Governor Bob Taft's 2008 Endorsements

28th Ohio House District - Virgil Lovitt

I give my strongest possible endorsement in this race to our man Virgil Lovitt. Virg has been a strong and consistent supporter of real Republican values of higher taxes. Don't be fooled by claims to the contrary. Virgil is the real deal when it come to tax hikes. That's why he was named him the 2008 Tax Hiker of the Year. Please vote Lovitt for the 28th District. Let him do for the 28th District what he's done for Sharonville, which has become a bastion of prosperity under Virg's leadership.

8th Ohio State Senate District - Bill Seitz

Not to be outdone, the 2007 Tax Hiker of the Year deserves an equal amount of support. Bill Seitz has never met a tax he didn't hike. From supporting money for the Freedom Center to pushing the Taft tax and spend policies all the way to supporting the jail tax last year, Seitz has been a long-time supporter of higher taxes and spending. Please vote Seitz for State Senate. The Republican party needs him in Columbus to continue pushing for higher taxes.

Hamilton County Commissioner - Todd Portune

Todd Portune may be a Democrat, but he's my kind of politican. Todd has supported higher taxes and increased spending for every level of government at which he has served. Todd understands how important higher taxes are to our local economy. That's why he pushed the Issue 27 Super Sized sales tax increase last year. We must support Todd and oppose the evil Ed Rothenburg, who fought against taxes as a private citizen. We can't have citizens fighting the high-tax establishment! Vote Portune for higher taxes and the prosperity that will come along with them.

Hamilton County Sheriff - Simon Leis

This man needs no moustache to distinguish him as a true tax hiker. Perhaps no elected official in Hamilton County history has spent more taxpayer dollars than Semper Si Leis. Si has drained the County coffers for nearly 50 years, and has amassed an army of taxpayer funded toys. True to form, Simon fought tirelessly for Todd Portune and David Pepper's $777 million tax increase last year, and proudly used taxpayer funds to advocate for higher taxes. Please keep Sheriff Leis on the public payroll for four more years. We need more Si.



United State Congress, 2nd District of Ohio - Jean Schmidt

Jean Schmidt is perhaps my all-time favorite Republican tax hiker. Mean Jean supported every one of my Taft tax increases while serving in the State House. I was proud when she moved up the ladder to the Federal Government, where she can raise taxes and increase spending at a whole new level. Unlike many constituents in the 2nd District, I'm not embarrassed by Jean at all. I'm proud of her high-tax record. Jean also bravely voted for the $700 bailout bill. I knew she'd never let us down when bigger government was on the line.



Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas - Norma Davis

Like 99.9% of voters, I know nothing about Norma Davis, but I do know plenty about her opponent - Pat DeWine. DeWine was the 2007 Enemy of the Treasury for his opposition to the Portune/Pepper tax increase. He has fought higher taxes and spending for almost a decade, and worst of all - he promises to carry his fiscally responsible mindset to the courthouse. We can't have yet another branch of government infiltrated by DeWine's insidious low tax policies. Please support Norma. Send a message that fighting for smaller government will not be tolerated.



Hamilton County Engineer - Bill Brayshaw

Bill Brayshaw has been a fixture as Engineer for as long as I can remember. And for as long as I can remember he's fought against innovative cost-saving measures in the Engineer's office. Just this year he bravely refused to participate in a cost-cutting managed competition effort that would save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, preferring instead to balance the books by not buying road salt. We need to keep people in office like Old man Brayshaw. He's a staunch defender of the status quo. Keep Brayshaw Engineer!




Honorable Mention - Rick Bryan and Jim Sumner

Neither of these fine gentlemen is running for office this year, but I wish they were. Rick Bryan and Jim Sumner have long histories of support for higher taxes and spending. I sincerely hope that the Hamilton County Republican Party will begin to take notice and push these guys for higher elected office. How about a Bryan/Sumner Presidential ticket in 2012? I can only hope.

The following republicans did not receive my endorsement this year-

John McCain/Sarah Palin (President/Vice President) - A guy who's against earmarks and a reformer who worked to fight corruption even amongst her own Party? Need I say any more? Why couldn't the Republican Party put together a Lincoln Chafee/Susan Collins ticket?

Steve Chabot (United States Congress, First District of Ohio) - Steve is one of te few true conservatives in Congress. He consistently fights against increased spending, wasteful earmarks, and high spending. He even voted against the great $700 Billion bailout. What nerve! Kick him out of office so we can get a real Republican tax hiker in there.

Greg Hartmann (Hamilton County Commissioner) - Greg has done a horrible job as the Clerk of Courts. Can you believe he has the nerve to actually turn money back to the Treasury each year? He has an obligation to spend every single taxpayer dollar he gets. Everybody knows that the government knows how to spend your money better than you do. Keep Hartmann off of the County Commission!

Steve Johnson (31st Ohio House District) - Steve is running for the Ohio 31st House District. Worst of all, he's a professed protege of Steve Chabot. We can't have two anti-taxers in office on the west side of town. Please work hard to defeat Steve Johnson.
Rob Goering (Hamilton County Treasurer) - Goering used poor judgment when he bucked Party leaders and came out against the Portune/Pepper/Leis sales tax increase. What a jerk! We need someone in charge of the County's money who understands that higher taxes lead to economic prosperity. Vote against Goering.