Weddington, O’Grady win

W. Carlton Weddington John O’Grady

By Jamila T. Williams and
Amber E. Robinson
Contributing Writers
Columbus Post

Primary voters ventured out in the rainy, cold weather to let their voices be heard in Ohio and the nation on March 4.
W. Carlton Weddington, Mayo Makinde and H. Lee Thompson all vied for State Representative in Ohio's 27th House District with Weddington, who had the backing of the incumbent Joyce Beatty, winning with nearly 60 percent of the vote.
State Representative Tracy Heard in Ohio's 26th House district secured her chance at a second term while Judge Tim Horton renewed his seat on the Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
On the brink of starting service to Ohio's 15th Congressional District in the nation's capital, Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy asked John O'Grady, who was a candidate to fill the seat, to address the matter of foreclosures.
" I am humbled by Kilroy's faith in me – and galvanized in my resolve to bring an end to this devastating crisis," said O'Grady.
O’Grady bested his opponent Cindy Lazarus for Franklin County Commissioner with a 55 to 45 percent victory.
Issue 29, also known as the MRDD levy, passed overwhelmingly allowing the Franklin County Board of Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities to continue to provide the services and programs for those eligible throughout the county.
On the campaign trail prior to the March 4 Primary, the Democratic presidential candidates traveled back and forth from one end of Ohio to the other and made several stops within cities that held rallies organized to increase awareness about the political process.
Students of YouthBuild, a charter secondary school that concentrates on educating students in the area of house construction attended an Obama rally at The Ohio State University in February.
" I think Barack Obama makes a good candidate for president. How many candidates do you know bring the youth out?" asked Brian Williams, a YouthBuild participant.
The Saturday prior to Tuesday's Primary, Columbus' Short North arts district turned into a political showdown as Obama supporters congregated on one side of N. High Street while Clinton supporters gathered on the other drawing crowds (and some stares) as they shouted chants backing their candidate.
Rhode Island, Vermont and Texas were in the national spotlight on March 4 during the state primaries.
On the presidential scene, Republican race results revealed war veteran Sen. John McCain as winner in each state's primary to put him over the top to earn the number of delegates needed and the GOP presidential nomination.
As the Democratic race continued to be neck-and-neck across the nation from northern counties near Cleveland kept polls open until 9 p.m. because of snowy weather and the fact that voters outnumbered the amount of ballots available. This resulted in some 400 people being turned away at ballot sites
Sen. Barack Obama – the energetic presidential candidate, who was criticized as too young and inexperienced by his opponent – took Vermont. Sen. Hillary Clinton, who pushes herself as the more experienced candidate, won Ohio, Rhode Island and eventually Texas. Obama garnered more delegates than Clinton as of the primaries and caucuses on March 4.
With the General Election more than six months away, the contest continues and many are still on the edges of their seats with the possibility of history being made.
" Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream. So to have a female and an African-American candidate on the ballot at the same time is unbelievable," said Ohio registered voter, John Chubb.

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