2010 is a definitive year for the Ohio Democratic Party, as all the Democratic leaders of Northeast Ohio are entangled in webs of corruption, tarnishing the Party state- and nation-wide, to the White House, as all Democratic leaders of Ohio must explain poorer economic performance statewide than is the national average, which has been poor under Obama.... with no good vision for the state and nation for the future... with important elections upon us in November.

To keep the purple state of Ohio blue in 2010 and for 2012, where Democrats have largely been in-charge in the past, the Democratic machine needs to show it is serious about changing how it does business here in the future, while going the distance with Obama, and getting the job done in Ohio... no matter how long that takes. 

Instead, generally well-liked but unimpressive Democratic Governor Ted Strickland is running for re-election without a compass, crew or rudder, in rough seas. He and his Democratic cohorts have sold-out to enough powerful industrialists - are generally well-enough liked by the Republican power-brokers - to keep their offices, if they have the support of "their people". But "their people" ... the real Democrats... have lost faith in Democratic leadership in Ohio, at the elected official and party levels.

Most telling, second-in-command of the state - Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher... our "Economic Development Czar"... lifetime politico of the Fisher/Zone family of Northeast Ohio - decided he would like the glitz and pension of lifetime Washington entitlement, rather than complete his work as czar and supporting his Democratic Governor Ted Strickland, who is running for his life. Fisher is running for even higher office - the U.S. Senate. This decision shall give the Senate seat and Ohio Governor's mansion to Republicans.

As a citizen of Ohio, one senses no Democratic politicos have been to their real offices or at work for the past year, as all our lack-luster Democratic leaders who lucked-into office under the Bush-hate-out Obama-love-in transition through 2008 are now scrambling to jump burning platforms and better their political lots-in-life, rather than better the lives of Ohioans.

Strickland's team should have gone the distance with him, rather than rearranging deck-chairs as they prepared to jump-ship in mid-voyage, seeking faster passage to anywhere but here. Where the Democratic party promoted politico insiders to leave offices and run for new positions, the party should have promoted leaders with strong track-records, under these trying conditions... leaders who represent integrity and change.

With his statewide team tapdancing (and getting lapdanced) away from reality and responsibility, Strickland lost the semblance of a foundation of leaders fighting in Columbus for citizens, and Ohio lost respect and credibility in Washington - citizens and industry have realized the offices of government in Columbus are closed for business and the Governor's office is empty and aimless.

How the public perceives Democratic party intent is determined by party endorsements and funding of candidates, and the decisive race that showed the Democratic Party is not serious about reform and change in Ohio was the 2010 Democratic primary for Republican George Voinovich's seat in Senate.

Taking aimlessness to new heights, the Ohio Democratic Party leadership has shown it is playing the same-old political games as always as it endorsed the life-entrenched job-jumping politico Lee Fisher for Senate, in the Democratic primary, over a new breed of successful Democratic leader - a smart change agent - taking-out the Courageous Jennifer Brunner, our successful Democratic Secretary of State, who also ran for Voinovich's Senate seat.

That the Ohio Democratic leadership rewarded Fisher's political gamesmanship with their endorsement, over the important new-comer Brunner, put Strickland out of the Governor's Mansion, and gave the state to Republicans, at many levels, putting us four years behind our opportunity curve for the future, which may cost Obama the White House in 2012. The real cost of the corruption of the Ohio Democratic Party.

I'm sure all real Democrats in the know wish they had the opportunity to vote for Brunner for Senate this November, rather than see that seat go to another Republican.

On the other hand, Secretary of State Brunner has continued to do an excellent job in Columbus, throughout her campaign and as she prepares to hand her office over to new leadership... today she emailed her constituents reminding them this is the last day to register to vote for the November election.

I wish her luck in the future, and thank her for one of the few jobs done well in politics in Ohio in recent memory...

Dear Norm,

Your inbox is going to be flooded today with emails from candidates and political parties telling you that today is the close of voter registration.  As Secretary of State, it's my job to tell you that, too, but allow me to point out a few extra things.

What does the close of voter registration mean?

It means that it's the last day you can register to vote in the November 2, 2010 election.  You can still register after today, but it will be for an election after November 2nd.

How do I make sure I get my registration form returned in time to vote in the November 2nd election?

You can bring it in person to any board of elections or the Secretary of State's office (180 E. Broad Street, 15th floor, Columbus, OH 614-466-2585).  You can also mail it in to your board of elections or to the Secretary of State, but make sure the post mark is no later than today, Monday, October 4, 2010.

Where can I get a voter registration form?

This link from the Secretary of State's office will give you all you need - you can download a form, print it out, fill it out and mail it in.

Can I still vote absentee?

Yes, and you can vote absentee in one of two ways.  You can vote absentee in person before the election at one of these locations or by mail using an absentee ballot application.  You can get the application and mail it to your board of elections  throughout the month of October, but a board cannot honor a mailed in request after noon on Saturday, October 30, 2010. You'll still be able to vote absentee in person on Monday, November 1, 2010 at one of these locations.

Whom can I call with more questions?

You can call the Voting Rights Institute in the Secretary of State's office at 1-877-VOTEVRI (1-877-868-3874).

What else?

Just for fun, you might encounter what used to be The Courage Express, my U.S. Senate primary campaign bus, which is still silver but with a facelift - new logo, carpeting, seats and tables (I'm hoping they worked on the suspension, too). That bus is registering voters on college campuses in central Ohio as a community initiative of WBNS 10-TV.  Here are some photos from last Thursday at the Columbus State University campus.

Stay strong and vote!

Jennifer Brunner
Ohio Secretary of State