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by Annie Cunningham

Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and county Farm Bureaus put forth a great effort to get election information out and to get members to vote – and it paid off.

"We won 10 of 11 races we were watching. So much of that is because of the efforts at the county level," said Deering Dyer, OFBF director of political education. "Many county Farm Bureaus were active in ‘Meet the Candidate’ activities. Some counties even made phone calls reminding members to get out there and vote."

Dyer also said many county Farm Bureau leaders and members were active in the campaigns of "Friends of Farm Bureau" legislative and Supreme Court candidates.

In the statehouse, 100 percent of the "Friends of Farm Bureau" Senate candidates were elected and 92 percent of the House "Friends of Farm Bureau" candidates were elected. Ohio Senate republicans picked up a seat, with the count now 22 republicans and 11 democrats. The Ohio House republican caucus picked up three seats, and the margin is now 62 republicans and 37 democrats. Five farmers were elected to the General Assembly.

It was also a republican sweep in offices statewide. Gov. Bob Taft won his re-election bid. The following republicans won their respective elections: Jim Petro, attorney general; Betty Montgomery, auditor of state; Ken Blackwell, secretary of state; and Joe Deters, state treasurer.

Dyer said Farm Bureau’s efforts in the courts were successful. Farm Bureau-supported Ohio Lt. Gov. Maureen O’Connor and incumbent Justice Evelyn Stratton won their respective elections for seats on the Ohio Supreme Court.

"We took a long, hard look at judicial races in the state this year because we feel too many past decisions have been based on creating policy rather than interpreting it," Dyer said.

Farm Bureau also was successful in its opposition to state Issue 1. In resounding defeat, Issue 1 lost by more than a 2 to 1 margin.

"Our extra efforts in political action paid dividends this election cycle," Dyer said. "We have to continue with our political commitment to build relationships in the face of term limits for the next election cycle. Organizations that are politically active are more successful than those that aren’t."