XENIA — Ohio’s first lady Frances Strickland partly blamed the country’s 8 million jobs lost in the last three years on her husband’s Republican opponent for governor and those working on Wall Street during a Democratic picnic rally in Xenia on Saturday, Aug. 28.

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While in Xenia, Frances Strickland also stumped for statewide candidates Maryellen O’Shaughnessy, candidate for secretary of state against state Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, and David Pepper, running for state auditor against Dave Yost, the Delaware County prosecutor.

O’Shaughnessy, who if elected would be in charge of the state’s elections, attended the picnic at Shawnee Park with about 250 of the party’s strongest supporters in the county and said the No. 1 issue facing voters in the Dayton area is jobs.

O’Shaughnessy, clerk of courts for Franklin County, criticized Husted for not caring enough about voters, but instead wanting to climb the political ladder.

“Many people like Senator Husted want to use the secretary of state office as a stepping stone for higher office,” she said. “I want to be secretary of state and I have the background in local government to get the job done.”

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LIMA — Democrat Maryellen O’Shaughnessy touted qualifications in small business and public office administration Thursday in her quest to become Ohio secretary of state. 

O’Shaughnessy spoke to Allen County Democrats before campaigning at the Allen County Fair. She entered the race later and kicked a campaign into high gear to make up ground, she said. 

“We have an opportunity to continue to provide fair elections, and also jumpstart that business services section,” O’Shaughnessy said. “This is about making sure we draw the lines of districts [in an upcoming apportionment] in a fair way.” 

As the current Franklin County Clerk of Courts, she runs the largest clerk of court operation in the state, and manages more employees, 231, than are employed by the secretary of state, 193. O’Shaughnessy is also a fourth-generation funeral director; she retains her license and said her smallbusiness background allows her to understand what the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office should provide to businesses. 

In addition to serving as the state’s chief elections official, the secretary of state also administers one of the state’s business gateways, O’Shaughnessy said. 

It is the place, for example, where businesses register as limited liability companies. 

“I’m the only candidate in this race who has taken out an LLC with the Secretary of State’s Office,” O’Shaughnessy said. “I’m also wired for service. My family is rooted in service; 120 years ago, my greatgrandfather began his business and also ran for office.” 

Read the letter sent to Democracy for America members below:

 

Dear Supporter:

DFA endorsements have always been driven by our members on the ground across the country -- that's what makes Democracy for America the country's only people-powered PAC. But the Ohio All-Star endorsement is different because it's chosen entirely by DFA members in Ohio.

All the votes have been cast and I'm honored to announce DFA's Ohio All-Star -- Maryellen O'Shaughnessy.

It's not difficult to see why Maryellen won this hard-fought endorsement. Just look at how she describes the grassroots campaign she's running:

I entered the race for Ohio Secretary of State just a few short weeks before the filing deadline. In that time, I accumulated over 2,800 signatures from 60 of Ohio's 88 counties. Quite a feat! This only happened because of the hard work of grassroots activists who wanted to see my name appear on the ballot in November.

Join the campaign -- Contribute or Volunteer right now.

Democracy for America is committed to electing progressives up and down the ballot -- to school boards, city councils and state legislatures. These offices have a huge impact on local communities and help build a bench of progressive talent that will grow and sustain a long-term progressive movement.

Every campaign we run, every candidate we support is powered by you -- our members on the ground. Join me today in support of the Ohio All-Star. Sign up to volunteer or contribute right now to help elect a progressive fighter.

Join the campaign -- Contribute or Volunteer right now.

Thank you for all that you do.

-Jim

Jim Dean, Chair
Democracy for America