From the Dispatch:
Rep. Deborah Pryce of Upper Arlington has told some of her fellow Republicans she is strongly considering not seeking re-election next year, The Dispatch has learned.
Pryce, 56, who has been a fixture in the U.S. House since her election in 1992, could make an announcement soon about her plans. Republican sources say if she does not run, former Ohio Attorney General James Petro might seek the seat.
Buckeye State Blog had the story first here. See also Right Angle Blog, where they are not fans of Jim Petro.
UPDATE: I’ve changed this post’s title as I have it confirmed that Pryce will announce that she won’t be seeking re-election next year. BSB has reported in a follow-up that Jim Petro has turned down the request from the GOP to run for the seat, but I was told that he’s accepted and that he’s definitely running. He’s not likely to announce too soon however.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Oh, this is cute. From BSB:
Earlier today I reported that the Franklin County GOP had approached Jim Petro with an offer to run for Congresswoman Deb Pryce’s seat in OH-15. I also reported that Jim Petro had turned down the Franklin County GOPers.
Well, word has trickled down to me now that Jim Petro has CHANGED HIS MIND! Originally he told Doug Preisse “No” on the offer, but hours later recanted and agreed to run. Sounds like a real champ dedicated to this race.
I don’t know if Petro originally said no, then changed his mind. (Can you make that decision quickly?) But I do know that it wasn’t in between Jerid’s two posts on the matter. Petro accepted well before Jerid Kurtz wrote that Petro wasn’t running. I detect an attempt at insinuation. It’s pretty weak stuff.
(Hey, it’s ok to get one wrong every now and again, and I don’t mean that condescendingly. This blog will get things wrong too.)
UPDATE: And here it is in the Washington Post.
