Labor-friendly reps take over Ohio House
Former OCSEA chapter president wins 85th district

COLUMBUS, OHIO - The battle ground state of O - H - I - O made the difference on Nov. 4, 2008, giving the Barack / Biden ticket 20 electoral points and taking back the Whitehouse, the Senate, and the House... not to mention many state seats. Supports at the Nov. 2 Statehouse rally hold the letters, "O H I O."

Nov. 6, 2008 - OCSEA members and volunteers saw their efforts make a difference Nov. 4 when they helped elect Barack Obama for President of the United States.

They also spoke loud and clear on Nov. 4 when they helped give control back of the Ohio House of Representatives to Democrats.

One of OCSEA’s biggest goals and challenges was to see take a majority in the House, and thanks to activists like you, we helped make it happen. The union could not have done it without the many people working toward this goal.

Labor-friendly candidates gained seats in the 20th, 22nd, 28th, 42nd, 63rd, and 85th districts. These results give the Democrats a 7-seat pickup and a net gain of five House seats. The House margin is now 51-48 for the Democrats.

If the narrow leads in the 19th and 92nd result in Marian Harris and Debbie Phillips, respectively, closing those leads to victory, it will be a net gain of seven and an even greater margin for the Dems, at 53-46.

The strategic gain at the national and state levels is enormous, and is likely the voters’ way of saying they have had enough of the failed policies of the Bush Whitehouse, much like what Ohio saw in 2006 when we gained almost every statewide seat.

One victory that is particularly close to OCSEA members’ hearts is the triumph of Ray Pryor in the 85th district.

The former OCSEA Chap. 7100 president and steward was an employee of the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services for 19 years.

“I am feeling great, and looking forward to hitting the ground running,” said Pryor on Thursday morning. He went on to thank his supporters for all their hard work.

“I didn’t win this election alone,” he said. “Everyone has been calling me and congratulating me on a good campaign, but it was people who supported me, like OCSEA members, that won this election.”

Mark Schneider led another interesting campaign, and ultimately took over the 63rd district, defeating the Republican incumbent currently holding that seat.

OCSEA Pres. Eddie L. Parks expressed gratitude to those who worked on campaigns and helped get out the vote.

“We are thrilled about these victories in the Ohio House because now, paired with a labor-friendly governor, our members will have an even stronger voice in state legislation and issues that are important to them,” said Parks.

See Related

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