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Warren GOP leaders still fuming over Beck appointment

Some question motives behind appointing Pete Beck over Jeff Monroe for Ohio House seat.

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By Denise G. Callahan, Staff Writer 4:54 PM Wednesday, October 28, 2009

More than a month after Pete Beck was appointed to an Ohio House seat by the state Republican Caucus, some Warren County GOP leaders are still fuming over the pick.

Beck, Mason’s vice-mayor, was appointed Sept. 16 to replace now Sen. Shannon Jones, who also was appointed for a seat held by Sen. Robert Schuler, who died this summer.

High-ranking Warren County GOP officials said the Republican caucus decision to chose Beck over Lebanon councilman Jeff Monroe was a mistake because he was not the recommend candidate.

“With that kind of top down decision, it makes it more difficult for us at the county level to turn out people to work for statewide candidates in future races,” said Don Prince, Warren County Central Committee chairman.

Rep. Bob Batchelder, the GOP’s leader in the statehouse, was asked by county leaders at a breakfast two weeks ago why Beck was appointed over Monroe, who was recommended by the local party, according to documents filed.

“Some in the room made the accusation that it was all based on money, not on principles,” Prince said. “There were some heated comments. He tried to dissuade us from that. He said it wasn’t all about money, but he didn’t really come up with any other salient reasons that we could say, ‘OK, that’s it.’ ”

Batchelder did not return calls for this story.

Beck informed the House caucus he already has $180,00 to $250,000 in committed campaign dollars.

“As in the past, any monies that I raise for my candidacy that are not needed, I willingly offer to the caucus or other House candidates in order to get the message out,” Beck wrote in a letter to party leaders.

Beck said he did not want to comment.

Warren County Republican Party Chairman Tom Grossmann said it appears money talks.

“They specifically denied the money was it, but I think money-making ability is always significant,” he said. “Some people might not like to hear that, but the party politics run on money. Both sides know how important money can be. So all things being equal, I think money can be significant.”

Rep. Ron Maag, R-Lebanon, co-chaired the selection committee that made the recommendation to the GOP Caucus and he said the process was fair. There were many letters of support for Beck, said Maag, adding Monroe did not have unanimous county-wide support.

The committee took a secret vote he said, and it was unanimous for Beck. Beck’s fundraising ability was discussed, and Maag said it could have been a factor for some people, but it didn’t sway his vote.

“As I tell people, it’s just like an election,” he said. “Sometimes the result isn’t what you wanted, but it’s an open process and you get what you get.”

Monroe said he hasn’t decided whether he will challenge Beck in the May 2010 primary, but he said many people are urging him to.

“People are fed up with politics as usual,” he said. “That may sound trite, but special interests in Columbus or Washington, D.C., come ahead of what our voice says.”

Grossmann said he is discouraging anyone from creating primaries because it will siphon funds that could be used to bolster state-wide general election races. He said his race for county commissioner in the May primary doesn’t count because incumbent Commissioner Mike Kilburn isn’t running, so it’s natural for several people to vie for the seat.

Former state legislator Michelle Schneider, who lost out to Jones during the appointment process, said she will run in the May primary. She said the Senate caucus broke protocol when it chose senators who are not from this area to make the selection, and she said the people have the right to choose.

Warren County Commissioner Pat South said the state GOP leadership has ensured two primaries in May.

“That’s sad because we could forego expensive primaries if we had candidates who were supported and the local leadership got the candidates they wanted. It helps prevent expensive primaries right around the corner,” she said. “Now instead of the Ohio caucus actually being able to get that money and use it for statewide races, that money now has to stay here for primaries.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.

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