Democrat Mayor Sulzer announces run against Bob 'Abramoff' Ney

[Algorem]

http://www.chillicothegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050817/NEWS01/50817003

...“If the people of Ohio send me to Washington to represent them, I will make creating jobs for Ohio workers, fiscal responsibility for the country, and taking care of our troops and veterans my top priorities,” Sulzer said at the press conference.

The three main themes of Sulzer’s announcement were fiscal responsiblity, getting U.S. troops out of Iraq and ethical behavior by Congress.

Ney is considered vulnerable by the Democratic party, due to his connections to indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has targeted his seat as one it hopes to win in 2006...

Sulzer is an Army veteran and served during the Vietnam War — from August 1967 to August 1968. He earned a bachelor's degree from Ohio University and was awarded a law degree by Capital University.




http://houseoflabor.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/8/16/143026/809

The Abramoff 6
By Ellen Miller | bio
From: Auction House


Jack Abramoff -- who got the best government that money can buy -- has always reminded me a little of Charlie Keating, the former operator of the failed Lincoln Savings & Loan. Keating raised more than $1.3 million for the campaigns and causes of five U.S. senators (dubbed "The Keating 5") in the late 1980s in an effort to thwart investigations of his S&L by federal bank officials. Keating once remarked "One question . . . had to do with whether my financial support in any way influenced several political figures to take up my cause. I want to say in the most forceful way I can: I certainly hope so." No doubt Abramoff would say the same thing in a candid moment.
And I also can't quite get out of my mind that the lawmakers associated with Keating founded themselves in some trouble as a result. Ethics Committee investigations ensued and ultimately four out of the five -- Sens Dennis DeConcini (D-Ariz.), Alan Cranston (D-Calif.), John Glenn (D-Ohio) and Don Riegle (D-Mich.) -- retired prematurely. The fifth -- Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) --became a champion of campaign finance reform...

* Michael Scanlon, former DeLay press aide, helped his partner, Jack Abramoff, in acquiring the floating casino company, SunCruz. He persuaded Ney to tout Adam Kidan in the Congressional Record. Ney made a floor statement in the House in October 2000, praising Kidan for his "renowned reputation for honesty and integrity." (Congressional Record, 10/26/00; Roll Call, 12/6/04)

* Abramoff represented the Tigua Tribe in Texas, who paid him $4.2 million in lobbying fees to help re-open their casinos, after losing their gaming license in Feb. 2002. Abramoff assured them he could help by having legislation attached to an election reform bill sponsored by Rep. Ney and Sen Chris Dodd. Abramoff and Ney assured the tribe that Dodd had agreed to attach the legislation onto the bill. Dodd claimed he did not know about the deal struck for the Tiguas between Abramoff and Ney until the night before the bill was to be voted on. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3/23/05)...

[cmd]

1. Good!

Josh Wolf, a student at OU is also running against Ney. I would rather support someone who has more gravitas. Does anyone have information about Sulzer?

[Georgie]

2. Josh Wolf

Josh Wolf was forced to drop out this past week.

[cmd]

3. What happened?

Pressure from above?

[Georgie]

4. Pressure?

Yes. Straight from the top.

[cmd]

5. That's what I figured.

I know Josh's heart was in the right place; and I believe the he would have represented me well. I think it is probably better to have someone with some experience to go up against Ney. I have such admiration for young people who want to get involved. I hope Josh continues fighting for us.

edit: Did you do some traveling for Josh recently? Perhaps to a picnic in New Philly?

[MeDeMax]

6. is this an inside joke ...

come on cmd & georgie, please do tell, the suspense is killing me.

And someone please post a pic & bio of Josh, we need more people like him that are willing to step up to the plate.

[cmd]

7. Politics as usual

None of the old boys had enough guts to run against Ney. He is a brutal candidate that who has no qualms about negative campaigning. Our district is gerrymandered to give Ney a huge advantage without stepping out of the box.

Josh Wolf, from what I gather, is a student from Athens (probably OU) who threw his hat into the ring. He did this when no one else wanted to step forward and before some of the national groups decided to throw some money our way. Now that the Abramoff/Delay/Ney scandal have come into light, the party is seeing a glimmer of hope in winning. I gather that Josh has been asked to step aside.

I'm a great fan of young dems and count many as my good friends. I hope that he will be compensated by the party for stepping aside. I admire him.

As for my comments to Georgie? I met two members of Josh's team at our county picnic last month. Josh was in SW Ohio working for Hackett and could not attend. I thought Georgie might have been one of the team members.

Here is his statement:
http://www.wolf2006.com/

[Georgie]

8. What I know...

Josh is an Democrat field organizer for SE Ohio. Because of the special election a lot of field organizers were sent to District 2, including Josh. Yes, I did spend the weekend before the election walking door to door and Josh was absolutely incredible. He is good at his job.
Before Josh put his name out there, he did go to the Ohio Dems and asked permission to be a field organizer and run for Distict 18. The higher ups said go for it. He even had a room at the Dem primary conference that took place in Cinci last Jan/Feb. I was present for that as well.
Josh was also a driving force in helping the Hocking Dems when our Dep. Director to the BOE was fired for blowing the whistle on election fraud that happened just before the recount. Denny White told him not to get involved because it was a local county problem. Josh stuck with us every step of the way.
On Aug. 15th, he was told if he remains in the race, he would be fired. So he dropped out. I think the fact that Joe Sulzer announced about 2 days later he was to run, is a bit telling.

[cmd]

9. Thanks Georgie

I appreciate having an honest answer. Did I ever welcome you to DU? If not, just let me say that I'm so glad to have you here. cmd

[Georgie]

10. Thanks cmd

Thank you cmd. Glad to be part of the gang.