Jennifer Garrison

Garrison Must Go…

August 20, 2009 by BearsLeft

Here in the Buckeye State we are gearing up (already) for the 2010 elections.  So far we have a contested U.S Senate primary between one fully LGBT supportive candidate, Jennifer Brunner and one who “is open to the idea” - Lee Fisher.  Now, we are beginning to see a primary fight between Marilyn Brown and Jennifer Garrison for Secretary of State.  It’s not often that I brand a Democrat a bigot, but sometimes it is needed.

Let me first define what I mean by bigot in this instance. I label anyone who isn’t for full marriage equality a bigot. I think that any straight married person that isn’t for full marriage equality is an even bigger bigot, in that they hold the special distinction of being in the “I got mine” category. I realize that under this definition both Secretary of State Clinton and President Obama are bigots. So be it.

So, in this Secretary of State contest we have two women. Franklin County Commissioner Marilyn Brown and State Representative Jennifer Garrison.

OH-93rd House: Garrison Now Unopposed

August 13, 2008 by buckeyestateblog

Not that she was facing a competitive race, but 93rd district representative Jennifer Garrison is now running unopposed in her bid for re-election.

Her former opponent, teenager Chelsi Smith, has abandoned her run to attend Liberty University.

Garrison has been mentioned recently as being considered for a House leadership role next year.

Redfern Backs Budish for House Leadership Post

July 11, 2008 by Ohio Daily Blog

In an unusual and to some extent questionable move, Ohio Democratic Party chairman Chris Redfern has expressed party support for State Rep. Armond Budish (D-Beachwood), the leading Democratic fundraiser in the Ohio House, in his bid for the position of Speaker should the Democrats succeed in taking control of the chamber, according to a report yesterday in the subscription-only Hannah Report Gongwer News Service. As leadership rival State Rep. Ted Celeste (D-Grandview) was quick to point out to the reporter, it is presumptuous for the party to take a position on leadership when Democratic control of the chamber is yet to be decided, and it is uncertain which members will be elected or re-elected and therefore eligible to vote. Redfern defends the move on the grounds that support for Budish is strong, including among candidates not yet in office; that Budish has been working hard on helping challengers and open-seat candidates to help take control of the chamber; and that it is helpful to Democratic campaign efforts to eliminate the distraction of a contested leadership fight.

State Rep. Matt Szollosi (D-Toledo) is slated to be in the number two leadership position behind Budish. Other leadership prospects, according to the Hannah Report, are State Rep. Jennifer Garrison (D-Marietta), State Rep. Tracy Heard (D-Columbus), State Rep. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), and State Rep. Allan Sayre (D-Dover).

The prospect of retaking the House became more complicated yesterday with the announcement that former judge State Rep. Tom Heydinger (D-Norwalk), appointed to replace Matt Barrett after he resigned in disgrace, will not seek election in November. The party needs a net gain of four seats.

It is apparent that Celeste is not acceding to the party endorsement of Budish, so the leadership competition is not really extinguished by Redfern's announcement. However, at this point, the selection of anyone but Budish seems very unlikely.