Events Calendar
In This Section
Hospitals are grateful for their volunteers
Akron, Summit County jobless rates increase
Future members of school board get early lessons
Browns lose game they never should have lost
After 30 years at the helm of Akron Children's, Considine still looks to future
Utility mines new power source
Most Read Stories
2 men shot during party in Fairlawn
Cancellation of Christmas not an option
Akron man killed in crash on his street
Akron Children's Hospital CEO, wife announce $1 million gift to support research
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Police: Pennsylvania man killed misbehaving puppy before Steelers game
Akron Circle K store robbed for second time this month
Several people hurt in Akron crash
KSU suspends basketball player
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Blogs:
Pets:
A Dog Named Christmas – Pet for the Holidays
The Heldenfiles:
Viewing Notes
Patrick McManamon:
Of pass interference and alleged "fake" injuries
Akron Zips:
No. 1 Akron to play Stanford next
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Audio: Mangini disputes Poteat call, accuses Lions of faking injuries
Kent State Sports:
Flashes travel to Florida Atlantic
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeye Football – Present and Future
Varsity Letters:
Gulley to visit Central Michigan in December
All Da King's Men:
The Onion, By Any Other Name…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Glaring Contradictions
Akron Law Café:
Don't Try to Have Fun if you are Depressed
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
What Automotive Thing Are You Thankful For?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Faye Dunaway to be Evicted?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Monique asks how to get tickets for the Polar Express.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why I am Glad I live in NEO
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Hudson duo, both relatively unknown, locked in closely watched race that may change makeup of state legislature
By Stephanie Warsmith
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Sunday, Oct 05, 2008
Though they are opponents in a contest that could help change the makeup of the Ohio House, Mike Moran and Richard Nero actually have a few things in common.
Both live in Hudson.
Both are married with two young daughters.
Both are relatively unknown in the district they are running to represent.
And both share a disdain for John Widowfield, who resigned from the 42nd House seat under a cloud of controversy.
But that's about where the similarities end between these two men locked in one of the most closely watched battles in the House.
Widowfield, a Republican from Cuyahoga Falls, resigned in May amid accusations that he bought Ohio State University football tickets with campaign funds, sold them on the Web and pocketed the profits. He is being investigated by the Ohio Secretary of State's Office and Legislative Inspector General.
House Republicans tapped Nero to replace him. But Nero, who won the GOP primary in March for Widowfield's seat, must beat Democrat Moran Nov. 4 to keep the job.
Nero, a health-care consultant, has never before held political office, unless Kent State University's Undergraduate Student Senate counts. Moran, a manager at a legal publishing company, is president of Hudson council, but has served on council for only three years.
The two political parties and outside groups are taking an interest in the race.
Nero didn't get the Summit County Republican Party's endorsement in the primary and isn't chummy with chairman Alex Arshinkoff, but he's getting help from the state party, with former Congressman John Kasich appearing at an upcoming fundraiser.
The state Democratic Party has pointed to the seat as one of its targets for taking back the House majority.
Nero maintains he's the better candidate because of his knowledge about education and health care from working as a consultant in these industries.
''I am confident residents will pick the best job applicant and best person to represent them,'' he said.
Moran argues that his experience in both the public and private sectors make him the better choice. He said he has a record of fiscal responsibility during his time on council that Nero lacks.
Both Nero and Moran said that if elected, they would give up their jobs to become full-time legislators.
Since being appointed to the seat, Nero said, he has adopted a computerized method for better tracking constituent concerns. He said he is working on drafting bills on education and health care — and wouldn't be like Widowfield, who sponsored only one bill during his legislative tenure and was dubbed the ''laziest'' state lawmaker by Columbus Monthly magazine.
''My goal is to have two bills in my first couple of months,'' Nero said. ''This would exceed John Widowfield in six years.''
Nero said he would serve as an ambassador for the district, looking into attracting and retaining businesses.
''We haven't had visible leadership,'' he said.
Moran thinks a shift in power in the House could lead to a long-awaited solution to school funding.
''I think — with the right chemistry in the legislature — there's a good chance of fixing the education system next year,'' he said.
Moran would like to scrutinize tax incentives being given to businesses moving within the state.
''We should focus on growing businesses and bring businesses into the state,'' he said.
Nero and Moran both said they would not get Ohio State football tickets and that the opportunity for state lawmakers and other public officials to get first dibs on the tickets deserves scrutiny.
''This opens itself up for abuse,'' Nero said. ''We have seen that.''
Moran said he wouldn't want to be treated differently than the general public, which doesn't have easy access to tickets.
''I would suggest OSU take a look at its policy and consider changing it,'' said Moran, adding that he is a Buckeye fan.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.
Though they are opponents in a contest that could help change the makeup of the Ohio House, Mike Moran and Richard Nero actually have a few things in common.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 01:41 AM, 10/05/2008
Any one else getting sick and tired of the daily Mike Moran mailers coming from special interest groups in Columbus? Who exactly is Moran loyal to?
Go Nero!!
Posted 01:53 AM, 10/05/2008
One more thing...
"With the right chemistry in the legislature, there is a good chance to fix the school funding problem next year?"
Sounds like Moran and Strickland are both playing politics instead of actually fixing the school funding problem. We've had two years with Strickland and all he has to show for is Keno. What's another year of wasted promises??
What type of chemistry are you looking for Moran? More empty suits who 'hope' to get something done instead of actually having an original idea (it doesn't even have to be original, i'll give you permission to steal another state's idea) and implementing it through state legislation?
I'm sick of it!
Posted 08:18 AM, 10/05/2008
Nero's disdain for Widowfield is understandable. Widowfield is a conservative, with a voting record to match. Nero describes himself on his website as a "moderate".
Widowfield has won six elections, two for city council, three for the statehouse, and one for county council.
After this year, Nero will be 0-2.
Posted 08:55 AM, 10/05/2008
It appears Nero is a liar and he is distorting facts. How can he be trusted in Columbus?
Widowfield served for eight years and he was the primary sponsor of 12 pieces of legislation, not one as the liar Nero suggests.
Widowfield passed legislation that toughened child rape laws, and was awarded by the Ohio Association of Child Care Agencies for his legislation that modernized foster care law.
Regarding school funding, Widowfield is the only Summit County legislator to receive an award by the Alliance for Adequate School Funding for his work addressing school funding in Ohio.
Oddly enough, Widowfield received praise from the Beacon Journal editorial board for being the only local elected official to question the wisdom and the numbers and put the brakes on a taxpayer financed soccer stadium in Summit County.
Widowfield brought back millions to his district, including money for a park for special needs children in Stow, a veteran's memorial in Cuyahoga Falls, and worked across the aisle to secure funding for the Goodyear project in Akron, just to name a few.
Widowfield was stripped off committees for voting against the Taft sales tax increase and voting against the gas tax increase.
Instead of boozing it up in Columbus and fraternizing with the lobbyists, Widowfield drove home from Columbus everynight to spend time with his family.
Visible leadership?
The voters of the 42nd district don't want a cheerleader as Nero suggests, they want someone who will stand up for their issues and be more concerned about getting the job done instead of running a public relations campaign for themselves.
Posted 10:24 AM, 10/05/2008
In response to Don Nelsch's previous post, the one that made the case for John Widowfield's "viable leadership".I would simply say that someone who is most likely to join the ranks as a felon in the coming months is not someone I would want to mimic. I fully understand that people make mistakes, like Widowfield did, I also know that I followed his career he wasted the opportunity that had to affect change in Columbus and in Ohio. Laziest legislator award ring a bell???
I am confident that Nero won't make the same mistakes moving forward, he won't waste his opportunity.
Posted 11:39 AM, 10/05/2008
Nero claims to offer visible leadership not viable leadership.
Nero is not going to get the opportunity because he is going to lose this election soundly.
His election record will then be 0-2. Soundly rejected by the voters again.
Posted 02:45 PM, 10/05/2008
To the idiot that claimed I wrote that comment by "Don", you had better get your act together. I have a real problem with accusing me of making statements that I did not make. If I want to make a comment, I will sign my name, and I object to others assuming that every "Don" in this world is me. I demand an apology! Otherwise, I might be forced to do something that neither of us will like!
Donald Nelsch
Posted 04:24 PM, 10/05/2008
Sorry Donny, no offense. It must just sound like the crap you spew.
