun is a rare honor indeed.
Tony Packo's is a legendary Hungarian-themed restaurant in Toledo, world-famous not only for it's chili cheese fries and cabbage roll combos -- and as the spiritual home of Corporal Max Klinger (the M*A*S*H character played by the late Toledo native Jamie Farr) -- but for its collection of hot dog buns signed by celebrities, duly framed and proudly displayed on every available square inch of wall space.
Although Farr triggered the restaurant's world-wide fame by working it into several episodes of M*A*S*H, the bun-signing tradition actually began when the owner's daughter lured Burt Reynolds into the establishment while he was in town to film "The Rainmaker" in 1972. Burt signed his hot dog bun on impulse, and the tradition began. Now there are hundreds upon hundreds of celebrity-signed buns on display, from Hollywood stars to presidents -- and soon the first woman to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate.
The next question is, what will be featured in the hot dog combo that gets named for Jennifer?
Read More | Comments
