By Molly Williamson

Staff Reporter

Miami Township Trustee Joe Uecker received a hug as well as his party's endorsement Jan. 21 at the Clermont County Republican Central Committee meeting.

When his endorsement for the 66th District state representative was announced, Central Committee member Jennifer Black of Miami Township ran over to give him a hug of congratulations.

Uecker was among the five candidates in opposed races and 10 in unopposed local races to receive the party's endorsement.

The Republican executive committee brought its recommendations for endorsement, decided Jan. 14, to the central committee for approval. By the end of the meeting, 121 of 176 central committee members turned out to endorse.

The central committee has the final say, Rudd said. Though committee members only received one name for endorsement, they could vote whether to endorse in the race.

The committee unanimously voted to endorse President George W. Bush, U.S. Rep. Rob Portman (R-2nd District), U.S. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio). In Clermont races, the party backed Prosecutor Donald White, Sheriff A.J. "Tim" Rodenberg, Treasurer J. Robert True, Commissioners Bob Proud and Mary Walker, Engineer Pat Manger, Common Pleas Court Judge William Walker, Domestic Relations Court Judge Michael Vorris, Common Pleas Court Clerk Barb Wiedenbein and 12 District Court of Appeals Judge William Young. All of those candidates are running unopposed.

In the Clermont County Recorder race, the central committee voted 73-47 to endorse the race and the executive committee chose incumbent Carolyn Green over Batavia Township Trustee Deborah Clepper for the endorsement.

The central committee voted 78-41 to endorse in the 14th District state senator race and the executive committee selected Ohio Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-66th District) over Ohio Rep. Tom Niehaus (R-88th District).

Uecker received the endorsement over his opponents Carl Dorsch, Don Donohoo, Mark Daniels and Jeff Hardin when 66th District central committee members voted 64-22 to endorse the race.

Executive committee members voted not to endorse in the 88th District state representative race in which Curt Hartman, Harry Cooper Snyder and Danny Bubp of Adams County are running, Rudd said. Bubp did not ask for an endorsement in time.

Both of the Republicans seeking endorsement for another seat on the 12th District Court of Appeals were not aware of the filing date for endorsement, so the executive committee met with both H.J. (Joe) Bressler and Suzanne Wynn and chose to endorse Bressler. The central committee backed them up, voting 80-36 to endorse.

Published: Jan. 28, 2004