District 20 race is shaping up....or shaking out?

The following article appeared in the Athens Messenger 1/6/08


Dem, two Republicans running for state Senate

KRISTIN HEINICHENMessenger staff writer


A sole Democrat has announced that he is contending for Ohio's 20th District Senate seat.Lifelong Morgan County resident Rick Shriver said he would run for the seat that is now held by Republican Joy Padgett, who is not seeking re-election.Also vying for the seat are Rep. Jimmy Stewart - who is running on the Republican ticket and currently represents the 92nd House District - and Tim Kettler of the Green Party."I'm really not a politician. I'm not interested in politics - I'm interested in public service," Shriver said.The 20th Senate District includes Athens, Coshocton, Guernsey, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble and Washington Counties.Over the past four years Shriver's undertakings have included being an educator, author and public serviceman. Shriver is beginning his fourth year as Morgan County commissioner. As commissioner, he said he has set in motion accessible opportunities for county residents."I'm a self-proclaimed one-term commissioner. I thought there were a lot of things we could probably do a little better and I think we've made progress. Morgan County is like a developing world. We lack a lot of basic infrastructure," he said.Shriver launched a Web site to post commissioner meeting minutes for residents of the county to view."I wanted people to understand more about county government - to make county government transparent," he said.Shriver - who teaches communications at the Zanesville campus of Ohio University, is a Fulbright fellow, and co-publisher of an audio production textbook - has instituted a learning center that provides distance learning opportunities."Morgan County is primarily a mining and manufacturing county. We really need to retrain our labor forces. This is critical in helping our economic recovery as education and higher skill sets are becoming important in today's economy. ... It's all a part of economic development," he said. "Naturally I'm passionate about education. We have more than seven institutions including all colleges and universities in the contiguous county - it's a consortium providing course work."And he helped to establish a federally-qualified health center within the county."Anyone in Morgan County can see this doctor and not worry about how they are going to pay," he said, explaining that the doctor will receive enhanced reimbursement for seeing Medicare and Medicaid patients. "And there will be sliding fee scales for anyone who does not have the means to pay."A product of the Appalachia Ohio environment but having exposure to other cultures through his travels, Shriver feels obliged to level the playing field."I'm basically a farm kid from Morgan County. I've lived on a farm that's been in the family for generations. I don't think there is a quality of life like there is here anywhere. I can say that because I have had the opportunity to travel to other parts of the world," he said, explaining his commitment to the region. "Appalachia has been off the radar. Now we have a governor that understands our needs - I'm really impressed with what Gov. (Ted) Strickland has done in his first term of office. I would like to have a place on that team - to really be a part of positive change."Paul Richards - a lifelong resident of Glouster - is no longer in the race. Initially he circulated petitions for the seat, but he chose not to file.Kettler is a lifelong Ohio resident. Currently residing in Warsaw with his wife, Roberta, and son, Malcolm, the couple owns and operates Action Septic Service - an environmentally-directed business. As an entrepreneur, Kettler is aware of obstacles that face small businesses. Voting rights, voter participation, job creation, development of renewable resources and school funding are a part of his campaign platform.The State of Ohio does not recognize the Green Party - instead candidates of this party are considered independents and have until March 3 to announce their intent to run.At the Statehouse, Stewart has supported issues of economic development, tax reduction, education opportunities and the expansion of health care to individuals. He has served as a member of the the House Finance and Appropriations Committee and as chairman of the Human Services Subcommittee.Stewart graduated from Marshall University with a degree in economics and earned his MBA at Xavier University with a concentration in taxation. Stewart and his wife, Stacey, reside in Albany with their three children. kheinichen@athensmessenger.com

My comments:


Mr. Shriver, as a member of Gov. Strickland's team will apparently have views that I do not share, at least on health care, political participation and capital punishment. Gov. Strickland's efforts to reform health care fall far short of what is needed, extending coverage to only 500,000 of Ohio's 1.3 million uninsured and does nothing for the additional 1.3 million underinsured. As a self-employed small businessman I know the obstacle that this presents and the Governor refuses to even discuss the only viable solution, single-payer universal health care for EVERY Ohio resident and worker.


Mr. Strickland wasted no time in continuing Ohio's record of executions with little thought for the fact that every day brings more evidence of innocent citizens on death row and recently one more state, New Jersey moved to outlaw this unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment. If Mr. Shriver supports the Governor on these issues than my campaign will offer a clear alternative for voters in our district.


I resent Mr. Shriver's insinuation that politics should differ from public service. Elected officials are just that, public servants. For third party and independent candidates struggling to build a new political dynamic that empowers those most vulnerable and least heard, the poor and the working poor it is a backhand slap at candidates and elected officials with integrity that cherish our Democracy and seek to improve it not diminish and abandon it as he suggests. Such a cavalier attitude about the system, one that benefits him greatly over third party and independent candidates, (Republicans and Democrats only need 50 signatures to get on the ballot, independents need 1230) seems nothing but pandering to the "throw the bums out" crowd and does not bid well for the future. One would note that the reason there are "politicians" who have failed as public servants is the result of a system that is controlled by the Republicans and Democrats, has become unresponsive to the voters and seeks to limit participation by Independents and Third Parties. If he is truly interested in transparency in government then he should call fellow Democrats Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and Attorney General Marc Dann and demand that they fully investigate the election crime compalints they have in their office. Then again perhaps he is one of those "politicians". If the shoe fits.....


As for the Republican, Jimmy Stewart, it has been my observation that when the interests of corporations and the public interest are in conflict it is simple to discern the outcome, just follow the money! Mr. Stewart sits on the House Healthcare Access and Affordability Committee, put there by the voters to represent their interests, yet accepts large amounts of money in campaign contributions from the for-profit healthcare industry. As we know the for-profit healthcare industry has a fiduciary responsibility to their investors to generate profit, that does not represent the interest of the public for increased accessability and affordability. I think we already know how this one plays out!


Tim