ELYRIA — A glossy political advertisement paid for by the Ohio Democratic Party touting the successes of Mayor Bill Grace that hit local mailboxes this week frustrated the Democratic challenger who he’ll face in the May primary.

Democratic challenger Holly Brinda said the party is giving him financial support that she is not receiving.
The mailer, which speaks to the new automated trash program, state Route 57 and Grace’s 12 years of experience, was sent to thousands of homes.

Grace said no one should be surprised the state party is offering its assistance. It happened when he ran in 2003 and 2007 — races in which he bested his opponents.

“We are contributing to the party, and they are paying for the mailings,” he said. “I have been an important member of the party, been helpful in all layers of the Democratic Party for years. It shouldn’t be of any surprise to anyone that the party is making their resources available.”

Yet Brinda, who is running against Grace for a second time after failing to secure the Democratic nomination in 2007, said she is not happy that state party leaders are getting involved in a primary election. She received the mailer Tuesday at her home on Windward Drive.

“The concern I have about that is when a political party takes a side in a primary, it doesn’t allow for local citizens to voice their opinions,” she said. “I do feel that, if in fact the state Democratic Party did pay for the piece, then it should do the same with other candidates. Democratic candidates should be treated equally.”

Chris Redfern, chairman of the state Democratic Party, said he supports and endorses Grace in his re-election.

“He is a great leader for a great region of the state, and I am happy to call him my friend,” he said. “He is welcome to use the indicia anytime he wants.”

The indicia is the party’s marking for bulk mail used in place of stamps, and Redfern said it is a fairly common practice by those who support and are supported by the party. Last election, more than 400 candidates and incumbents used the indicia in mayoral, judgeship and township trustee races.

Seth Bringman, communication director for the state Democratic Party, said the state party does support several candidates across the state, and a number of mailings went out for candidates in several races. Grace was the only candidate in Lorain County to receive such support, he said.

“It’s done on a case-by-case basis. In collaboration with local Democratic leaders and county Democratic parties, we determine which candidates we support,” he said. “We work with individual campaigns on content and mailings given as an in-kind contribution by the ODP to the campaign.”

Bringman stopped short of calling the support an endorsement for Grace’s re-election. Only the full statewide executive committee can offer an official endorsement.

Brinda said she has placed a call to the state Democratic Party and is waiting on a return call to see if the same courtesy will be extended to her.

“It’s not something I would initiate on my own, but I would take it because right now my opponent has been given a financial advantage over me by my own party,” she said.

Brinda said she has a disclaimer on all of her campaign literature, including a mailer that should hit households this week, letting residents know it is paid by her residents committee, Citizens to Elect Holly Brinda.

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.