Former sheriff Scott say he’ll run for Tiberi seat
WASHINGTON — Former Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott, a Democrat who has openly warred with party officials, is entering the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, a Republican from Genoa Township who will resign early next year.
Scott, who lost his job last year in a Democratic primary fight with his successor, Sheriff Dallas Baldwin, declared he would be a candidate in a filing Monday with the Federal Election Commission.
Scott, who was appointed county sheriff in 2011 and elected in 2012, infuriated many Democrats in 2015 by challenging Democrat Andrew J. Ginther for mayor of Columbus.
Scott is the first brand-name Democrat to enter a special-election primary that has not yet been scheduled to determine each party’s nominee for Tiberi’s seat. With the prospect of running for an open congressional seat, a number of other Democrats are expected to enter as well before the Feb. 7 filing deadline. Scott could not be reached for comment.
Scott made his announcement as Cathy Lyttle, vice president of communications and investor relations for Worthington Industries, said she is “seriously exploring the possibility” of entering the Republican primary for the 12th District.
Lyttle, who has never run for public office, said she has been “encouraged by folks” to enter the race for Tiberi’s seat.
Jon Halverstadt, 33, who sells and invests in real estate in Columbus and has never run for office, also is planning to enter the race for the Republican nomination on Wednesday. He has a law degree and master’s degree from Ohio State University. He served in the U.S. Army and the Army Reserves from the end of 2007 through 2015.
“I want to get out in front of voters and run a good hard campaign,” Halverstadt said.
Democrats need to win 24 seats next year to seize control of the U.S. House for the first time since 2010. Democrats are increasingly optimistic that the unpopularity of President Donald Trump will translate into major congressional victories next year.
Some Democrats had hoped that Franklin County Recorder Danny O’Connor would run, but he said on Tuesday that he had “decided not to run, given the fact that I have a lot of good work here at the recorder’s office.”
David Wasserman, a congressional analyst for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, said Tiberi’s district is “a very difficult district for Democrats to compete in, even in the best of circumstances, which 2018 may be.”
Delaware County Prosecutor Carol O’Brien already has said she will enter the Republican primary; state Sen. Kevin Bacon, R-Minerva Park, said he is likely to decide by the end of the month whether to seek the special-election nomination.
“As of right now, nobody has filed anything with the Franklin County Board of Elections for the 12th District and because we are the most populous county (in the district), they would file with us,” said Aaron Sellers, a public-information officer for the Franklin County Board of Elections.
Former Marine Brandon Grisez of Columbus also has said he will run for the Republican nomination. Democrats Ed Albertson of Granville, John Peters of Newark and Doug Wilson of Mansfield are other possible candidates.