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UPFRONT
PORTMAN’S TESTICLE HUNT TO BE ABORTED IN 2022 CITING PARTISAN GRIDLOCK and a desire to spend more time with his family, Sen. Rob Portman announced Monday that he will not seek re-election in 2022 when his term ends. “It has gotten harder and harder to break through the partisan gridlock and make progress on substantive policy, and that has contributed to my decision,” Portman said in a statement. “We live in an increasingly polarized country where members of both parties are being pushed further to the right and further to the left, and that means too few people who are actively looking to find common ground. This is not a new phenomenon, of course, but a problem that has gotten worse over the past few decades.” Portman, who attempted to thread the needle in supporting some of former President Donald Trump’s worst and most egregious lies while maintaining a semblance of dignity and professionalism, said, “Over the next two years, I
look forward to being able to focus all my energy on legislation and the challenges our country faces rather than on fundraising and campaigning.” He looks forward to re-entering the private sector and “being able to be more involved in the community and in our family business. And I plan to stay involved in public policy issues.” “This is a tough time to be in public service. For many of the issues I am most passionate about, I will continue to make a difference outside of the Senate, beyond 2022,” he said. “In the meantime, I am hopeful that President Biden will follow through on his inaugural pledge to reach across the aisle, and I am prepared to work with him and his administration if he does. I was on the bipartisan call yesterday on a new COVID-19 package. I hope the Administration will work with us on a more targeted approach that focuses on things like vaccine distribution, testing and getting kids back to school.”
The Republican, who also served in the U.S. House, was first elected as Senator in 2011. He made the announcement with nearly two years left in his term, he said, to allow prospective candidates ample time to get campaigns up and running. On that front, almost every frontline Ohio Republican is considering entering the fray. On the Democratic side, both Congressman Tim Ryan and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley have been mentioned as super early favorites. -Vince Grzegorek
Blaine Griffin Will Not Run for Cleveland Mayor in 2021 City Councilman Blaine Griffin told a virtual crowd at a New Year’s celebration earlier this month that he would not be seeking the office of Cleveland mayor in the 2021 election. If not an outright surprise, the announcement was certainly news. Griffin has long been considered a
natural heir to incumbent Frank Jackson and has been on virtually every short list of prospective mayoral candidates published since Jackson won his unprecedented fourth term in 2017. But Griffin confirmed his decision with Scene, saying he would instead be running to retain his council seat in Ward 6. “Unless something dramatically changes, I am running for council,” he said. “I am signing up for another four years.” Griffin was recently appointed by Council President Kevin Kelley as the chair of council’s Safety Committee, replacing outgoing councilman Matt Zone. And if Kelley runs for Mayor — as his colossal fundraising would seem to indicate — Griffin is the most likely successor as council president. Griffin is the current majority whip on council and is seen as something of a peacemaker by his colleagues. Griffin told Scene that he “just want[s] to be a good public servant,” and believes that for now, he can
| clevescene.com | January 27-February 2, 2021
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