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Hamilton County Commissioner May Enter Democratic Gubernatorial Race

A longtime Cincinnati-area officeholder says he plans to run for Ohio governor, setting up a Democratic primary with the county leader from Cleveland.

Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune says he's hearing from rank-and-file Democrats a desire for a choice in the May 6 primary. Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald has been considered the Democrats' presumptive nominee as they seek to take the governorship back from Republican Gov. John Kasich in 2014. Portune disagrees that a primary could hurt the party, saying it should lead to a healthy discussion of issues and help build momentum. He spent the last two decades as a Cincinnati city councilman or Hamilton County commissioner. Portune says he is beginning the steps needed to become a candidate, but that he'll travel throughout Ohio to gauge support before deciding for sure by the filing deadline a month before the primary.

A native of Chicago, naturalized citizen of Cincinnati and resident of Columbus, Alison attended Earlham College and the Ohio State University. She has equal passion for Midwest history, hockey and Slavic poetry.
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