The list of people who want to head the Ohio Democratic Party is getting longer as several well-known Democrats have now expressed an interest in leading the party after chairman Chris Redfern’s resignation takes effect last month.
Term-limited Rep. Bob Hagan of Youngstown, who won a seat on the state school board, says he’s interested, and that he won’t run for US Senate in 2016.
“I’m no longer a candidate,” he says. “I would be the chairman of the party, and I would talk about the issues that really are important. And that to me is what we should be doing as a Democratic Party.”
Another possible candidate is Sharen Neuhardt of Yellow Springs, the running mate of failed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ed FitzGerald. Two other losing statewide candidates are also on the list: David Pepper is considered the frontrunner right now as chair, but both he and Nina Turner have talked about the party leadership. From the county level, Geauga County Democratic Party Chair Janet Carson has also said she’s interested.