toledoblade.com --

COLUMBUS - Michael Coleman, who grew up in Toledo and in 2000 became the first Democratic mayor of Columbus in 28 years, is expected to announce today he will run for governor.

Two supporters said Mr. Coleman plans to make the announcement at noon at his East Side home. He will become the first Democrat to jump into the 2006 race.

"He made his decision and it is a yes," said a statehouse Democrat who had been briefed on Mr. Coleman's announcement. Aides to Mr. Coleman, 50, said he plans to tour the state to make formal speeches.

"He has shown the ability to attract votes and funding across the political spectrum, and that's what the Democratic nominee is going to have to do," said James Ruvolo, a Toledo-area consultant and former chairman of the Ohio and Lucas County Democratic parties.

If Mr. Coleman wins, he would become the first Columbus mayor since Jim Rhodes - who was elected in 1943 to the first of three terms as that city's leader - to become governor.

Mr. Coleman, the first black mayor of Columbus, also would be Ohio's first black governor.

It's unclear whether Mr. Coleman will face a primary rival.

Democrat Jerry Springer, the television talk show host and former Cincinnati mayor, has not decided whether to run for governor. "It will have nothing to do with anyone who gets in or out," said Springer consultant Dale Butland.

Mr. Coleman is the son of Toledo physician John Coleman and community activist Joan Coleman.

He was born in Indianapolis, and his family moved to Toledo when he was 3. Mr. Coleman is a 1973 graduate of St. John's Jesuit High School. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati in 1977 with a political science degree, he went to law school at the University of Dayton and received his degree in 1980.

Mr. Coleman will be able to run for governor from cover. Columbus does not have term limits for mayor, and the next mayoral election is 2007.

House Minority Leader Chris Redfern (D., Catawba Island), who has traveled to 83 of 88 counties since 2003, said among the challenges facing Mr. Coleman is the "complexity" of the state because issues and even dialects are different in each region.

Asked if he expects race will be an issue in the governor's race, Mr. Redfern said no.

"We have progressed so far in Ohio, that we are judged in Ohio by our policies and our ideas," he said.

Bob Bennett, chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, said Mr. Coleman has a "mixed record " as mayor of Columbus and the party plans to scrutinize it.

"Running for governor is like running for President. Both candidates will be well-known. Republicans will start out with greater name ID. It will still come down to issues and visions for the state over the next four years," Mr. Bennett said.

Yesterday, the three Republicans who are seeking their party's nomination for governor filed their annual campaign finance reports covering 2004.

Attorney General Jim Petro showed a campaign balance of $2.2 million, with the war chests of state Auditor Betty Montgomery at $1.1 million and Secretary of State Ken Blackwell at $224,027.

Contact James Drew at:
jdrew@theblade.com
or 614-221-0496.

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