Quill's withdrawal clears path for Dems' Cordray

Montgomery County Treasurer Hugh Quill of the Dayton suburb of Clayton dropped out of the Democratic Party primary race for state Treasurer today, clearing the way for Richard Cordray of Grove City.

Cordray, Franklin County treasurer and a candidate for Attorney General in 1998, faces either Ohio Treasurer Jennette B. Bradley of Columbus, or her Republican challenger, Sandra O'Brien of Rome, in the November general election. Bradley and O'Brien, who is Ashtabula County auditor, face each other in a May 2 primary.

It's too late to remove Quill's name from the primary ballot, however. James Lee, spokesman for Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, said that county board of elections officials will be asked to post notices at all polling places -- and include notices with absentee ballots -- that Quill's votes will not be counted.

Votes for state Rep. Jim Trakas, a Republican who recently pulled out of the GOP primary race for Secretary of State against Hamilton County Clerk of Court Greg Hartmann, also won't be counted, Lee said.

"Hugh Quill ran a strong campaign given his strong finance background and gracious personality,'' Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern said today. "He is a team player, a gentleman and he has made himself a stronger candidate in the future by the way he has conducted his campaign. Ohio Democrats are proud to have Hugh Quill as a leader in our Party."
Quill's campaign theme was restoring trust to the state treasury.
More details are at www.hughquill.com