Dems should go with Bansek in state House race

The Manning political machine has gone undefeated since 2010, when Ohio House Speaker Pro Tempore Gayle Manning, R-Avon, won her first term in the state Senate. She was joined in Columbus by her son, Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, after he won his first term in the Ohio House in 2014. The elder Manning ran up against term limits in 2018, and the pair swapped seats. This prompted complaints locally, but it wasn't enough to stop them from winning. Eight years later, the pair are both facing term limits and Gayle Manning is running for Nathan Manning's Senate seat. (She will face term-limited state Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, in November. Neither has a primary opponent.) Meanwhile, the younger Manning is trying to win his mother's House seat. We bring up the Mannings' electoral history because the duo's game of musical legislative seats seems to be striking a more discordant note with the public this time around. Miller is a strong candidate, and Democrats need an equally strong candidate to challenge Nathan Manning. Of the two Democrats vying for a chance to take him on, we believe that candidate is outgoing Columbia Schools Superintendent Graig Bansek. Bansek, 54, brings with him a wealth of knowledge about education, not only from his 17 years as superintendent, but as a school administrator and teacher before that. Funding for public education and protecting education from the culture-war ideas Republicans seem determined to inflict upon Ohio's students will be key issues in the coming years. Bansek will be able to meet those issues head-on thanks to his experience in the schools. For example, Bansek told us in an endorsement interview that state lawmakers have been shortchanging public education in favor of shunting growing amounts of money into the state's ever-expanding voucher program for private schools. He said Ohio needs to address key affordability issues, such as property tax reform, but he also argued that must be done in a way that protects funding not only for schools, but other public entities that rely on property tax revenue. Bansek also struck us as a pragmatist. He repeatedly brought up during our interview that that he would work to address the concerns of all of his constituents, regardless of party. (Even if a Democrat wins this race, he would almost certainly find himself in the minority in the GOP-dominated legislature.) "Part of why I'm running is I want to work for the people," Bansek said. We also liked Bansek's primary opponent, Mike Baker, 40, but he lacks Bansek's public-sector experience. Baker, who owns a photography business, has held some leadership roles, including in Elyria Little League baseball system and as a scouting leader. Baker told us in a separate endorsement interview that he decided to run for office because he was frustrated with how things were going in the country and the state. He said he considered running for a local office but felt he could do the most good at the state level. As with Bansek, we found Baker to be knowledgeable about various issues facing the state. However, of the two candidates, Baker is unabashedly more progressive than Bansek, who described himself as a moderate. That moderation is another reason we believe that Bansek would make a stronger candidate against Manning, who, like his mother, has cultivated a reputation as a moderate willing to buck his party from time to time. (Democrats have long argued that the Mannings aren't nearly as moderate as they seem.) In a toss-up district like the 52nd, the more moderate Democratic candidate would likely have broader appeal in the general election. Nathan Manning also has name recognition going for him. In addition to he and Gayle Manning having held public office for years, he's the son of the late Jeff Manning, who also served in the legislature and as Lorain County prosecutor. His sister, Allison Manning, is Avon Lake Municipal Court judge. Baker might get a boost in name recognition in the general election, but likely only if Brian Baker is the Democratic candidate for county commissioner. Brian Baker is facing off with Carolyn White in their party's primary in that race. (Brian Baker and Mike Baker share a last name, but both told us they aren't related.) Bansek, however, already has name recognition, not only because of his long tenure with Columbia Schools, but because his father is former Lorain Municipal Court Clerk Stephen Bansek. Yes, Lorain doesn't fall within the 52nd House District, which includes Avon, Elyria, Elyria Township and North Ridgeville, along with portions of Amherst Township, Carlisle Township, Eaton Township and Sheffield Township, but the Bansek name is still known in local political circles. Name recognition wasn't the deciding factor in our endorsement, but Democrats looking for every advantage in November would do well to consider it. While Baker likely would make a fine state representative, Bansek's extensive public-sector experience has better prepared him for the role. We also believe he has a better chance of winning in November. Those factors make Bansek the better choice for Democrats in this race. This editorial has been updated.