The Ohio Democratic Party, in rebuilding mode after colossal defeats this year, likely will pick its new leader next month.
An executive committee meeting and vote has been scheduled for Dec. 16 at party headquarters in Columbus, Democratic sources told the Northeast Ohio Media Group.
Jockeying for the position has been intense for weeks following Chris Redfern’s election night announcement that he would leave the chairman’s post he’s held since 2005. Not only did the Democratic candidate for governor lose by more than 30 points, Republicans swept the entire Democratic ticket at the statewide level. And Redfern lost his own seat in the Ohio House of Representatives.
Several have declared interest in the job, including Sharen Neuhardt and David Pepper — two of the losing candidates from this year’s statewide slate. The list also includes Geauga County Democratic Party Chairwoman Janet Carson and outgoing State Rep. Bob Hagan of Youngstown. The Toledo Blade last week reported that Columbus political consultant Antoinette Wilson also wants the post.
Other names mentioned have included party operatives with close ties to influential leaders such as U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, the state’s top elected Democrat.
Several Democrats say Pepper has been heavily courting votes on the executive committee and may have the inside track given an alliance with Nina Turner, a state senator from Cleveland who lost a race for secretary of state this year.
Many party activists have stressed a need for open dialogue before choosing a new leader.
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