Two Democrats battling it out for state party's top position

The Columbus Dispatch ^ | Wednesday, June 19, 2002 | Joe Hallett

[Printers Angel]

For the third time in 27 years, candidates from Columbus and Dayton will square off Thursday night for the chairmanship of the ailing Ohio Democratic Party.

Franklin County Democratic Chairman Dennis L. White and Montgomery County Democratic Chairman Dennis. A. Lieberman each predicted yesterday that he has the votes to succeed David J. Leland as party leader.

The party's executive committee, composed of the 66 central committee members, will elect a chairman during a 6:15 p.m. meeting at the Airport Hotel in Columbus. Leland, chairman since 1995, will resign after the meeting to become national director of Project Vote, a nonpartisan organization that attempts to improve turnout among low-income and minority voters.

Throughout nearly three decades, there have been only two contested races for state Democratic party chairman, and both involved candidates from Columbus and Dayton. In 1975, Paul Tipps of Dayton defeated Nelson Lancione of Columbus. Twenty years later, Leland avenged that defeat for Columbus by defeating Lieberman.

Now, Lieberman and White are embroiled in a close fight for control of a party that hasn't won a statewide nonjudicial race since 1994.

"This is a crossroads,'' said Tipps, party chairman from 1975 to'83. "We've reached a point where one party has dominated the state longer than any other time in modern history.''

Indeed, if Republicans sweep the Nov. 5 statewide elections -- as they are favored to do -- the GOP will become the first party in state history to control Ohio government for at least 10 consecutive years.

Both White, 48, and Lieberman, 49, chairmen of their respective parties since 1994, said yesterday that they were uncertain about the votes of six uncommitted committee members from Cincinnati who could swing the election to either candidate.

"I've got a majority now with probably two more than I need, but we don't know how many are going to make it to the meeting,'' White said. "If he picks up the Cincinnati votes and my people don't show up, he could squeak by.''

Referring to the Cincinnati members, Lieberman said, "If they go to Denny (White), it makes it a much closer election. But I still win it as long as my people show up.''

While Leland professed to be neutral in the race, Lieberman said Leland helped White by scheduling the meeting for 6:15 p.m.

Because most of White's supporters are from central Ohio, they will have less trouble attending the meeting after work, Lieberman said.

"It makes it very difficult for my people and very easy for Denny's,'' Lieberman said. "There are some suspicions about that. It would be a shame if that was done purposely, because you distort the process if you make it difficult for people to get to Columbus to vote.''

Leland responded: "It sounds like somebody is trying to come up with a reason not to have enough votes. Nobody on the executive committee has complained.''

White denied that the time of the meeting gives him a leg up.

"Any time is fine with me,'' he said. "My support is from all over the state, so it's good and bad for both of us.''

The winner will be chosen by roll-call vote. The candidates will give speeches before the vote.

"I'm going to tell the committee it's time to go to work and get Democrats elected this year by working together and bringing the party together,'' White said. "There's been enough talk; it's time to go to work.''

Lieberman, who originally launched a campaign against Leland in January, said he will focus on his plan to recruit and promote candidates, raise money, coordinate and develop a unified message, and build a strong organization.

"I'm going to tell them they ought to vote for the person who has the best vision for the party, because that's what this election is all about,'' Lieberman said.