Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner told members of the Washington County Democratic Party that she's ready to serve Ohio in the U.S. Senate come 2011.
Brunner was keynote speaker during the party's annual spring dinner at American Legion Post 64 in Marietta Friday night.
"We matter in Ohio, we have always mattered. Ohioans should be proud our votes counted and helped put President Obama over the top in 2008," she said.
Chronicling her efforts to change what she termed Ohio's "fragmented" election system after former Republican Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell left office, Brunner said she hoped to work together with Republicans in the Statehouse, but GOP members criticized initiatives like using backup paper ballots during elections.
"Backup paper ballots were a safety net in case of a power outage or if the voting machines broke down," she said. "There was a court challenge to stop it, but we had good lawyers."
Brunner said changes she made in the system resulted in a 45 percent record turnout of voters during the 2008 presidential primary election.
"And those backup ballots saved the day in several counties, although the Republicans may not admit it," she said.
As the 2008 general election approached, Brunner said Republicans began pushing accusations of voter fraud as groups like ACORN sought to register voters.
"I started getting death threats against my family and staff, and I became very concerned about the staff," she said, noting that the governor eventually had her escorted by members of the Ohio Highway Patrol.
"There was no voter fraud, although everyone seemed to be saying there was," Brunner said.
After facing several lawsuits about the issue, the Supreme Court of the United States finally ruled 9-0 that the GOP had no standing against Brunner's office.
"We and you in this room restored confidence in Ohio's election system," she said.
"People in this state care about each other, about their families, they're the salt of the earth. These are the people I want to represent."
Both Brunner and fellow Democrat and Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher are running in 2010 to fill the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican George Voinovich.
Ohio Republican Party Chairman Rod Portman has not announced his candidacy, but is expected to run on the GOP ticket for U.S. Senate.
Molly Varner, head of the Washington County Democratic Party, said Democrats seem to be picking up momentum since the 2008 presidential election victories.
"It really feels different having a Democrat in the White House who is, regardless of which party you're from, so different in his approach and communication," she said.
"We also have a new Democrat county commissioner (Cora Marshall)," Varner added. "And I honestly believe a change began in Washington County when Ted Strickland took office. People began to understand you can be intelligent, approachable, and a Democrat."
