Plain Dealer Endorsement

The Plain Dealer endorses Dan Ramos in the Democratic primary for Ohio House District 56: editorial

By The Plain Dealer Editorial Board

April 29, 2010, 4:15AM

Dan RamosENDORSEMENT

District 56 covers western Lorain County. Early voting has begun in the May 4 Democratic primary.

THE CANDIDATES:

Jose A. Candelario, 30, former director of the Lorain County Board of Elections.

Dan Ramos, 28, former senior policy analyst for Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish.

Maria Zampieri Vitale, 60, former child-support investigator for Lorain County.

Richard S. Williams, 78, New Russia Township trustee.

OUR VIEW:

Term limits are forcing incumbent Democratic Rep. Joseph Koziura out, but his district is fortunate enough to have four bright, energetic Democrats vying to replace him. Ramos, who has worked in Columbus as a legislative aide since 2005, appears to be the most ready to hit the ground running.

Ramos describes his recent work experience as local advocacy on behalf of students at Lorain County Community College, residents with medical problems and entrepreneurs. He has more to learn, but his legislative experience gives him the edge over his equally likable and eager opponents.

Candelario, who weathered a storm at the Board of Elections last year, when a candidate's election filing went missing, clearly has a passion for Lorain County. Williams has extensive political experience at the township level. Vitale is a fierce believer in Lorain's revival, who wants to capitalize on Third Frontier funds and promote waterfront tourism.

Ramos' broad political experience makes him the most plausible candidate.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican challenger Henry S. Lewandowski Jr. in November.

Morning Journal Endorsement

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

OPINION

OUR VIEW

Ramos best choice for Democrats on May 4 for 56th House District

Of the four candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for the open 56th Ohio House seat on May 4, 28-year-old Dan Ramos of Lorain has the most experience and knowledge dealing with the Ohio Legislature and the Statehouse.

Beginning in 2000, while attending The Ohio State University and serving as a page for then Minority Leader Chris Redfern, the 1999 Lorain Admiral King grad has learned the ropes in Columbus.

That expertise and youthful energy will be important to help Lorain and the other communities making up the 56th District compete for jobs.

Joseph Koziura, the current 56th District representative, who is stepping down this year due to term limits, had Ramos as his legislative aide from 2005 to 2007. Ramos then worked two years as a policy aide for House Minority Leader Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus. When Democrats captured the House in 2008, he became a senior policy analyst for House Speaker Armond Budish, D-Beachwood.

The three other Democrats in the race have experience in life and government service, but they can’t match Ramos’ knowledge and expertise at the state level.

Jose Candelario, 30, Lorain, is the former director of the Lorain County Board of Elections. Richard Williams, 78, is a former New Russia Township trustee and is a past president of the Ohio Township Association. Maria Zampieri Vitale, 60, is a former child support enforcement investigator with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

The Democratic nominee will face Republican Henry Lewandowski Jr. of Lorain in the fall. Lewandowski is unopposed in the May primary.

The Democratic leaning 56th District includes Lorain, Sheffield Lake, Oberlin, South Amherst, Amherst Township, New Russia Township, Sheffield Township, along with portions of Elyria, Amherst, Elyria Township and Carlisle Township.

Ramos has the ability, intelligence and energy to hit the ground running to best serve Lorain County in Columbus next year. That’s why 56th District Democrats should choose Dan Ramos as their nominee in the May 4 primary election.

Chronicle-Telegram Endorsement

April 11, 2010

Four Democrats with lots of experience in govern ment are running to fill a seat in the state House of Representatives. The youngest one has the most perti nent experience.

Dan Ramos, 28, has spent more time in the Statehouse than any of his rivals.

From 2005 to 2007 he served as an aide to state Rep. Joe Koziura, D-Lorain, whose depar ture later this year because of term limits has sparked the four-way primary to replace him as representative from the 56th District.

In 2007 and 2008, Ramos served as a policy aide to House Minority Leader Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus, focusing on the state’s higher education budget.

In 2009 he served as one of four senior policy ana lysts in the office of House Speaker Armond Budish, D-Beachwood, with a concentration on higher educa tion funding and health care.

No one else in the race can match Ramos’ familiari ty with the issues the Legislature has debated in the past five years, its rules and mores, and its leaders.

Which is not to dismiss the experience of the other candidates: Jose Candelario, 30, former director of the Lorain County Board of Elections; Richard Williams, 78, former New Russia Township trustee; and Maria Zampieri Vitale, 60, former child support enforcement investigator with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

They’ve all held important jobs, and they all have a higher profile in the county than Ramos, who has spent most of his time in Columbus since graduating from Admiral King High School in 1999, first at The Ohio State University, then at the Statehouse. He is the son of Raul Ramos, former member of the Lorain school board.

He has used the time in Columbus well, not only becoming familiar with the Legislature but developing a sophisticated understanding of the challenges the state and the county face and a sense of what’s politi cally practical. He is best positioned among the Democrats to guarantee that the district will continue have an experienced representative. We recommend that Democrats nominate him May 4.

The Democratic nominee will face Henry Lewandowski Jr. of Lorain in the fall. Lewandowski is unopposed in the Republican primary.

The 56th District includes Lorain, Elyria’s 5th and 6th wards, Oberlin, Sheffield Lake, South Amherst, Amherst Township, New Russia Township, Sheffield Township, most of Elyria Township, and some of Carlisle Township and Amherst.