Richard Tafoya
Aug 14th, 2006, 04:00 PM
More GOP corruption fallout.
AP:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/14/politics/main1893570.shtml?source=RSS&attr=Politics_1893570
Rep. Bob Ney formally requested Monday that his name be removed from the November election ballot, ensuring that a special primary election will be held to replace him as the Republican candidate.
His letter officially notifying election officials ends a week of speculation about whether he would wait until after Aug. 19, when party leaders would have been able to appoint a replacement.
Ney announced he would withdraw from the race a week ago, citing the strain of an intensifying corruption investigation that had focused for months on his dealings with lobbyists. The six-term congressman denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged.
Democrats targeted Ney's seat in the wake of the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. The eastern and southern Ohio district has been solidly Republican, but Ney's campaign began hemorrhaging money after his former chief of staff pleaded guilty to conspiring to corrupt the congressman and the Justice Department subpoenaed Ney aides in Ohio and Washington.
...
Democrats hope the opening in Ney's 18th District — a conservative region of farms, mines, Appalachian hills and Rust Belt cities in central and eastern Ohio — will help them gain one of the 15 seats they need this fall to take control of the House.
...
State Sen. Joy Padgett of Coshocton is Ney's and House Majority Leader John Boehner's choice to replace Ney, but there have been questions over whether she is eligible to run after losing her bid to become the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor. Attorney General Jim Petro, her former running mate, offered an opinion last week that she could run.
Padgett said Monday she's leaving the legal arguments to the party officials and focusing on starting her campaign. She said she still needed to learn what formal steps to take to become a candidate.
AP:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/14/politics/main1893570.shtml?source=RSS&attr=Politics_1893570
Rep. Bob Ney formally requested Monday that his name be removed from the November election ballot, ensuring that a special primary election will be held to replace him as the Republican candidate.
His letter officially notifying election officials ends a week of speculation about whether he would wait until after Aug. 19, when party leaders would have been able to appoint a replacement.
Ney announced he would withdraw from the race a week ago, citing the strain of an intensifying corruption investigation that had focused for months on his dealings with lobbyists. The six-term congressman denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged.
Democrats targeted Ney's seat in the wake of the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. The eastern and southern Ohio district has been solidly Republican, but Ney's campaign began hemorrhaging money after his former chief of staff pleaded guilty to conspiring to corrupt the congressman and the Justice Department subpoenaed Ney aides in Ohio and Washington.
...
Democrats hope the opening in Ney's 18th District — a conservative region of farms, mines, Appalachian hills and Rust Belt cities in central and eastern Ohio — will help them gain one of the 15 seats they need this fall to take control of the House.
...
State Sen. Joy Padgett of Coshocton is Ney's and House Majority Leader John Boehner's choice to replace Ney, but there have been questions over whether she is eligible to run after losing her bid to become the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor. Attorney General Jim Petro, her former running mate, offered an opinion last week that she could run.
Padgett said Monday she's leaving the legal arguments to the party officials and focusing on starting her campaign. She said she still needed to learn what formal steps to take to become a candidate.