Nominees

Robert Taft (R)
Early on, Taft, Ohio's secretary of state, drew attention to the pivotal issue of the campaign, saying he opposes a $1.1 billion tax increase to fund schools in favor of across-the-board spending cuts. When the state legislature approved sending the issue to the May 5 ballot, however, he changed his mind. The great-grandson of President William Howard Taft, grandson and son of former U.S. senators (Robert A. Taft and Robert Taft Jr.), Taft's name recognition and fund-raising ability have made him the gubernatorial front-runner. He was elected secretary of state in 1990 and reelected in 1994. Taft served in the state House from 1976 to 1980, after stints in the state of Illinois' bureau of the budget and the Peace Corps.
Campaign Web site

Lee Fisher (D)
In 1994, Fisher ran unsuccessfully for reelection as attorney general. When he declared his gubernatorial candidacy in 1997, however, every county chair of the state Democratic party supported him. In spring debates with businessman Bruce Douglas, a Democratic foe who dropped out of the race in April, Fisher came out in favor of Issue 2, a ballot measure aimed at raising the state sales tax by 1 cent. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Fisher argued that the tax increase would raise $550 million for schools and allow property tax cuts.
E-mail: lfisher@fisher-coleman.com