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Mar
27
More than a month ago, I asked Ohio Democratic Party Chair Chris Redfern about how it is that current Ohio Treasurer Kevin Boyce would become known and well-known enough to retain the post to which he was appointed by Governor Ted Strickland after Attorney General Rich Cordray won his current position and left the treasurer’s role. You can read Redfern’s fairly predictable response here.
Well, yesterday, the Akron Beacon Journal did a nice, long profile of Kevin Boyce, “State treasurer fights anonymity.”
There is a nice amount of personal and professional information in the article. Add to that a serious uptick in the amount of activity being heralded by the Treasurer’s office – primarily good stuff (Treasurer Boyce to Annouce New Program that Rewards Ohioans for Saving, Treasurer Kevin L. Boyce Kicks Off Financial Literacy Month, Treasurer Kevin L. Boyce Stresses Importance of Family Farms) and I see some smart, good exposure – of the announcements, the programs and the person behind them all. Very, very wise. I would only suggest that the person sending out those annoncements be sure they’re hitting absolutely everyone and then some.
One thing that popped out at me from the article, however, was what Ohio Republican Chair Kevin DeWine is quoted as saying:
Outside Columbus, where he was raised and sat on City Council for eight years, few voters know Kevin Boyce.
”Kevin who?” as Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine refers to Boyce, a 37-year-old Democrat.
…
In a few sentences, DeWine sums up the campaign that Republicans are expected to run against Boyce next year. The GOP candidate will focus on Boyce’s inexperience and relative anonymity.
”I don’t even know what the guy looks like. When I say ‘Kevin who?’ I’m only half joking. I don’t know anything about him. I don’t know who will ultimately be the candidate for the Republican Party, but I know Ohioans need more than a city councilman to serve in the office of treasurer,” DeWine said.
Beside the ironic facts that 1) Kevin DeWine would say such a thing aka, does he really expect people to believe that the chair of the ORP doesn’t do research to learn everything he can about a potential opponent for his bench?, and 2) Kevin DeWine and fellow GOP candidate for governor Kevin Coughlin are indistinguishable from one another to the average Ohioan – if either one is known to the average Ohioan at all, a strategy of focusing on what DeWine calls Boyce’s “inexperience and relative anonymity” – should the GOP in fact make Ohio state rep. Josh Mandel their candidate to challenge Boyce – would backfire in the same way that John McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin neutered the single strongest argument McCain had going for him: experience. Sure sure – people tried to say that she had executive experience and that her 18 mos. as governor was better experience than Obama’s 18 mos. as U.S. Senator and so on. But people all along the spectrum mostly agreed: when McCain chose Palin, he gave up his strongest card.
Similarly, to me, for DeWine to suggest that the GOP can attack Boyce for inexperience and unfamiliarity, while at the same time having the GOP suggest that Mandel – who served far less time in a far smaller city’s city council and has no experience as a treasurer or with a budget remotely comparable to the size of Ohio’s – could be a viable contender is textbook puffery. More from the article:
DeWine said his goal is to put the best Republican slate in a generation on the ballot.
”For treasurer, we’re looking for someone who understands state government, economic policy and knows how to protect the taxpayer dollar. We will challenge Boyce because nobody knows who he is,” DeWine said.
Mandel’s folderol with trying to force several of the state’s pension funds to divest from investments connected to Iran doesn’t strike me as something the GOP will want to trot out as showing that he “knows how to protect the taxpayer dollar.” The funds balked at Mandel’s bill, H.B. 151, and obtained a far less onerous gentleman’s agreement with then House Speaker Jon Husted (another possible GOP candidate for treasurer according to the ABJ article) precisely because of their fiduciary responsibility to Ohio’s pension participants and Mandel’s refusal to see that state-based responsibility as primary.
As for DeWine’s belief that Boyce should be challenged because nobody knows him, I’d love for DeWine to go on record and express his feelings about Mandel’s bi-coastal efforts to become well-known in Ohio Florida and California.
Apparently, last weekend, the Republican Jewish Coalition held its annual winter leadership meeting in Fort Lauderdale. The blog post that appears at Tygrrr Express shows up in a number of other locations but here’s what appears to be the original. In it, is this section about Ohio’s state rep from the 17th district (my district):
One man everybody should get to know real soon is Ohio State Senator Josh Mandel. At age 26, he has already served two tours of duty in Iraq. He is currently contemplating a run for Ohio State Treasurer. No less a man than Senator Norm Coleman told me, while pointing to Josh Mandel, that, “This is the future.” On March 29th, Josh will be traveling to Los Angeles for a fundraiser. I have donated to him. You should as well. [emphasis added]
Last time I checked in, according to available records, Mandel had turned 31. I guess Tygrrrr had rising stars in the eyes. And for the record, I’m not sure Norm Coleman’s recommendation is one I’d be excited to get, but there it is.
Whatev. Just seems that Ohio politicians who call themselves members of the GOP and who want to run for office – in Ohio – might want to coordinate their reasons for running, the need for them to be running and other messages a little better. Right now, Boyce’s approach seems to be the one that would be most appealing to Ohioans:
Boyce countered [DeWine's assertion about the kind of candidate the GOP wants for treasurer] that doing a good job is the best politics he can practice.
”I’m confident that the Democratic Party and the governor will be there with me, but Kevin Boyce has got to work for this effort and this cause, and I’ve got to be the biggest cheerleader and champion of that, and that’s what I am relying on most,” Boyce said.
Got get ‘em Kevin.
Oh no…another Kevin? /sarcasm
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:47 pm March 27th, 2009 in Campaigning, Elections, Government, Kevin Boyce, OH17, Ohio, Politics, Republicans, treasurer
Comments
7 Responses to “Ohio Treasurer: Essential reading on Kevin Boyce & a case of wanting whatever they’re having”
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I noticed you linked to my blog. Although we disagree on politics, you come across as thoughtful in your analysis. Like you, I prefer nuts and bolts to ranting and raving.
Feel free to stop by my blog any time. Some on the left rip my arguments on a daily basis, but as long as they do it without profanity or hate speech, they can drop by any time.
Plus, Ohio is a great state. Canton is the greatest city in America (Pro Football of Fame).
Lastly, I notice you have “Feministing” on your blog. Those writers are wickedly hilarious. I disagree with them, but they are hardcore fun sometimes.
God Bless always,
eric aka the Tygrrrr Express
http://www.tygrrrrexpress.com
Eric, when bloggers do the primary blogging stuff, I get weak.
Seriously – it’s that hyperlocal thing that blogs can really do well and I appreciate your write-up for doing that.
Thanks for reading and commenting – good luck with helping your candidates and party.
Well, first, I think anonymity at this stage of the game is irrelevant. I think Kevin DeWine knows that and his comments are laughable. Jennifer Brunner was anonymous three years ago. So what? A campaign is to build name recognition. Is he suggesting that parties should just recycle the same old names? Maybe Betty Montgomery will be their state treasurer candidate. Oh joy, oh joy! Also, the Palin-Obama comparison was more labored than what you indicate; They were trying to make the case that her 18 months of “executive” experience trumped Obama’s 42 months in the U.S. Senate (remember he took office there in January of 2005; she was sworn in in January of 2007). But that’s Republicans for you, sadly.
I can’t wait until the 2010 primary so I can drop the R behind my name. The Ohio Republican Party just keeps getting more and more embarassing… I am an old-school (paleoconservative) Republican who doesn’t think the Republican Party will ever return to its traditional core principles.
Eric:
+1 on Canton being the greatest city in America. I live in Columbus (and am very happy here), but am a Canton native, and my family lives there.
Harold
Anastasia – I agree with you on both of these things:
Anastasia P: Well, first, I think anonymity at this stage of the game is irrelevant.
And this too:
“Also, the Palin-Obama comparison was more labored than what you indicate; They were trying to make the case that her 18 months of “executive” experience trumped Obama’s 42 months in the U.S. Senate (remember he took office there in January of 2005; she was sworn in in January of 2007).”
Totally agree with both.
Harold – I appreciate you saying that. I might be asking this based on wrong assumptions, so do correct me, but it seems like Republicans such as you describe yourself just aren’t numerous, vocal enough or something – what is going on? how does that get changed? I’m as concerned about a one-party everything as a lot of people – but how do we ensure having two (or more) strong parties? Is that even possible?
Jill:
The problem with my kind of politics is that it is fragmented between independents (where I think most of my thinking lies), who are too disgusted with both parties to involve themselves with any; the paleo Republicans, and conservative Democrats.
We’d be a majority, or close to it, if we could all gather in one place, but I suspect that is not possible.
At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, I think it is in the kleptocracy’s* interest to keep out the moderates while polarizing the rest to create the illusion of political competition.
* government run by those who profit from it.
Harold