The Becker Report
Volume I
Issue XIV
April 10, 2005

Distribution:
Tim Rudd, Clermont County GOP Chairman
Paul Hall, Brown County GOP Chairman
Harty Wallingford, Adams County GOP Chairman
Rodney Barnett, Scioto County GOP Chairman
Ray “Moose” Dutey, Lawrence County GOP Chairman

Did this newsletter get sent to you by someone other than me?
If so, please let me know and I will add you to my distribution list.
That will ensure that you get it in a timelier manner.
You may also forward this to your friends.

Let me know if you would like to unsubscribe.
This issue and all back issues are available at: www.BeckerGOP.com/TheBeckerReport.htm.

News
I have recently learned that the legendary Whistleblower is an avid reader of The Becker Report.
We teamed up together on a media bus to the Pike County and Warren County Lincoln Day Dinners.
(The media bus was really just my 1997 Honda Civic.)
I asked the Whistleblower for advice on how to report about things before they actually happen.
(What I really wanted to know was the lottery numbers before they are drawn.)
Although he tried to help me, a mere mortal man cannot match the great wisdom and intellect of the legendary Whistleblower.
It was a humbling experience.
The Whistleblower provides daily updates on SW Ohio and Northern Kentucky politics.
He also has a daily special edition devoted to the 2nd Congressional District race.
An e-mail subscription is free and his web site is: www.bluechipreview.com.
WARNING: His humor could be considered off-color and offensive.
Subscribe at your own risk.

Gubernatorial Election News
Now that Phil Heimlich is running for Lt. Governor with Jim Petro, the Blackwell/Heimlich conservatives in SW Ohio are divided and confused.
This was clearly a brilliant move by the Petro campaign and a blow to the Blackwell campaign.

In a demonstration of strong grassroots support, Betty Montgomery has announced and named coordinators in all 88 counties.
She also announced a war chest of more than $1.1 million.
For more information, contact Shane Ostrowski at 614-296-2683.

Ken Blackwell continues to meet with small groups and the Lincoln Day Dinners.

2nd Congressional District News
The race to fill the soon to be vacant seat of Congressman Rob Portman continues to change.
Candidates that I've seen campaigning are: U.S. Senate Election News
John Mitchel has announced his candidacy for the seat currently held by Senator Mike DeWine.
They will square off in the May 2006 primary.

Secretary of State Election News
In addition to Jim Trakas and Greg Hartmann, Ann Womer Benjamin is also a candidate.

Past Events
April 6, 2005
The Anderson Township Republican Club hosted candidates at their regular meeting.
For the Congressional race, Tom Brinkman, Pat DeWine, and David R. Smith were the three who attended.
Joe Braun represented Jean Schmidt.
Jeff Hardin also attended.
I did a quick count of about 50 people or so.
Food, beer, and soft drinks were available for all.
The legendary Whistleblower took notes throughout the evening.

April 6, 2005
Mary Taylor and Christine Haddad treated Connie Bare, Tim Rudd, and me for breakfast at Bob Evans in Eastgate.
We talked about Mary's campaign for State Auditor.
As you would expect, I asked Mary several tough questions.
And she provided very good answers.

April 5, 2005
Life Issues Institute held their annual banquet at the Hyatt.
About 500 people attended.
Ken Blackwell was the emcee.
And Steve Forbes was the keynote speaker.
Dr. Wilke also gave an emotional address.
Congressional candidates included Tom Brinkman, Pat DeWine, Bob McEwen, and Jean Schmidt.

April 4, 2005
Nearly 30 people attended the regular meeting of the Union Township Central Committee meeting in Clermont County.
We collected about $800 in donations for the bowling party and another $725 in pledges.
Fifty bowlers are registered so far.
Tom Brinkman was the only Congressional candidate to attend.
He was well received by the crowd.
Commissioner Mary Walker particularly liked his pledge to vote no on any cut to the local government fund.
Jeff Hardin, from Miami Township, and Andy Acree, Stonelick Township, also attended.

April 4, 2005
The second annual Mayors Prayer Breakfast was a huge success.
More than 1100 people packed the Hyatt to hear John Ashcroft.
Brown County's rising star Michelle Jowers hosted the table where I sat.
Tom Brinkman was the only Congressional candidate to attend.
It was also good to see Jeff Hardin and Harry Cooper Snyder again.

April 1, 2005
The best Lincoln Day Dinner that I've ever attended was at the Manor House in Mason.
Warren County Central Committee Co-chairman, Lori Viars provided the following statement:
We had well over 500 people there, standing room only, with people on a "stand-by" wait list. Bill Cunningham had the crowd in stitches & Rob Portman gave an emotional goodbye. As a goodbye gift, we presented him with a framed photo of himself and President Bush in front of the Golden Lamb (Ohio's oldest inn & restaurant, which was owned by Rob's grandparents). A gold plate was inscribed, "To Congressman Rob Portman, Warren County's Native Son, Thank You from the Warren County Republican Party." Our keynote speaker, Joe Hagin, gave us an inside look at a typical day inside the White House and personal reflections on President and Laura Bush. Second District candidates were out in force and Rob Portman told them he decided he wasn't going to leave----an April Fool's joke. A good time was had by all.
P.J. Wenzel introduced me to Deputy Finance Director Jamie Schwartz.
Congressional candidates included: Tom Brinkman, Pat DeWine, Bob McEwen, Jean Schmidt, and David R. Smith.
David Varda was the only candidate for State Auditor.
Christina Haddad represented Mary Taylor.
Jim Trakas and Ann Womer Benjamin were the only two candidates for Secretary of State.
Kreg Allison represented Greg Hartmann.
Jeff Eichhorn represented Jim Petro.
Lara Mastin represented Ken Blackwell.
And the legendary Whistleblower was taking notes throughout the evening.

March 31, 2005
Citizens for Community Values (CCV) drew 560 people to their annual banquet.
They raised a little over 20 percent of their 1.2 million dollar budget.
“CCV’s banquet speaker, Alan Sears, President of Alliance Defense Fund made it clear that the courts, if left to their current course will destroy this great nation. Activist judges must be held accountable and impeached if necessary,” said Phil Burress, President of CCV about Sears' speech.
Congressional candidates included Tom Brinkman, Bob McEwen, and Jean Schmidt.

March 31, 2005
Ann Wullweber hosted a breakfast for Ken Blackwell at her home in Lebanon.
Warren County Central Committee Co-chairman Lori Viars and Ken Blackwell's Ohio Campaign Co-chairman Lara Mastin showed a video and talked up Ken to the ten moms that attended.
Lori Viars provided the following:
Ann Wullweber & Barbara Franco hosted a Blackwell Breakfast for some of the grassroots volunteers who worked on the Bush campaign. Over coffee and danishes, Lori Viars and Lara Mastin shared ways to help on Ken's campaign and showed a video of Ken Blackwell speaking to a pastors' group. Blackwell's conservative views on abortion, gay rights, and taxes make him a favorite with Republican voters and his great poll numbers bear this out. There was much excitement and support for Ken Blackwell among this group of "average" citizens who helped President Bush capture 72% of the vote in Warren Co.
March 29, 2005
In a series of meetings across the 2nd Congressional District, Hamilton County Commissioner Pat DeWine stopped at the Lake Manor restaurant in Mt. Orab.
He was with his children, parents, and other family members.
To my surprise, Betty Hull was part of the bus tour.
She was the very pleasant young lady that I met at the Queen City Club during a breakfast for Ken Blackwell on March 7, 2005.
I did not know that Betty was Pat's girlfriend.
The three people from Brown County who attended were Commissioner Perry Ogden, County Recorder Gary Himes, and Central Committee Secretary Roxanne Malone.
It was a great honor to share a table during lunch with US Senator Mike and Fran DeWine, and KMK Vice President Chip Gerhardt.
During the meeting, I asked the Senator to support drilling in the Alaskan region of ANWR.
I also thanked him for his pro-life position and support for the unborn.
In support for the pro-life position, Mr. Gerhardt told us about his Down's Syndrome daughter and his involvement in Down's organizations.

The next event for the bus tour was Grammas Pizza in Batavia.
A few citizens were eating lunch.
And the DeWines mingled with them for a few minutes.
No one was there that I knew.

While in Batavia, I stopped by GOP Chairman Tim Rudd's office to compare notes on the Congressional, Gubernatorial, and other campaigns.

March 28, 2005
Pike County hosted their biggest Lincoln Day Dinner ever.
Nearly 200 people attended and it grossed about $4,000.
I spoke to Ken Blackwell about Jim Petro selecting Phil Heimlich as his candidate for Lt. Governor.
Ken was not concerned.
He said that people vote for the top of the ticket and don't really care who the Lt. Governor is.
Ken then asked me if I could name our current Lt. Governor.
He made his point.

Ken Blackwell was the keynote speaker and Jim Trakas also spoke.
During Ken's speech, he held the Constitution in his hand and said that it was the second most important book in his life after the Holy Bible.

This was the first time that I had heard Jim Trakas give a speech.
His delivery and content were very good.
He talked about how Abraham Lincoln had complained about activist judges.

Congressional candidates included: Tom Brinkman, Pat DeWine, Bob McEwen, and Jean Schmidt.
David Varda was the only candidate for State Auditor.
Jim Trakas and Ann Womer Benjamin were the only two candidates for Secretary of State.
Kreg Allison represented Greg Hartmann.
Holly Potter represented Betty Montgomery.
Pete Couladis represented Jim Petro.
Mary Glasgow represented Rob Portman.
Joining me for the road trip was Jeff Hardin and the legendary Whistleblower.
(Words cannot describe the experience of being in the car with those two for three hours. My head was sore from pounding it against the window as I drove.)

March 24, 2005
ORP Executive Director Chris McNulty hosted a Q&A conference call to discuss the new campaign finance law.
Amongst other things, it was suggested that county treasurers contact their bank and rename their operating fund accounts to include the word "restricted."

March 22, 2005
In a brilliant move for the Petro campaign, Phil Heimlich announced his candidacy for Lt Governor.
The Heimlich event was held at the Reds Hall of Fame and about 300 people attended.

I enjoyed chatting with Attorney General Jim and Nancy Petro and Commissioner Phil and Rebecca Heimlich.
Also, I visited with a few of my Clermont County friends including Jeff Hardin, Rep. Joe Uecker, and Union Twp Trustee Doug and Commissioner Mary Walker.
Clerk of Courts Tina Meranda and Republican Club President, Aaron Hines represented Brown County.
Jack Gruber and Dan Unger represented Family First PAC.
From Phil Heimlich's office, I met Chief of Staff Rob Seddon and Jenna Hodson.
From the Petro campaign, I met Chief of Staff Matt Cox and Brian Mead.
It was good to see Charlie Winburn again.
And I also met Cincinnati City Councilman Sam Malone and candidate Paul McGhee for the first time.
Senator Bob Schuler and I toured the museum together and reminisced about the The Big Red Machine.
It was also good to see Rep. Tom Brinkman, George Glover, and Chip Gerhardt again.
_________________________________________________
John Becker
Republican State Central Committeeman
Ohio's 14th Senate District
Clermont, Brown, Adams, Scioto, and Lawrence Counties
513-753-6440
www.BeckerGOP.com
mailto:John@BeckerGOP.com
www.BeckerGOP.com/TheBeckerReport.htm