Welcome aboard Mr. Seaver's.
Posted on 11/18/2004 7:19:49 AM PST by flutters
A western Ohio Democrat who garnered national attention in 2000 when he became the youngest House member in state history at age 18 says he is joining the Republican caucus.
Rep. Derrick Seaver of Minster in Auglaize County, now 22, said he plans to make the switch official at a news conference today with Ohio GOP leaders. Seaver declined to discuss his reasons until then.
It is the first time in recent memory that a state representative has switched caucuses.
Seaver, who was unopposed for re-election as a Democrat two weeks ago, campaigned for President Bush and said he "felt more at home in the Republican Party," said Rep. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, the incoming speaker.
Husted said Seaver, a conservative Democrat, approached him during the summer and said he was considering switching parties.
"I told him we would welcome him," Husted said.
By joining the GOP caucus, Seaver gives the Republicans a 60-39 advantage in the House. That could be significant because 60 votes are needed to override a veto or to place a constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot.
Democrats criticized Seaver for switching two weeks after running for re-election as a Democrat and said he is failing his constituents in Auglaize, Champaign and Shelby counties.
"Derrick Seaver is a very young man who is making a mistake," said Rep. Chris Redfern, House minority leader.
Technically, Seaver, who resigned two months ago as chairman of the Auglaize County Democratic Party, will remain a registered Democrat until he votes as a Republican in a primary. But he is free to join the GOP caucus, officials said.
Seaver was just old enough to vote when he won his first race for the Ohio House in 2000 by just 242 votes. His district was revised in 2001, and he won in 2002 with about 58 percent of the vote.
One previous attempt to lure a state lawmaker across the aisle failed.
In December 1982, after Democrats had wrested 17-16 control of the Senate, Republicans persuaded Sen. M. Morris Jackson, a Cleveland Democrat, to join their caucus by promising to make him Senate president. He said the Democrats were not treating him with respect.
The power play would have given Republicans control of the Senate, but it fell through within three weeks when Jackson’s Cleveland supporters persuaded him to rejoin the Democratic caucus.
Welcome aboard Mr. Seaver's.
The number of elected democrats who have switched to the GOP since Clintons election in 1992 is staggering. While the number of GOPers who switched to dem in that time frame can be counted on a single hand.
This kid is 22? He might be one to watch in, say, 15 years on the national level!
Spoken just like a liberal who is watching this young man walk away with override power, while he (Redfern) has nothing to offer him.
"Democrats criticized Seaver for switching two weeks after running for re-election as a Democrat and said he is failing his constituents in Auglaize, Champaign and Shelby counties."
I beg to differ, I believe that at least two if not all three of those counties went to Bush.
I suppose the dems will start a petition to have him recalled for being a traitor (like they tried with our Democratic St. Paul Mayor Kelley when he went public to show support for re-electing Pres. Bush).
Welcome to Jesusland! :o)
Is this the same guy?
I'll take this guy in a trade for Jeffords any day. He must be the proverbial player to be named later.
All three counties went to Bush:
Auglaize County - Bush 74%, Kerry 26%
Champaign County - Bush 63%, Kerry 37%
Shelby County - Bush 71%, Kerry 29%
Source: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/OH/P/00/county.000.html
I think it is. I'll do a little research and find out for sure.
Thanks I thought so but figured I was safe with at least two if not all three.
Way to go, Seaver!
Yes, he is the one -- pro-gun and pro-life. Here is a good article:
http://www.youthvote.org/news/newsdetail.cfm?newsid=110
Excellent choice Mr. Seaver, good move!
If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! (and hopefully don't be a RINO!)
Gun Owners of America questions asked of Ohio state-level candidates:
1. Do you oppose "one-gun-a-month" laws that limit purchases of firearms by law-abiding citizens?
2. Do you support preemption legislation that would totally
prohibit localities from placing limitations on the rights of citizens to purchase, possess, or carry firearms?
3. Would you oppose legislation mandating "no-safety" zones
designed to ban concealed carry or self-defense?
4. Would you oppose legislation requiring that firearms purchased by private citizens be registered with law enforcement and tracked by a centralized record system administered by government agencies?
5. Do you oppose legislation banning the manufacture, sale or possession of semi-automatic firearms?
6. Do you oppose legislation banning the manufacture, sale or possession of large-capacity magazines?
7. Do you oppose laws that would take away the rights of 18-20 year-olds to possess a firearm?
8. Do you oppose laws that allow persons who are shot by a properly working firearm to sue firearms manufacturers and/or firearms sellers (strict liability)?
9. Do you oppose laws that would ban the sale of a privately owned firearm at a gun show unless the buyer submits to a background check?
10. Do you oppose government licensing to buy a gun?
11. Do you oppose computerized "instant" background check systems?
12. Do you oppose government mandated use of trigger locks or other locked storage requirements?
13. Would you oppose legislation that bans firearms ownership due to simple misdemeanors?
14. Would you support Vermont-style legislation that would eliminate all requirements to pay fees and register gun owners and simply allow law-abiding citizens to carry firearms openly or concealed (at the individual's discretion) for any reason except for the commission of a crime?
15. Do you oppose banning the private ownership of .50 caliber rifles?
Seaver answererd YES to all of the above.
His parents are or were teachers.
Oh, that explains it.
So, I take it from post # 18 that he is not pro gun after all?
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