Thomas, Winburn to Lose Pro-life Endorsements

Last week, I wondered whether Ohio Right to Life and Cincinnati Right to Life would rescind their endorsements of Cecil Thomas, after he flip-flopped on the definition of marriage.

Since then, the Cincinnati Enquirer has reported (longer article, shorter article) that Cincinnati Right to Life has rescinded its endorsements of both Mr. Thomas and Mr. Winburn (and Ohio Right to Life is considering rescinding its endorsement of Mr. Thomas) after both men started waffling on their pro-life stance.

State Senate Candidate Cecil Thomas Shamelessly Panders, Throws Marriage under the Bus

Current Cincinnati city councilman Charlie Winburn is running for Ohio state senate in district 9.  District 9 is so Democratic that incumbent Democrat state senator Eric Kearney beat the Republican challenger 68-29 in 2010 (caveat: the districts have been redrawn since then).

The very popular Charlie Winburn is said to be the only Republican who might be able to win this otherwise unwinnable district.  Kearney, reaching the end of his term limit, cannot run for re-election this year; instead, Mr. Winburn faces his former colleague, Democrat former councilman Cecil Thomas.

Both men described themselves as pro-life and pro-marriage in responses to the Cincinnati Right to Life candidate questionnaire earlier this year (read the full PDFs here: Charlie Winburn, Cecil Thomas).  Perhaps on that basis, Cincinnati Right to Life PAC has endorsed both men in this race, while Ohio Right to Life PAC has apparently endorsed only Cecil Thomas.

30-year Parking Lease Signed after All

You’ll recall that a remarkably large, broad bipartisan coalition of Cincinnatians came together earlier this year to subject the parking deal to a referendum.  (Here was Judge Winkler’s order granting the permanent injunction against the ordinance, prohibiting the city from signing the lease until the voters could have their say this November.)

We Won: Cincinnati Parking Petition Drive Turned in 19,800 Signatures

Last Thursday the campaign against the Cincinnati parking deal turned in its signatures: more than 19,800.

To put repeal of the deal on the ballot as a city-wide referendum this November, WCPO explains, we needed

8,729 signatures of registered voters who live within city limits. That’s 10 percent of the turnout in Cincinnati for the last gubernatorial election.

BREAKING: Judge Rules in Our Favor, Cincinnatians Will Get Referendum on Parking Deal

Judge Winkler has made his decision:  The referendum petition drive will be allowed to continue.  If we get enough signatures in the next few days, the people will get to vote in November on whether to repeal City Council’s “privatization” of city parking meters, lots, and garages.

If you’re a Cincinnati voter and want to sign the petition but haven’t yet, one option will be this Saturday:

. . . 9 AM to 5 PM in Mt. Lookout Square.  We can accept with drive-thru signatures as well as signatures from pedestrians.