I'm with Howard Hill and here's why

This may be the toughest race Jay Hottinger, Licking County's state representative has ever run, even if it weren't for the stench hanging on Republicans because of President Bush. It will be tough because for the first time in my memory Jay will be running against a school teacher with a working man's perspective - and common men and women will indeed get out to vote this year. Jay's opponent is the son of political servant of great stature - Don Hill, whose many years of service to local citizens earned him wide respect and his name on the county government building. Don served with ability and honesty and likely his son would serve us equally well.

This contest pits Howard Hill, the commoner, against Jay Hottinger, the business establishmentarian. Nobody owns Howard, many have purchased Jay. Their contributors are listed at the Advocate's data base:

Howard Hill: Balance on hand: $150;
Donations By Contributor: No records found.

Jay Hottinger: Balance on hand 10/23/08: $103,900;
Donations by Contributor: Charles Dolan, Eva Dolan, Helen Dolan, Larence Dolan - each donated $10,670 (Charles Dolan is described by The Museum of Broadcast Communications as "one of the least known but most powerful moguls in the modern cable television industry in the United States.")

Then there is David Brennan of Akron who gave $10,000 and who runs Ohio's largest charter school company, according to The Ohio Federation of Teachers, and Ann A. Brennan, also of Akron, who donated $5,000.

An Ohio Federation of Teachers report prepared in cooperation with the AFL-CIO union, “... shows clearly that David Brennan has been allowed to circumvent numerous state laws, and that profit, not helping children learn, is the primary motive,” said OFT President Tom Mooney."

The report states that David Brennan built his education empire on public dollars enabled by favorable legislation adopted after enormous campaign contributions to legislators. In one two-month period alone, November and December 2001, while the House was deliberating HB 364 (which significantly relaxed regulations on charter schools), the Brennan family contributed $162,500 to GOP members of the House, all in $2,500 checks (the maximum per cycle at that time) ... Brennan’s charter school operations have faced little scrutiny from regulators, including state auditors, who were also the recipients of his political contributions.

Also contributing to Jay's campaign funds:
Ohio Academy of Nursing Homes - $10,000

William L Lager - owner of "A complete learning management system providing educational services; namely, classroom instruction, primarily on-line, for grades K through 12"

Oil and Gas Association - $5,000

Then there's First Energy, plus First Energy PAC, plus Gary Leidich, president of First Energy, each donating $5,000 to Jay's campaign, plus Gib Reese, Jerry McClain, Les Wexner, Dan Delawder, Marathon Oil, Meijer PAC, - and the list just goes on and on for ten web pages of special-interest donors who have staked a claim for favorable votes by Jay Hottinger.

Owing a piece of any legislator is exactly and precisely what's wrong with government. Jay is worth less as a representative of the common working stiff by $103,900; Howard has maintained his full value. I'm with Howard.