Maryellen O’Shaughnessy, whose long-time work in Columbus helped earn her the endorsement of Governor Strickland, has emerged as the Democratic nominee for Secretary of State. She will be running against a formidable foe in Republican Jon Husted.
“I get one shot to do this thing, and I’m going to do the best I can with every minute I have,” O’Shaughnessy told the Dispatch. “I’m bullish on this race. I’ve never been afraid of a challenge.”
And as The Dispatch noted, O’Shaughnessy’s first challenge will be fund-raising. Husted, a well-liked Republican across the state, has a well-financed campaign up and running. As such, O’Shaughnessy has some catching up to do. She is determined to do just that, however, and to keep the office of Secretary of State in Democratic hands.
“Maryellen is a prolific fundraiser. In her 2000 campaign for Congress, she raised $1.3 million. We’re very confident that she has the heart and the work ethic to raise the necessary funds to defeat Jon Husted in November,” a spokesman for the Ohio Democratic Party told The Dispatch.
