Who wants to be Ohio's next governor? At least four Democrats and four Republicans. Wochit
Cincinnati City Councilwoman Amy Murray took a pass on voting on a non-binding, essentially meaningless resolution to honor an abortion doctor earlier this year.
No one noticed at the time.
But boy, they sure have now that Murray has been named Republican Jim Renacci's running mate in the governor's race.
Social conservatives from here to Cleveland aren't happy about Murray abstaining from a March vote to recognize Planned Parenthood's Joann Kersh "for her lifelong service to the women of Cincinnati," according to the resolution.
Influential Warren County conservative and vocal pro-life advocate Lori Viars wrote on Facebook about Renacci's lieutenant governor selection: "Sad that he's not picking a conservative."
Murray has been known as a moderate on City Council. She's often taken a pass on voting for non-binding, ceremonial resolutions, especially those related to social issues. It's probably the right approach politically for a Republican on Council in a blue city.
But in a statewide GOP primary, many voters place value on a candidate having a strong conservative record on issues such as abortion. City Hall has absolutely no say on abortion legislation, thus Murray has no record on the issue.
Politics Extra asked Murray where she stands on the issue: Pro-life or pro-choice? She deferred questions to the campaign. PX asked Renacci-Murray campaign spokesman James Slepian to provide a statement clarifying where Murray stands.
Here's what Slepian sent, via email:
After earning an F rating from the NRA with his votes over 40 years in politics, we understand that Mike DeWine is terrified and desperate to change the subject, but if he thinks he can do it by peddling fairy tales about Amy Murray, who is 100% pro-life and has never voted otherwise, he is sorely mistaken.
DeWine, a big favorite in the GOP gubernatorial primary, has not commented on Murray. Slepian clarified that he was referring to DeWine's surrogates and supporters.
The Ohio attorney general is staunchly pro-life, and DeWine's office has investigated Planned Parenthood for how it disposes of aborted fetuses.
No doubt some of the Murray backlash has come from DeWine supporters. State Rep. Niraj Antani, a Dayton-area Republican, issued a statement calling Murray's abstention "unacceptable" and demanding the Renacci campaign provide an answer for her vote. At least two other state lawmakers weighed in.
Politically motivated fake outrage? Maybe.
But some of the backlash has come from people who aren't necessarily in DeWine's corner, including Warren County Right to Life board member Viars.
The Northeast Ohio Values Voters, a Cleveland-area conservative group, pointed out Murray's abstention in a press release. Murray has been quoted as saying honorary resolutions are a "waste of time." But the group dug up a 2015 resolution to honor a Children's Hospital doctor that showed Murray voted for it. (PX fact check: True.)
Renacci, a Northeast Ohio congressman, has a strong pro-life record. But the Murray backlash can't be good for Renacci, who already faces an uphill slog in the governor's race. The Republican side of the race so far has been about which candidate can out-conservative the others. The candidates are all pining for Trump voters in a state the president won by more than eight percentage points.
Bottom line here: Murray didn't vote in favor of honoring an abortion doctor. So settle down, everyone.
MICRO-SCOOPS & MORE
• Congratulations to local civil rights icon Marian Spencer, who will have a new dorm at the University of Cincinnati named in her honor. A well-deserved honor for Ms. Spencer, the city's first African-American woman vice mayor and a key figure in helping to desegregate Cincinnati Public Schools in 1972. Not bad for someone from little ol' Gallipolis, also the hometown of former UC President Nancy Zimpher and Politics Extra. The poverty-stricken Southeast Ohio Appalachian river town isn't an easy place to grow up, especially for minorities.
From Enquirer higher ed reporter Kate Murphy's story on UC's dorm-naming decision: "Spencer grew up following in her grandfather's footsteps of community activism. She watched marches of the Ku Klux Klan in front of their home in Gallipolis, Ohio, and joined the NAACP at 13 years old."
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital recently sent 200 holiday cards to congressmen from Ohio, Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky imploring them to fund the Children's Health Care Program. Families of children who've received care at Children's wrote the cards. Congress has been kicking the can on program funding, which provides medical coverage for six million children.
• Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Aftab Pureval has launched a GoFundMe page to raise money to keep the Cincinnati Winter Shelter open throughout the cold-weather season. So far, Pureval has raised nearly $12,000 of his $25,000 goal. To donate, visit gofundme.com/cincywintershelter.
• Green Township Republican Bill Seitz is no longer considering being Mary Taylor's running mate in the governor's race. Seitz recently requested petitions to run for re-election to the Ohio House, where he is the current majority floor leader. The long-time state lawmaker had been talked about as Taylor's potential running mate for several months, but Seitz would've had to give up his Statehouse seat to run for lieutenant governor. And that would've been too big of a risk for Seitz, considering Taylor is a big underdog in the primary and could end up dropping out of the race.
• Hyde Park Democrat Brigid Kelly has been elected the Ohio House's new assistant minority whip. Kelly is a freshman lawmaker who's quickly gained respect on both sides of the aisle in the Statehouse. Kelly has made headlines for bill proposals to kill the state's tampon tax and to require Gov. John Kasich to spend 40 hours job shadowing teachers and other school workers.
• DeWine was in Indian Hill for a fundraiser on Monday, the same day Renacci was in Cincinnati to make the Murray announcement. The fundraiser, held at the home of Chemed executive David Williams, brought in more than $50,000 for DeWine's campaign.
• PX is taking next week off. During this season of giving, please remember our region's homeless and consider a donation to a local shelter. City Gospel Mission and Shelterhouse (formerly Drop Inn Center) each provide hot meals, shelter and other services. Go to homelessshelterdirectory.org/ohio.html for a complete list of local shelters.
Merry Christmas.
Politics Extra is a column looking inside Greater Cincinnati and Ohio politics. Follow Enquirer political columnist Jason Williams on Twitter @jwilliamscincy and send email to jwilliams@enquirer.com.