Ohio's 10th Congressional District Democratic Primary election, set for March 4, 2008, is shaping up to be an interesting contest with the incumbent in an unusually difficult position. The incumbent in question is of course, Dennis Kucinich, the six-term incumbent and former mayor of Cleveland. He is also a former two-time candidate for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, which is one of the reasons his opponents believe he is vulnerable this year. Incumbent congressmen in a "safe district" like the Ohio 10th, rarely lose their seats. This election may be different, since Dennis Kucinich raised a decent amount of money for his presidential campaign, but is now claiming to have less than his opponents for the congressional race.

The challengers include the Mayor of North Olmsted, Thomas O'Grady, a Cleveland City Councilman, Joe Cimperman, and two local activists, Rosemary Palmer, and Barbara Ferris. With this district being heavily Democratic, the winner of the March 4 primary will likely be the winner in the general election.

Kucinich and his four challengers faced off in a debate videotaped Monday at Time Warner Cable and moderated by Bob Conklin, host of "In the Spotlight." On Feb. 19, a second debate at at the Crowne Plaza Hotel is sponsored by the City Club of Cleveland. The Feb. 19 debate is sold out but will be televised live at 12:15 p.m. on WEWS Channel 5 and WKYC Channel 3, and broadcast on WCPN FM/90.3. Listen to the audio of of the Feb. 11 debate at http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/02/10th_district_democratic_conte.html

Kucinich easily won re-election in 2008, ultimately defeating his Republican opponent, Jim Trakas.

Republican Peter Corrigan is opposing Dennis Kucinich in the November, 2010.

On October 31, Representative Kucinich sent the following message to his supporters:

Fear, Hate, Racism and the Pain of 9/11

"Dear Friends,

Cleveland is the epicenter of a sub-prime meltdown with an extraordinary level of foreclosures and a very high level of unemployment.

My Republican opposition has thrown into this mix the politically incendiary issue of immigration through radio ads, telephone calls, electronic billboards and direct mail.

Additionally, my supporters in the district who have chosen to put up lawn signs in support of my candidacy are receiving at their door anonymous circulars which can only be described as menacing, aimed at stirring up hate, racism and the pain of 9/11

We have three days to go until the election. Your contributions have enabled us to buy TV and radio time to respond to these attacks.

Click here to hear our radio ad and view our ad for TV.

Anything you can contribute between now and Monday morning will enable us to increase the size of our media buy and perhaps even create more ads.

I'm heartened by the response to my campaign's appeal over the last two days. People really do care. People really do want a government that's decent and fair. People want a nation that IS courageous, that seeks unity, that tries to live the deeper meaning of democracy. "

Incumbent:

Representative Dennis Kucinich

Campaign Contacts:

PO Box 110475

Cleveland OH, 44111

216-252-9000

 

Links:

U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, 4 challengers debate --Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 11, 2008

Independence business owners unhappy with flooding, Kucinich--Cleveland Plain Dealer, Feb. 8, 2008

Kucinich recommends Obama & Clinton--February 1st, 2008 by Jill Miller Zimon of the Moderate Voice

Cleveland mayor endorses Kucinich challenger--January 17, 2008

Kucinich congressional campaign launches website--Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 11, 2008

North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O'Grady makes it official: he's running for Kucinich's seat--December 06, 2007

 

Five's A Crowd: There Are Four Contenders For Dennis Kucinich’s Congressional Seat. Do Any Of Them Stand A Chance? Do Any Of Them Deserve It?--by Anastasia Pantsios of The Cleveland Free Times, January 30th, 2008

Alone on the left wing: Liberal America deserves a champion, yet the only candidate was too far out in the presidential race--by Joe Queenan of the Guardian, Feb. 2, 2008--An interesting look at Kucinich's presidential campaigns and a harsh critique of the Democratic Party and how it treated Dennis Kucinich.

Five's A Crowd: There Are Four Contenders For Dennis Kucinich’s Congressional Seat. Do Any Of Them Stand A Chance? Do Any Of Them Deserve It?--The Cleveland Free Times, Jan. 30, 2008

Callahan’s Cleveland Diary: Thinking about economics, politics and real life in Cleveland, Ohio--blog on Cleveland Politics. This post is on the Congressional race.

 

Ohio Valley Politics: Democratic News And Opinion From Southeastern Ohio--Democratic blog on Ohio politics.

 

ACLU asks federal court to block paper ballots in Ohio county--The Jurist, Monday, January 28, 2008

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio filed a motion for a preliminary injunction Monday in the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio to prevent Cuyahoga County, Ohio from conducting any election using a paper balloting system. The motion comes in a lawsuit filed earlier this month against Secretary of State of Ohio Jennifer Brunner, the Cuyahoga Country Board of Elections, and various members of the Board of Elections and the Cuyahoga County Board of County Commissioners. US District Judge Kathleen O'Malley will hold a hearing on February 5 to consider the motion for an injunction--Rest of Story....

 

Ohio 10th District Congressional Elections 1996-2010   2010 Election U.S. House of Representatives—Ohio 10th District Dennis J. Kucinich (D), 53.01% Peter Corrigan (R), 43.9% 2008 Election U.S. House of Representatives—Ohio 10th District Dennis J. Kucinich (D), 87% Jim Trakas (R), 39% 2006 Election U.S. House of Representatives—Ohio 10th District Dennis J. Kucinich (D), 66.41% Michael D. Dovilla (R), 33.59%   2004 Election U.S. House of Representatives—Ohio 10th District Dennis J. Kucinich (D), 60% Edward F. Herman (R), 34% Barbara Ferris (I), 6% 2002 Election U.S. House of Representatives—Ohio 10th District Dennis J. Kucinich (D), 74% Jon A. Heben (R), 24% Judy Locie (L) 2% 2000 Election U.S. House of Representatives—Ohio 10th District Dennis J. Kucinich (D), 75% Bill Smith (R), 22% Ron Petrie (L) 3% 1998 Election U.S. House of Representatives—Ohio 10th District Dennis J. Kucinich (D), 66.8% Joe Slovenec (R), 32.2% 1996 Election U.S. House of Representatives—Ohio 10th District Dennis J. Kucinich (D), 49.1% Martin R. Hoke (R), (incumbent) 46.3% Robert B. Iverson (N) 4.6%   (D)= Democrat, (R)= Republican, (L)= Libertarian, (N)= Natural Law Party, (I)= Independent

Political Biofiles -Biography pages of American politicians and officeholders. Presidents of the United States--A listing of American Presidents, with links to biographical information.--New President Gerald R. Ford--the 38th President of the United States--*Updated*

Hillary Rodham Clinton Barack Obama*New*- Dennis Kucinich*New*-

Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA-8th) Former-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX-22nd) Congressional Candidate Darcy Burner (D-WA-8th)

Congressional Candidate Alex Alben (D-WA-8th)

Congressional Candidate Dave Ross (D-WA-8th)

County Councilman Shawn Bunney (R-1st District)

Maria Shriver--Former award-winning television journalist, best-selling author, current First Lady of California, niece to President John F. Kennedy, and daughter of Vice-Presidential candidate Sargent Shriver.

L. Paul Bremer--American diplomat who served as head of the head of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq from 2003 to 2004.

Thomas Nast-American political cartoonist.

Lorenzo de Zavala--First Vice-President of the Republic of Texas.

William Howard Taft-President of the United States and later Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

John D. Negroponte--American diplomat chosen to serve as the first National Intelligence Director.

Dr. Benjamin Rush-- Signer of the Declaration of Independence, member of the Constitutional Convention, noted physician and ardent supporter for the abolition of slavery.