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I seldom get comments about letters I write to the editor, until I started writing about State Senate candidate Mike Azinger. I was surprised by the number of comments, all critical of Azinger. One prominent local Republican mailed me 10 pages of legal documents from the Ohio Elections Commission. That got my attention.
In 2000 Azinger ran for U. S. House of Representatives (Ohio's 6th District) against Congressman Ted Strickland. In 2000, Ohio had election laws with teeth and they could bite you if you broke their rules. Azinger got bit. Strickland hauled Azinger before the Ohio Elections Commission. The Azinger Campaign for Congress admitted breaking the law twice which could have brought $10,000 in fines ($5,000 per offense). By then, Azinger had lost the election. Rather than send Azinger's Campaign for prosecution, Strickland cut them some slack and allowed the charges to be tabled.
Azinger also got himself in trouble with the Federal Elections Commission. He was twice fined for failing to file mandatory Federal campaign finance reports. He wasn't just late filing the reports. He didn't bother to file, period. The fines were $350 and $2,700. Azinger seems to have the arrogant idea he doesn't have to follow the rules that govern all other candidates.
Azinger's next run for elected office was in Wood County. He chose to run for his father's old seat in the Legislature. He slinked into office on his father's coattails using family name recognition. How many people thought they were voting for Tom Azinger two years ago? They weren't. They were voting for his little boy, Mike, who's hoping the voters will elect him, again, without looking too carefully at the name on the ballot.
Young Azinger has been a total zero in the Legislature. He helped waste the entire January legislative session creating nonsensical laws, none of which benefitted WV. The House failed to do their priority job (issuing a budget) and needed a $600,000 special session to write the budget, which Azinger promptly voted against. He was the only local Republican lawmaker to vote "No." Had Azinger's irresponsible vote prevailed it would have shut the state down. Azinger's a loose cannon.
This November, WV Senate District 3 will elect a new State Senator to finish an unexpired term. When making their choice, voters should ignore name recognition and vote for the best candidate. Mike Azinger is not the best candidate.
Ralph Chambers
Parkersburg