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By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 01:58 p.m. EST, Jan 13, 2009
State Sen. Kevin Coughlin plans to run for governor next year.
Coughlin, R-Cuyahoga Falls, said this afternoon he will spend this year organizing his campaign and laying the ground work for ''the chance to lead this state.'' He said he recently shared his plans with incoming state Republican Chairman Kevin DeWine and ''got a warm and encouraging reception.''
Coughlin, who will be term limited out of his Senate seat next year, previously had said he might consider running for governor. He said he is aware other prominent Republicans, including former Congressman John Kasich, also are rumored to be considering throwing in their hats for the gubernatorial race.
''The Republican family needs to get the players on the field,'' Coughlin said. ''We've got to get organized — to get the people, the money and resources in place to run for 2010.''
Coughlin, who was involved in a long, ugly and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to topple Summit County GOP Chairman Alex Arshinkoff last year, said he's unconcerned about not having Arshinkoff's support in his bid for governor.
State Sen. Kevin Coughlin plans to run for governor next year.
Coughlin, R-Cuyahoga Falls, said this afternoon he will spend this year organizing his campaign and laying the ground work for ''the chance to lead this state.'' He said he recently shared his plans with incoming state Republican Chairman Kevin DeWine and ''got a warm and encouraging reception.''
Coughlin, who will be term limited out of his Senate seat next year, previously had said he might consider running for governor. He said he is aware other prominent Republicans, including former Congressman John Kasich, also are rumored to be considering throwing in their hats for the gubernatorial race.
''The Republican family needs to get the players on the field,'' Coughlin said. ''We've got to get organized — to get the people, the money and resources in place to run for 2010.''
Coughlin, who was involved in a long, ugly and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to topple Summit County GOP Chairman Alex Arshinkoff last year, said he's unconcerned about not having Arshinkoff's support in his bid for governor.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 02:33 PM, 01/13/2009
I have mixed feelings about Coughlin. He's done some good things, but he's got ambitious career politician all over him. It's only a matter of time before he no longer serves the interests of the people.
And I still can't get over him trotting out his wife and kids in a campaign ad years ago w/ his wife claiming his opponent was attacking his family. Shameful.
Wadsworth, OH
Posted 02:35 PM, 01/13/2009
Lead the state? He can't even lead his own party at the county level...
My Heart Is In K-Town, .
Posted 02:36 PM, 01/13/2009
I'll bet Alex will put a sign for you in his yard.
My Heart Is In K-Town, .
Posted 02:37 PM, 01/13/2009
...as a matter of fact, Alex will even vote for you just so Brunner gets one vote less.
Akron, OH
Posted 02:48 PM, 01/13/2009
Jason, no doubt Coughlin is ambitious. I hope he is. Ohio needs courageous leadership right now and this guy has proven he's got it. What is it that Strickland wants to do to turn around Ohio again?
I think Kevin is an interesting candidate and a strong campaigner. And it's time for the old guys to ride off into the sunset and let some new people tackle the problems of the state.
The last line of this story is funny and right on. Arshinkoff will try to tear down Coughlin like he tried with Jim Petro. But Republican leaders around the state really dislike Arshinkoff. Especially fellow county chairs. And Arshinkoff has never been for Coughlin, yet Kevin has managed to defend the toughest districts the GOP has in the legislature.
Plus, so what if Coughlin thinks Arshinkoff is a bad chairman and needs to be removed? It's great that he's got the courage to stand up to his party when it's screwing up. Just like he did to Taft on the tax increases.
Posted 02:53 PM, 01/13/2009
Wonder if he'll forge the petitions to get his name on the ballot like he did to get his "New Republicans" on the central committee ballot? Still, to this exact day, he will give no honest answers to the election board about his illegal interference with that process. If you really did nothing wrong, why give honest answers about what you did? Governor material? No way.
Akron, OH
Posted 03:17 PM, 01/13/2009
I was using ambitious in a negative context. Bottom line, Coughlin will not be able to raise campaign contributions like Portman or Kasich, so it doesn't matter.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 03:26 PM, 01/13/2009
Talk to the people who went to school with Coughlin, if you want to know what a tool he really is. This guy isn't qualified to do anything but suck the public coffers dry as a "career politician," and his disservice to Cuyahoga Falls is now legen-dary.
Thankfully, the local Republican Party won't have to go broke financing a campaign for this persona non grata.
Rio Linda, CA
Posted 04:35 PM, 01/13/2009
"yet Kevin has managed to defend the toughest districts the GOP has in the legislature."
How can anyone seriously say that with a straight face?
Coughlin's list of defeated opponents:
City councilman John Schmidt (you know the guy who got fired as dogcatcher)
David Warhatch who? (powerhouse)
David Warhatch who? (powerhouse)
Tom Bevan (who)?
Judy Hanna (who)?
Alex Arshinkoff OOOOOOH snap! Coughlin only got 30% of the vote on that one....
Coughlin can't raise money in the district, can't raise the money in columbus, his only contributor,
David Brennan, is living down in Florida and will not get involved.
That campaingn team he is putting together is going to be a scream!!!
AKRON, OH
Posted 04:47 PM, 01/13/2009
Well I can proudly say I have not voted for him in the past, and will continue to not vote for him.
Akron, OH
Posted 05:12 PM, 01/13/2009
If he's pro-charter school, he just gained points in my book. As a graduate of the APS, I still challenge those who rail against the charter schools to send their kids to districts like the APS before commenting. Granted, APS are better than most urban districts, but still. Don't make decisions for other people when you have no skin in the game.
Stow, OH
Posted 05:29 PM, 01/13/2009
Alex or one of his flunkies keeps posting rumors about Kevin but refuses to look at the police report making serious allegations against Alex.
Kevin has raised money in the past and will again. As to comments on local party funding, you can't go broke when you are already there. The party is in serious debt. Check the BOE filings if you want to know the truth, they are public record anyone can request.
I am glad Kevin is attempting to find a solution to the NEA dominated public school system that indoctrinates children into the global warming hoax and the myth of American Imperialism while failing to teach basic reading, writing and arithmetic.
Rio Linda, CA
Posted 05:47 PM, 01/13/2009
Thank you for the previous comment New Summit Republican flunkie and Stowite Dan Dismuke "dkd458
Stow, OH"!!
By the way how is your new courthouse Porky? I'm glad you're going to pay for it and not me!
The 30% Coughlin got against Arshinkoff will be double what Coughlin gets against Strickland.
Rio Linda, CA
Posted 05:50 PM, 01/13/2009
Kev will not have the Senate to steer 1.5 million his way like they did when he crushed Judy Judy Judy Hanna with 52% of the vote.
Chris Redfern will crush Coughlin again like he did when they both ran for president at Bowling Green!
Posted 07:57 PM, 01/13/2009
I hope we don't have to listen to this Arshinkoff-Coughlin battle for the next 22 months.
