Ohio Turnpike chairman declares his "leading candidate" for Suhadolnik job

The news is hardly out that Gary Suhadolnik is leaving and the Cleveland Plain Dealer declares a Democrat pol looking for a job is "the front-runner to take his place." The anointed pol is George Distel, a five term state representative for Ashtabula in the northeast corner of the state. Distel is not eligible to run for re-election this November because of term limit laws.

The chairman of the Turnpike Commission is quoted by the Plain Dealer as saying Joseph Balog says Distel is his "leading candidate" because of his legislative experience and "relationship with state government."

Seems to be a done deal. Distel is quoted: "I am delighted at the opportunity."

Distel, who has a BA, has worked his way up through city, county and state government. He was a member of Conneaut City Council, then an Ashtabula County commissioner, then was a manager for an employment and training program, a director of housing planning and community development, and for the last decade a state representative.

There he was on committees for agriculture and natural resources, commerce and labor and public utilities, where he was minority chairman. He is 55.

TOLLROADSnews 2008-02-13