You can just see the meeting that Ohio Democrats were having.  They were so excited to get a former Judge running as the incumbent in the Matt “It’s Not My Porn” Barrett memorial seat.  Judges have the image of independence, and being their own thinkers.  Voters just lap that stuff up!  Too bad this former Judge really is an independent thinker who doesn’t like folks tinkering with his campaign.  From the Toledo Blade:

Ohio House Democrats are scrambling again for a candidate in the Republican-leaning 58th District encompassing Huron, eastern Seneca, and southwestern Lorain counties.

Rep. Tom Heydinger (D., Norwalk), just sworn into office in May, has opted not to seek election for a full two-year term on Nov. 4, citing “emerging health problems” and a distaste for party headquarter “influences” over campaigns. He did not resign from his seat, however.

In a written statement, the 68-year-old former Huron County judge complained that the financing of House campaigns is almost completely controlled by the party headquarters in Columbus.

“In the 2006 election for this district, the winning candidate spent more than $240,000 and the losing candidate spent more than $440,000 with the majority of those dollars flowing through the state parties’ control,” he wrote. “With state party generosity comes influences that I do not wish to tolerate.”

The announcement threatens retention of a seat considered crucial to Democrats’ hopes of taking control of the House. Democrats need a net gain of four seats.

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