COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The November field for governor was
set Tuesday and Ohioans voted their approval for a state program for
repairs and upgrades to roads and bridges.
Cuyahoga County
Executive Ed FitzGerald easily won the Democratic primary for governor,
and will challenge Republican Gov. John Kasich’s bid for re-election
this fall. Long the presumptive Democratic nominee, FitzGerald
overwhelmed little-known Larry Ellis Ealy.
House Speaker John
Boehner handily turned back tea party challengers in his home district’s
Republican primary, while a Republican state legislator facing felony
charges fell behind two GOP challengers in early, unofficial returns.
With less than half of the precincts reporting, Rep. Peter Beck of Mason
had about 9 percent of the vote, with Paul Zeltwanger leading over Mary
Jo Kubicki in the southwestern Ohio race.
Voters in early returns
were supporting by a 2-to-1 margin a statewide public works issue will
allow the state to borrow $1.875 billion over 10 years through the
issuance of general obligation bonds.
The Ohio Public Works
Commission would use the funds to provide grants and loans to local
governments for capital improvement projects. Those could include
repairs to roadways, wastewater treatment systems and sanitary
collection.
The Libertarian Party of Ohio and the 1851 Center for
Constitutional Law opposed it, but Kasich said the proposal would keep
Ohio’s economy growing by making needed investments in infrastructure.
No significant voting problems were reported to state officials by the time polls closed Tuesday evening.

"Things appear to have gone pretty smoothly," Ohio Secretary of State’s Office spokesman Matt
McClellan said.
Elections
board officials in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus reported light
but steady turnout Tuesday, with heavier voting in communities with
contested issues or candidate races.
Five GOP incumbents in the
Ohio Senate had challengers, though no Democratic incumbents did.
Democrats had 13 contested primary races for seats in the Ohio House,
while majority Republicans had almost twice as many.
Marylyn Brengelman, a 66-year-old retiree who voted in Cincinnati, said she likes Kasich because
"he’s done a good job overall."
"I
just voted Republican down the line," she said. "I’d like to boot
everyone out of Washington and get a fresh start, but that’s not an
option."
Rick Pender, a 65-year-old Cincinnati resident and fundraiser for Planned Parenthood, said he voted for
Fitzgerald.
"I
hope the Democrats in Ohio get their act together," he said soon after
the polls opened. "It seems the Republicans are in a strong position.
I’m just hopeful the Democrats can have a good ticket and do better at
becoming well-known to voters."
Pender said the ultimate focus should be on the economy and job creation.
"That’s
been Kasich’s strength, whether you agree with him or not," he said.
"It still needs to improve, especially with employment."
Jim Flynn, a semiretired executive recruiter from Toledo,
voted in the Democratic primary for governor but had trouble for a
moment remembering FitzGerald’s name. He admitted he didn’t know much
about him.
Flynn normally leans toward Democrats but said he’s
been impressed by Kasich’s first term. "He’s been a pleasant surprise,"
he said. "I kind of like him, kind of."
Kasich would get his vote right now over FitzGerald, Flynn said.
The biggest issue on his mind is still unemployment, even though it has gotten better, he said.
Voters also picked which U.S. House candidates will run in the fall; all 16 incumbents are seeking
re-election.
Boehner,
of West Chester, moved on to the general election in his bid for a 13th
term representing western Ohio, despite unhappiness among some GOP
voters about the federal deficit and immigration. Boehner beat two tea
party opponents, high school teacher J.D. Winteregg and businessman Eric
Gurr, in the 8th District.
Beck was among the 15 Republican
incumbents in the Ohio House trying to defend their seats. Beck is
accused of misleading investors about a company’s financial status and
using their money for personal gain, allegations he denies.
Voters will decide about 600 local issues along with the statewide public works issue.
Scott
Fettig, a 39-year-old newscast director who was at a Cincinnati
precinct with his 4- and 5-year-old sons, said he voted for it.
"It’s important to do something with infrastructure and issuing bonds is probably better than
collecting tolls," he said.
___
Associated Press writers Amanda Myers and Dan Sewell in Cincinnati, John Seewer in Toledo and Andrew
Welsh-Huggins in Columbus contributed to this report.
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