Thursday, September 16, 1999
Mallory won't run against Chabot
BY HOWARD WILKINSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
State Sen. Mark Mallory, D-Cincinnati, ended speculation that he would take on U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot in the 1st Congressional District next year.
Mr. Mallory's decision to stay in the state Senate leaves the Democrats with no clear candidate in a district that could be crucial in the battle for control of Congress.
“It just comes down to the role I would have,” Mr. Mallory said Wednesday. “In Columbus, I have an increasingly prominent role in policy development. In Congress, even in a new Democratic majority, I would be one of over 535 legislators fighting for that same role,” Mr. Mallory said.
Mr. Mallory's decision means Democratic Party officials in Washington will have to continue looking for a candidate to challenge Mr. Chabot in 2000, in hopes of picking up a district almost evenly split between Democratic and Republican voters.
It is a district that includes most of Cincinnati, where most of the Democratic votes reside; and most of the city's western suburbs, which are heavily Republican.
Last year, Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls spent more than $1 million trying to unseat Mr. Chabot, who won a third term with 53 percent of the vote.
Hamilton County Democratic Party Co-Chairman Tim Burke said he does not expect Ms. Qualls to run for Congress again in 2000.
“My impression is that she wants to take some time off from politics,” Mr. Burke said.
Ms. Qualls could not be reached for comment.
Others mentioned in Democratic circles as potential candidates are Cincinnati City Councilman Todd Portune, former Councilman and Mayor Dwight Tillery, and Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes. None has publicly expressed interest.
Mr. Burke said that several months ago, he broached the idea of running against Mr. Chabot with former Cincinnati mayor and TV talk show host Jerry Springer, at the same time he talked to him about running for the U.S. Senate from Ohio. Mr. Springer, after intense media coverage of his potential candidacy, announced last month he would not run.
“I assume if he's not running for the Senate, he's not running for the House, either,” Mr. Burke said.
Mr. Burke said he was disappointed by Mr. Mallory's decision.
“He would have been a great candidate,” Mr. Burke said. “But I can understand it. Aside from growing up on Dayton Street in the West End, Mark Mallory grew up in the Ohio Statehouse. He loves the place.”
Mr. Mallory is the son of former Ohio House Majority Leader William Mallory, who served for more than a quarter century.
Democrats have less than four months to decide on a candidate. Because Ohio's primary was moved up to March 7 next year, the filing deadline for candidates is Jan. 7.
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