by on 10.27.2009
Last week, Jennifer Brunner began her Innovation Tour for Ohio Jobs as part of her campaign for the U.S. Senate. Brunner’s first stop was Meridian Bioscience, Inc. in Newton, Ohio, last Wednesday.
After speaking to the District 4 meeting of the Communication Workers of America on Wednesday last week, I made my first stop on our campaign’s Innovation Tour for Ohio Jobs, traveling to Meridian Bioscience, Inc.
This company is the largest employer and taxpayer in Newtown, Ohio just inside the Hamilton County border almost to Clermont County. Meridian’s history is compelling. Its founder, Bill Motto, started the company in 1975 with a $500 investment working out of his garage. The company is now a $139 million dollar company publicly traded on the New York stock exchange with American and European subsidiaries in Florida, Maine and Tennessee, and in France, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands and more than 400 employees with nearly 250 right here in Ohio in the Newton home office.
by on 10.24.2009
The Elyria YWCA's 96th annual meeting and dinner will be Tuesday at the Elyria Holiday Inn. Keynote speaker for the event is Ohio's first female Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner. Prior to becoming secretary of state, she was a common pleas judge. . . .
Also in attendance and giving remarks will be Anne Hill, Gov. Ted Strickland's representative in northern Ohio.
The theme for the evening is "Let's Get Political." YWCA Executive Director Jeanine P. Donaldson points out that in 1913, when the YWCA was founded, women were fighting for the right to vote.
Although things are decidedly better for women now, women are still under-represented in elected office and according to Donaldson this is a problem. Nonprofit organizations like the YWCA are allowed to advocate for the social policies and programs that their clients need, but cannot endorse candidates or political parties.
Source: Lorain Morning Journal
by on 10.21.2009
Jennifer Brunner will stop seeking the Democratic nomination on May 5, 2010.
From now until the primary, Brunner can raise a billion dollars, or collect pocket lint. I'm not convinced that it matters to her. It certainly doesn't look like she's going anywhere.
And why should she?
I have yet to see a poll that shows Brunner getting rocked by Rob Portman. Same goes for Lee Fisher. Certainly if Jennifer Brunner had a poll showing her suffering a humiliating loss in a primary, she'd possibly reconsider this race and pack the dogs in the truck for the weekend. But no such poll exists (at least I've not seen it) and no one is pulling away. Plus, with more than six months to go, it's anyone's guess what twists and turns this primary race could still take. Unfortunately, in our desperate attempt to be first to the keyboard, political journalists, bloggers, pundits, and psychics are carelessly leaving out the obvious fact : this race is still pretty even. That could no doubt change as Fisher starts spending the money he has.
Does Jennifer Brunner need to raise a lot more money? Probably. Does she need to raise as much as Fisher? Probably not. I continue to believe that Brunner's camp is preparing to fight this thing on the ground as opposed to the air. That will require a whole lot more organizing and a stronger field operation, but she's got experienced people running her show with history in the state. Plus, she's captured the hearts of many activists in a way Fisher still hasn't been able to do. And she's been more thoughtful and proactive on the issues (at least through her campaign). Meanwhile Fisher's campaign continues to feel more reactionary at times, issuing releases based on the political flavor-of-the-day. That's not a poke at Lee, just a personal observation. It means more to me when Brunner calls for banking reform on her own, with specific ideas, then when Fisher does it as part of a larger, more coordinated effort with action already occurring in the Senate. Yes, it gives Fisher a better chance to piggy back on the news-of-the-day, but I doubt it's making much impact on the electorate.
Source: Ohio Daily
by on 10.20.2009
Jennifer Brunner, Ohio’s Secretary of State, was the featured speaker at the annual dinner of the Ottawa County Democratic Party on Thursday night. Brunner, who is the first woman to hold the position, is also currently seeking election as United States senator. Brunner spoke on the need for changes to be made in the way that the federal government approaches solutions to health care, the national economy and job creation.
About 150 people attended the annual dinner, held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Port Clinton. The event was chaired by Monette Garn, assisted by Dan Laity, chairman of the Ottawa County Democratic Party. Kathleen L. Geisler, judge of the probate and juvenile divisions of the Common Pleas Court, served as master of ceremonies.
A moment of silence was observed in memory of Mel Guth, former Ottawa County Auditor. Ottawa County Recorder Virginia M. Park gave the invocation.
Cub Scout Pack Number 361 of Port Clinton formed an honor guard to place the flag and lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Students from Port Clinton High School and from Oak Harbor High School also attended.
Source: Port Clinton Beacon
by on 10.15.2009
Ohio Secretary of State and U.S. Senate candidate Jennifer Brunner today released a partial list of recent elected official endorsements that includes State Senator Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) and State Senator Eric Kearney (D-Cincinnati) and state representatives from across northeast Ohio. The state representatives, State Reps. Mike Foley, Matt Patten, Lorraine Fende, and Kathleen Chandler, show Brunner with political support to further her heavily grassroots efforts in solid, Democratic areas of the state. At the same time, Cuyahoga County Commissioner Tim Hagan, Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown, and Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk of Courts Laurie Tyack came forward to support Brunner's candidacy. Columbus City Councilman Andrew Ginther and Mayor Georgine Welo of South Euclid, both impressive and emerging leaders in Franklin and Cuyahoga Counties respectively, also stand with Brunner, endorsing her in this key national race.
Source: Read more
by on 10.07.2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2009
Contact: David Dettman, Campaign Manager, 614-255-4255
Brunner Urges State Officials to Embrace Plan for Auto Suppliers:
Imminent Layoffs In Toledo Show Why Ohio Must Act Now
COLUMBUS -- U.S. Senate candidate and Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner yesterday urged action on her proposal to shore up Ohio's vital automotive supply chain, saying that announced layoffs at Toledo's Jeep plant show why action is needed now.
In August of this year Secretary Brunner unveiled an urban agenda for Ohio as part of her U.S. Senate campaign, and called for the use of federal stimulus money to launch a loan guarantee fund for auto parts suppliers. She pointed out that today's credit crunch is making it hard for even viable suppliers to get the necessary loans they need to survive.
In the same proposal, Secretary Brunner had urged the use of HUD funds for brownfield cleanup, and this week, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown announced the award of $4.8 million for brownfield cleanup, including $1.8 million to a revolving loan fund in the Ohio Department of Development and $1.9 million to a revolving loan fund for Cuyahoga County cleanup efforts. (See: http://brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press_releases/release/?id=26ac3623-e9e9-4fc5-afa6-bce8d3187758) Lt. Gov. Fisher resigned his position as Director of the Ohio Department of Development in February 2009.
Secretary Brunner expressed concern that the auto parts supply chain loan guarantee proposal, a critical part of her urban agenda proposal, may have fallen on deaf ears. "Imminent layoffs at the Toledo Jeep Assembly complex show why Ohio must immediately address the state's critical auto supply chain's needs," Brunner said today.
Yesterday, in an October 6, 2009 letter to state officials tasked with promoting support of Ohio's key auto industry and the state's economic growth, she noted that the Chrysler Group's Jeep Wrangler plant announced plans for a temporary shut down this week at the Toledo Jeep Assembly complex because of what officials called "a parts shortage from an external supplier." The shutdown will idle about 500 Chrysler workers on two shifts and 500 to 700 supplier workers in the complex.
"I request that you give this loan guarantee proposal your full and immediate consideration," Brunner wrote. "Ohio's automakers and automotive suppliers can no longer afford to wait, nor can their employees and their families."
Secretary Brunner's letter went to Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, who heads the Ohio Economic Growth Cabinet, created by executive order of the Governor last fall, and who is also seeking the Democratic Party's nomination for the U.S. Senate. The letter also went to key officials of the state's Ohio Auto Industry Support Council--Dennis Wojtanowski, President, and a senior advisor to Lt. Gov. Fisher's Senate campaign, and to the Council's co-chairs Eric Burkland, president of the Ohio Manufacturers' Association, and Ken Lortz, director of Ohio's United Auto Workers Region 2B. This council was created in August this year, prior to Brunner's supply chain loan guarantee proposal.
Automotive News is reporting at least 20 U.S. suppliers have filed for bankruptcy protection in U.S. courts so far this year. The figure does not include smaller suppliers or companies that have gone out of business without filing for bankruptcy.
State Sen. Teresa Fedor, a Toledo Democrat, said the Jeep assembly complex is vital to northwest Ohio's economy, and she joined Brunner in calling on state officials to immediately address auto suppliers' critical needs.
"The loan guarantee is a viable and necessary plan," Fedor said. "Auto makers can't survive without auto parts. If Ohio does not move quickly, Ohio workers and their families will endure more unnecessary layoffs."
Ohio is America's No. 2 automaker and its No. 2 manufacturer of auto parts.
Rather than treat all suppliers the same, Brunner's plan calls for giving priority to those like the suppliers who have existing orders to supply the Jeep Wrangler plant or to those that will supply newer, more fuel efficient vehicles.
If elected Brunner would become the first woman to hold a U.S. Senate Seat in Ohio. She is currently the Ohio Secretary of State. Brunner became the first woman elected to this office in 2006.
Source: Read more
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