"Ohio Democrats face uncertainty" (What the...?)

[Algorem]

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/112919606983710.xml&coll=2

Party chief may quit, news reports say
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Sandy Theis
Plain Dealer Bureau Chief
Columbus

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His possible successors include Montgomery County Democratic Chairman Dennis Lieberman and former U.S. Rep. Dennis Eckart, a Cleveland lawyer and former head of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association. Eckart, who said he has tired of watching his party lose, will seek the post even if White runs again. Lieberman said he "will be patient and see what Denny has in mind." ...

White also took a shot at Eckart, saying, "Last time I heard, he was raising money for Republicans." He listed former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman of Cincinnati as one of the beneficiaries of Eckart's efforts.

Eckart said he doesn't remember raising money for Portman but said, "As the president of the state's largest chamber of commerce, I am certain my board has been involved in a variety of races."

White also denied reports that he tried to create a job opening for himself by suggesting that deputy director Mike Hackett retire sooner than planned from the Franklin County Board of Elections. Hackett declined to comment, but two county officials quoted Hackett as saying that White asked him to leave before his expected retirement in March...



Gubernatorial candidates remain neutral on issue of White's stewardship


http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/news-20/1129212544223212.xml&storylist=cleveland

10/13/2005, 10:00 a.m. ET
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Both announced candidates for the Democratic nomination refused to get involved in internal struggle over who should lead the party heading into next year's elections.

U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon and Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman said Wednesday they would remain neutral on whether Dennis White should continue as state party chairman.

There has been speculation that White, 51, might leave the post before his term expires in May to take a job with the Franklin County Board of Elections.

But in a letter to members of the state party's executive committee Wednesday, White said he plans to serve the remainder of his term and would consider running for another four-year term if the winner of the gubernatorial primary May 2 "were to ask me to stay."...