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Another Problematic Execution; The State of the May Ballot

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A condemned killer appeared to gasp several times during his prolonged execution, done with a lethal injection process never before tried in the U.S. Once again, the Governor’s State of the State speech will be a traveling road show, since he's gotten permission from lawmakers to deliver it in Medina on Monday, February 24 at 7pm. Voters who want to cast ballots early in the May primary will have to do it by mail, or do it mostly during business hours.

February 5 is coming closer – it’s the primary candidate filing deadline. So far, there are no announced challengers to Republican incumbent Gov. John Kasich or Democratic challenger Ed FitzGerald. FitzGerald has selected a running mate, Sharen Neuhardt of the Dayton area. This week, two people who know whether there will be a GOP or Democratic primary. First up is the lone Democratic Hamilton County Commissioner who shook things up last month when he announced he was thinking of launching a campaign against FitzGerald. Todd Portune said he feels there needs to be a choice for Democratic voters, and he’s highlighted his record as a fiscal conservative and two decades of working with Republicans in his executive position in the county as reasons to support him.

On the other side of the ticket is potentially a Tea Party challenge. Tom Zawistowski is the executive director of the Portage County Tea Party and one of the most visible Tea Party organizers in the state. Those activists say they also want a choice and are infuriated at Medicaid expansion and other Kasich policies. Zawistowski talks about the difficulties in finding someone to take on Kasich.