OH House-80: Murray (D) Running For Seat of Term-Limited Redfern (D)

The Port Clinton News-Herald reports that attorney Dennis Murray Jr (D-Sandusky), who has been a city commissioner for two years, announced Wednesday that he will run for the 80th Ohio House District seat of term-limited Ohio Democratic Party Chair Chris Redfern (D-Catawba Island). Murray says that he feels the Sandusky city commission has accomplished goals like a planned marina district and forming an energy task force "by setting differences aside and working together," and he wants to bring that approach to state government. He is endorsed by Redfern and former state representative Darrell Opfer (D-Salem Township).

Murray indicates that he will focus on school funding, health care, and alternative energy as a strategy for economic development, which are familiar themes from Democratic campaigns in 2006:

Fixing Ohio's broken system of paying for schools -- mainly through property taxes -- is a major priority for all Democrats, he said.

"That, in essence, is our seed money," he said. "If we don't continue to reinvest in our schools, we're never going to dig our way out of this."

Health care, like education, is an investment in the future, he said. Some Ohioans cannot afford medical care or have Medicaid, a plan certain doctors will not accept.

"It's outrageous that we, in this wealthy country, have so many people who are uninsured," he said. "People need preventative health care."

Murray also wants to promote and attract alternative sources of energy to the state. He recently helped form the Erie County Alternative Energy Task Force, which is looking for ways of reducing energy use and bringing alternative energy.

Making Ohio a more green state would create jobs in environmental areas, he said.

"These are high-tech jobs," he said. "These are good jobs."

Locally, Murray said he would help seek state funding for projects like a proposed marina in Port Clinton.

The GOP candidate for this seat is township trustee Ed Enderle (R-Huron Township), who was defeated by Redfern in 2006 by 63.35% to 36.65% of the vote. The 80th District is in northern Ohio in Erie and Ottawa Counties. It has a slight Democratic lean (PVI D+2.1).