The Ohio Democratic Party finally responded to an email I sent.

It wasn’t on letterhead. It’s undated (attached in an Email to me from John Tannous, “Party Affairs Director, ODP” dated 8/30/22, 6:36 PM) They claim they aren’t a public entity that has to follow the Ohio Sunshine Laws (really? Because, real democrats believe in sunshine).

I’m not on their website because I somehow don’t meet their standards- which seem to be kinda nebulous.

I’m running in an unconstitutionally drawn district that includes 3 counties. They claim that I had a “right of appearance” before the May primary- and because the county didn’t make an endorsement, they won’t either. Something about the information in their questionnaire.

Since I don’t believe in primary endorsements, in my world that’s up to democrats voting in an open primary – not just the folks on the central committee.

I’m wondering since I never filled out a document for the Greene or Clark County parties- why the Montgomery County party is the only one that counts?

They go on to say:

We have also received multiple credible accounts of past conduct on your part that would make us hesitant to do so, such as harassing Democratic candidates, elected officials, and leaders; supporting Republicans; and using inflammatory and offensive language.

Hmmm, really? Like harassing current Montgomery County Dem Party Chair Mohamed Al-Hamdani while he illegally conducted School board business before he was sworn in? Or conducted an illegal private bus tour of schools to close? Really? Because I made a video- called “Good Bye Sunshine” that clearly shows Dayton Mayor Jeff Mims not entering the buildings because he knew it was illegal.

As to supporting Republicans- Isn’t that what the near brawl was about at the end of the last Montgomery County Democratic Party meeting?

The fact that my business is advertising and I serve all Americans, I’ve done work for Republicans- ones I know, who are my friends. The Party has turned down every offer of assistance I’ve offered over the last 25 years. Am I allowed to deny service to people based on their political leanings? How is that different from denying a wedding cake to a gay couple?

As to inflammatory language, I guess what’s OK for Beto- isn’t ok for me.

Or, when Tim Ryan says “God Damned”

The last part of the letter is interesting:

Finally, the ODP is NOT required to put you on our website or include your name on sample ballots if it doesn’t choose to do so. There have been dozens of examples over the years that candidates, even though they are the only Democrat running for an office, have been left off official ODP publications. The decision is entirely at the discretion of the ODP Chair and not subject to any statute or law.

Apparently, winning a primary, asking the people to decide doesn’t matter to them.

Either elections matter, or they don’t.

The two other candidates who they are leaving off the site- one won a close primary, the other, had his “establishment” candidate drop out after he’d raised half a million to run- and he quit after early voting started.

I’m doing my best to help both Amy Rippel-Elton who is running in Ohio-12 and Gary Josephson who is running in Ohio-15 (which includes the rest of Clark County. Because I believe every democratic voter should have someone knock on their door- and give them a choice that isn’t the anti-christ. For a while, the party didn’t have Tamie Wilson who is running against Jim Jordan in Ohio4 on their site…

But I’m sure Danny “DropOut” O’Connor would have been on the Dem party website.

So am I a Democrat?

If you were at the shitshow of the Montgomery County Dems party meeting which almost ended in a brawl, Mohamed told me- I’m not a member of the party.

Now, the law in Ohio is if you get 50 signatures of Dem voters, and you are a dem- you are a dem. And if a majority of Dems choose you to be their representative on the ballot, you’re on the ballot- as a Dem.

Apparently, the Republicans have different interpretations of the law.

A candidate for Secretary of State, who used to be a Republican, tried to run as an independent, where the standard for signatures is much higher.

The Republicans claimed successfully, that the person was still an R- and the 5000+ signatures didn’t matter.  It’s amazing how we count signatures in Ohio- it’s overseen by the dems and the republicans- not the independents/non-aligned folks who out-number each of the parties.

Please note, in Montgomery County the Board of (S)Elections routinely invalidates at least 20% of the signatures, her total of 5,010 would never fly- and the Secretary of State ruled that she was 7 short. Apparently, no one informed her, that by locating the voters and getting a notarized affidavit of intent of those voters, the signatures can be counted (it’s known as the Esrati rule in Montgomery County after I learned it from Jose Lopez who used that method in Miami County).

But, again- Am I still a Democrat?

Tim Ryan is out on the campaign trail distancing himself from some of the Democratic initiatives – and I don’t see the party backing down on their endorsement.

Apparently, the Democratic party is backing no one against Mike Turner.

If this doesn’t make you mad, I don’t know what does.

Their failure through 10 elections to find a candidate that comes within 14 points of him should tell you something about the party.

It’s not a reflection on me.

Here’s the last 10 failures- and I believe the party included all 10 on slate cards, on their site, etc.

district	year	candidate	votes	percentage	win percent	spent	cost per vote
OH3	2002	Mike Turner	111630	58.8	17.6	1298318	11.630547343904
		Rick Carne	78307	41.2		570071	7.2799494298083
OH3	2004	Mike Turner	197290	62.3	24.6	1018127	5.1605605960768
		Jane Mitakides	119448	37.7		448885	3.7579951108432
OH3	2006	Mike Turner	127978	58.5	17	1112107	8.6898295019456
		Richard Chema	90650	41.5		6416	0.070777716492002
OH 3	2008	Mike Turner	200204	63.3	26.6	1058000	5.2846096981079
		Jane Mitakides	115976	36.7		401924	3.465579085328
OH10	2010	Mike Turner	152629	68.1	36.2	784265	5.1383747518493
		Joe Roberts	71455	31.9		6170	0.086348051221048
OH10	2012	Mike Turner	208201	59.5	22	1099375	5.2803540809122
		Sharen Swartz Neuhardt	131097	37.5		583102	4.447866846686
OH10	2014	Mike Turner	130752	65.2	33.7	931476	7.1239904552129
		Robert Klepinger	63249	31.5		0	0
OH10	2016	Mike Turner	215724	64.1	31.4	1170908	5.4278059001316
		Robert Klepinger	109981	32.7		8434	0.076685973031705
OH10	2018	Mike Turner	157554	55.9	13.7	1459281	9.2621006131231
		Theresa Gasper	118785	42.2		1190601	10.023159489835
OH10	2020	Mike Turner	212972	58.4	16.8	1736283	8.1526350881806
		Desiree Tims	151976	41.6		2024010	13.317958098647
OH10	2022	Mike Turner	161792	62.19	24.38	811128	5.0133999208861
		David Esrati	98383	37.81		40012	0.40669627882866

Even Desiree Tims who outspent Turner, couldn’t even make him break a sweat.

If I had the $400K the DCCC wasted on helping a Trump candidate beat a patriotic American, Rep. Peter Meijer, who voted to impeach Trump, I could win.

Except, for the fact, that I don’t think I want to associate myself with people who support Trumpers- or Turner.

So, maybe I’m not a “Democrat”- maybe I’m just Veteran, Activist and Small Business man who actually has integrity.

And maybe the political parties in Ohio should have some of their powers stripped, our Boards of Elections de-politicized, so that the majority of voters- those who refuse to align with one party or another- have a real voice in who gets on the ballot and who doesn’t. Because right now- it looks more like a “Friends and Family” organization than a group that wants to win elections and support democratic ideals.