U.S. Rep. Marcia L. Fudge, D-Warrensville Heights, has announced her committee assignments for the 114th Congress.

Fudge was elected Jan. 28 as Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education.

This Subcommittee is part of the House Education and the Workforce Committee on which the Congresswoman first served in 2009. She will also serve as a member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

“I welcome the challenge and the opportunity to ensure that all of America’s children have access to a quality education,” Fudge said in a statement. “We must advance policies and priorities that provide adequate funding, equitably allocate resources, and ensure that all students graduate from high school are college and career ready.”

Fudge also remains on the House Agriculture Committee for which she was appointed to the Subcommittees on Nutrition, and Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research.

The congresswoman represents Ohio's 11th Congressional District, which includes Euclid and other portions of eastern and southern Cuyahoga County along with portions of Summit County and the city of Akron.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter @newsheraldjah

You may also count Lake County Recorder Ann Radcliffe as another person who has ruled out an interest to receive an appointment as Lake County commissioner in January.

“I am very happy serving as the county Recorder and this is where I would like to stay for many years to come. After two years in office I can still say that I am not a politician but a full time hands-on Recorder who works with the staff and will continue working to meet the needs of the public," Radcliffe said.

Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish has served the past 18 years as commissioner and announced Nov. 18 that he would not seek re-election in 2016 and he would resign effective Dec. 31. The Lake County Democratic Party Central Committee will appoint a new commissioner in January.

So far, Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO and Laketran Trustee President Kevin Malecek is the only person to publicly announce a candidacy. Malecek also is a former Willoughby Hills councilman.

Others who sources say are in the mix are state Rep. John Rogers; Common Pleas Court Judge Joe Gibson, who term ends this year and couldn’t run for re-election due to age limits; Clerk of Courts Maureen Kelly; Mentor Councilman Matt Donovan; and Concord Township Trustee Paul Malchesky.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Lake County Treasurer Lorraine M. Fende said she is not interested in a potential appointment as Lake County commissioner.

"When I ran for treasurer, I made a commitment to the residents of Lake County to pursue the collection of delinquent taxes and I would be remiss in my duties as an elected official if I didn't keep that promise," Fende said.

Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish has served the past 18 years as commissioner and announced Nov. 18 that he would not seek re-election in 2016 and he would resign effective Dec. 31. The Lake County Democratic Party Central Committee will appoint a new commissioner in January.

So far, Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO and Laketran Trustee President Kevin Malecek is the only person to publicly announce a candidacy. Malecek also is a former Willoughby Hills councilman.

Others who sources say are in the mix are state Rep. John Rogers; Common Pleas Court Judge Joe Gibson, who term ends this year and couldn’t run for re-election due to age limits; Clerk of Courts Maureen Kelly; Recorder Ann Radcliffe; Mentor Councilman Matt Donovan; and Concord Township Trustee Paul Malchesky.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah

There is a real chance that Ohio may host both the Republican and Democratic national conventions in 2016.

The Democratic National Committee on Nov. 24 announced Columbus is one of three finalists under consideration to host the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

The other two finalists are New York and Philadelphia while the cities of Phoenix and Birmingham dropped off the list. The DNC also announced the potential weeks for convention are the weeks of July 18, July 25, and August 22. The DNC plans to announce a final city and date early next year.
The announcement comes after a round of site visits by the DNC’s Technical Advisory Group to five cities.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, was pleased by the DNC’s choice to include Columbus as one of three finalists.

“Columbus is a world-class, walkable city with great facilities and accommodations – all making it the ideal host for the 2016 Democratic Convention,” Brown said in a statement. “The convention will give the city a platform to display our state’s diverse and innovative capital city. I look forward to working with the city’s leaders to make history and bring the convention to Ohio.”

Earlier this year, Cleveland was selected to be the host city for the Republican National Convention in 2016.

So it could mean Ohio is even more important in the process to select the next president of the United States.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah

John O’Donnell, candidate for Lake County Common Pleas Court judge, announced endorsements by former U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette, Willoughby Mayor Dave Anderson, Waite Hill Mayor Bob Ranallo, Willoughby Hills Mayor Bob Weger, Lake County Sheriff Dan Dunlap, Lake County Auditor Ed Zupancic, Lake County Coroner Lynn Smith, Madison Twp. Trustee Ken Gauntner, Painesville Councilwoman Lori DiNallo, Concord Twp. Trustee Connie Luhta, Mentor Councilwoman Janet Dowling, former Lake County Commissioner Ray Sines, former Lake County Clerk of Courts Lynne Mazeika, Willowick Mayor Richard Bonde, Fairport Harbor Councilman Tony Bertone, Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 116, Lake County Bar Association Judicial poll (Highly Recommended) 91 percent Approval rating.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Eleventh District Court of Appeals Judge Timothy P. Cannon announced candidacy endorsements by  the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Youngstown Vindicator, the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council, OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4, AFL-CIO, Mahoning/Trumbull AFL-CIO Labor Council, and Ohio AFSCME Power in Action, and listed highly recommended by Lake County Bar Association and Portage County Bar Association, and the preferred candidate by the Trumbull County Bar Association.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah

Lake County Probate Court Judge Mark J. Bartolotta announced candidacy endorsements by former U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette, U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, state Sen. John Eklund, Lake County Sheriff Dan Dunlap, Lake County Coroner Dr. Lynn Smith, Lake County Auditor Ed Zupancic, Lake County Engineer James Gills, former  Lake County Commissioner Ray Sines, former Lake County Commissioner Dale Fellows, Willoughby Mayor Dave Anderson, Retired Willoughby Police Chief William Crosier, Retired Willoughby Police Chief Conrad Straube, Willoughby Councilman Jeff Black, Willoughby Hills Mayor Bob Weger, Willoughby Hills Police Chief Chris Collins, Willoughby Hills Law Director Tom Lobe, Willoughby Hills Councilwoman Nancy Fellows, Eastlake Councilwoman Cindy Quinn Hopkins, Mentor Police Chief Kevin Knight, Mentor-on-the-Lake Police Chief John Gielink, Mentor-on-the-Lake Councilman Troy Elam, former Painesville Police Chief Troy Hager, Painesville Councilman Michael DeLeone, Kirtland City Council President Bob Umholtz, Waite Hill Mayor Bob Ranallo, former Lake County Recorder Frank Suponcic, Western Reserve Junior Service League President Alice Demeter, Fairport Harbor Police Chief Mark Kish, Madison Township Police Chief Leonard DelCalzo, North Perry Village Police Chief Ron Radovanic, Concord Township Trustee Connie Luhta, Fairport Harbor Councilman Tony Bertone, Willoughby Hills Councilman Dave Fiebig, Willoughby Hills Councilman John Plecnik, former Mentor Police Chief Richard Amiott, former Lake County Clerk of Courts Lynne Mazeika, president of the Lake County Blue Coats Dr. Ronald Taddeo, Madison Township & Madison Fire District Trustee Ken Gauntner, Kirtland City Councilman Doug Davidson, Kirtland Police Chief Wayne Baumgart, Painesville Township Trustee Josh Pennock, and Wickliffe Police Chief Randy Ice.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah