Redstate

By Mark Kilmer Posted in 2006 — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Former House Administration Committee Chairman Bob Ney, the Ohio Republican who was forced to relinquish his chair in January after winding up with Jack Abramoff's fingerprints all over him, has announced that he will not seek reelection this fall, saying that his family lobbied him not to put them through with it.

So who will run against attorney Zack Space, the Democrat nominee? State Senator Joy Padgett said this morning that she wanted the job:

"It has been my honor to serve Ohio in the House of Representatives and the Senate, and I promise to take the same work ethic and values I applied there to the United States Congress."

(She told the AP that Ney had informed her of his plans on Saturday and asked her to run, as did House Majority Leader John Boehner.)

For his part, Space had been running against Bob Ney's justice department investigation and lobbyists in general. One wonders if that will work against Padgett, and it's difficult to imagine a Democrat winning in Ohio's 18th if he's not chasing an indicted-by-the-press incumbent.

Ohio law states that there must be a primary if a candidate withdraws more than 80 days prior to the general election. It is not known if anyone will challenge Padgett, who looks now like she has the job. Pending two votes, of course. (Would that Texas had a similar law to replace Tom Delay on the ballot in Texas' 22nd CD.)