You wouldn’t know it to read to blogs and major media sources, but there are non-Democrat and non-Republicans running to replace retiring U.S. senator George Voinovich in Ohio this year. They are (as listed on www.USelections.com):
Eric Deaton (Independent) – An apparent teabagger, Deaton’s profile uses populist rhetoric to try to fool voters into thinking he’s not a hardcore Republican-turned-independent. According to his web site’s positions page, Deaton opposes affirmative action, gun control laws, “government-run healthcare,” and other things supported by progressives and most Ohioans. This one can be dismissed as being a disaffected GOPer who is a card-carrying member of the teabagger movement.
Eric LaMont Gregory (Independent) – A scientist by trade, Gregory is running on a platform of ending poverty, providing full employment, protecting Social Security, universal health care for people (free if over 62), and fair taxation, though his web site does not appear to have a solid positions page laying out more specific positions. Chalk this one up for the “maybe” category.
Stephen Lahanas (Independent) – The only link USelections.com had for who it described simply as a businessman is his blog. (He does offer some insightful political perspectives — among them an analysis of the two major parties, however, it’s obvious that Lahanas doesn’t even have a campaign web site to explain his positions.) He expresses some food-for-thought opinions, but I’m not sure he’s even really running.
Adam Shaffer (Independent) – Described as an IT consultant, Shaffer appears to be running more to educate and involve people in the political process than for anything else. He doesn’t seem to state any positions on the issues, and he probably won’t even get enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.
Jeremy Swartz (Independent) – Described as a ” FEMA Disaster Specialist, Ex-Police Officer & ’06 State Rep. Candidate” on the USelections.com web site, the link to his campaign site appears to be dead.
Information gotten from here for the next round of candidates.)
Dan La Botz (Socialist Party) – Socialist and proud enough to say so, La Botz is running on a democratic socialist platform.
Dave Meyers (Independent) – His “About” page doesn’t state his positions other than telling readers he will represent our wishes.
William G. Pierce (Independent) – Former Republican who unsuccessfully challenged then-incumbent Mike DeWine in 2006 for U.S. Senate — from the right! Forget him.
Michael Pryce (Independent) – A Ron Paul-esque Libertarian type, if his issues page is any indication of where he stands. Another one to dismiss.
Those are the independent candidates vying for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Voinovich. Of them all, Dan La Botz seems best suited to represent Ohioans in the Senate.