Rep. Mike Oxley (R-Ohio) is planning to retire from Congress.

[Pirate Smile]

Rep. Mike Oxley (R-Ohio) is planning to retire from Congress and could make an announcement to that effect as early as this week, according to four sources with close ties to House Republicans who were told of the decision by a mix of aides on Capitol Hill and members of Congress. The sources requested anonymity because they do not work for Oxley and don't want to jeopardize their relations with the congressional leadership by leaking the news.

A spokesman for Oxley did not return three calls and two e-mails seeking comment.

An Oxley retirement would make sense given that his chairmanship of the House Financial Services Committee is up at the start of 2007. And, at age 61, Oxley is still young enough to start a second -- more lucrative -- career.

Should Oxley retire in 2006, his west-central 4th District would be in little danger of switching party control. President Bush won the district with 65 percent of the vote in 2004. Oxley has held the district since June 1981 when he won a special election. In 2004, he was reelected with 59 percent of the vote.

So which candidates are likely to seek this seat if it's open next year? Let me know.

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2005/10/mike_oxley_reti.html

[Earl from Ohio]

1. Ben Konop

Oxley faced an excellent challenge in 2004 from Ben Konop, a law professor at Ohio Northern. Despite being grossly underfunded, Ben ran a great campaign and actually managed to carry one of the counties in the District.

In fact, Ben was the ONLY challenger from either Party in Ohio to break the forty per cent barrier in 2004. Ohio arguably has the most gerrymandered Districts in the Nation. We consistently vote 50/50 in Presidential elections but have a Congressional delegation that is two to one for the GOP.

Which is why the R.O.N. Amendments (Issues 2,3,4 and 5) are so critical.

The last time that I spoke with young Mr. Konop he was not committed to running against Oxley again-- but this may change things.

All of the Ohio incumbents think that their seat in Congress is a life time appointment. But some of the GOPers really HATE having to go out and mingle with the citizens.(Gillmor is just pathetic in that regard.)

Maybe with Tom Noe's indictment and Delay's troubles, Oxley figured it was time to grab the big bucks while he could make a clean get away.

And, believe me, that's what it is!

[shade]

3. I'm not sure about Konop.

I was fortunate enough in 2004 to have the pleasure of voting for Konop, since I live in Findlay.

However, I'm not sure that he'll be running in this district again. I've heard he will be moving to Toledo (he might've already) to run for Marcy Kaptur's seat when she retires. Hopefully we can find someone to run a good race for the seat, but I doubt they'll come out of Hancock County -- the Democratic Party here is pretty much neutered, sadly.

And I agree with your other post -- Ohio is so heavily gerrymandered, it's crazy. I'm really hoping 2, 3, 4, and 5 pass next week, but with the attack ads I'm seeing I'm not terribly optimistic about it. The only thing that gives me any hope is that even in Findlay, I've seen more signs for RON than against it. I'll definitely be making it down to my polling place next week to put in my "yes" votes. Who knows, it might be the last time I vote in Findlay since I'm hoping to escape to either Cleveland, Columbus, or a "blue" state sometime in the next year -- I've had about as much of this town as I can stomach.

[OzarkDem]

7. Too bad

Maybe there's a woman candidate we can recruit out there, someone who is more committed to the area.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi shade!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Earl from Ohio]

2. He's out

Stinkin mofo held his bail out luncheon at the Findlay Country Club (naturally.) Made claim that he "never made a vote" that wasn't in line with the majority of his District.

What a feeble peiece of trash.

I wonder who the GOPers think that they have anointed to replace him?

[WCGreen]

4. I remember him from my Page days back in the Ohio House

back in 1978-80.. he was almost okay back then... At least worked with the dems...

But then he went to DC and got all heady and stuff and now he is so far to the right it looks like he sold his soul to the devil...

[Glenmar]

5. I don't know is they have anyone, yet

But my state senator Jim Jordan:puke: is said to be interested. He is also said to be in the running for Lt Governor to run with Blackwell.

Normally, I would be for anything to get this guy out of my district, but that would mean possibly him representing me in Congress or being in Columbus.

He would fit right in with the fundies!:puke:

[WLKjr]

6. I made Ben's cartoon comercial dogging on Oxley

Was said to have had some impact and actually got some people talking about Ol' Oxley and how he whores himself out to big business then runs to France, the only place the neocons HATE with a passion.

[Kolesar]

8. You draw 'toons?

I'd like to see them. I like that Hardin County website, too, with the DU link, Downing Street Memo link, and the rolling Bush lies counter. Morning hyuks

[WLKjr]

9. well not really....

I wanted to work for Ben's campaign really bad, and had some computer skills.

SO to make a long story short they asked if I could do a commercial with really cheesy animation (almost like soutpark but worse)and show Oxley like a bouncy box like figure moving from corporation to corporation and then flying in an air france jet out of the scene to the tune of "take the money and run" by steve miller band. A lot of people liked it and I heard an ONU professor (not Ben) said the comercial was very crappy (not exact words) but was effective and illistrated truth.

And for Hardin's website, that wouldn't be there if it wasn't for me. I had to sort of beg for that, but got my way now I have to take care of it. We have had more hits though and a few new people sign up for volunteer stuff. I don't know if I like orchid suites anymore though, the support kind of sucks. Haven't been able to get the online donations page working since the beggining of the idea.

[Earl from Ohio]

10. Ohio Dem web presence

The "Orchid" system rots. I still can't believe that ODP went for it.

One of the MANY indicators of just how much ODP SUCKS, when it comes to the Web.

(I know, I know, "How do you really feel?")

[Kolesar]

11. DU needs "dirt on Dewine" and a "dirt on Deborah Pryce" threads

Since both are incumbents who are worth fighting. We can start such a thread for whatever gop files for Oxley's district, too.