The Lorain County Democratic Party has endorsed Engineer Kenneth Carney over his primary opponent, Thomas Hesmond.

County Democratic Chairman Tom Smith said the executive committee has endorsed all Democratic incumbents and thinks Carney is doing a good job.

In addition, Smith said the party questions Hesmond’s loyalties because he last ran four years ago against Carney as an Independent with backing from the Republican Party.

“Thomas Hesmond is changing parties to shop for a job,” Smith said. “People who don’t think they can win as a Republican or Independent have decided the strategy is to get into the race as a Democrat.”

Because it is a presidential election year, Democrats are expected to turn out in force in Lorain County in November and any Democratic candidate should benefit from that turnout, Smith said.

In the March 4 primary, Smith said the party also endorsed Democrats James Walther and Honey Howard Rothschild for a new Family Court judgeship position over former Republican Domestic Relations Judge Paulette Lilly, who was defeated for re-election in 2006 and is running as a Democrat.

Hesmond said he was disappointed that the party never spoke with him before endorsing Carney.

While he’s been an Independent in the past, Hesmond said he has written checks to Democratic candidates and he plans to “support Democratic candidates and issues” this year.

Meanwhile, Hesmond attacked Carney this week with a mailing highlighting Carney’s prior arrests, a tactic he used four years ago when he tried to unseat Carney.

Hesmond sent the mailing to 30,000 likely voters at a cost of about $8,000.

It includes headlines from The Chronicle-Telegram, including “Police chased Carney in DUI arrest,” “Police: Carney was ‘entirely unfit’ to drive” and “Carney deals, headed to jail.”

The headlines refer to Carney’s Jan. 28, 2006, arrest in Cleveland after he led police on a brief chase. He later was sentenced to 14 days in jail with work release and was ordered to do community service for Mothers Against Drunk Drivers.

Carney was convicted of attempted assault in 2000 for striking his then-girlfriend with a bag of cheeseburgers and his fist. In December 2001, he was put on probation for a drunken driving incident. Hesmond said he wishes Carney “the best with all his personal issues,” but Hesmond said public officials “should be held to a higher standard and shouldn’t be in the paper for conduct like that.”

On Tuesday, Carney told The Chronicle editorial staff that he has been sober for two years. He declined comment Friday on Hesmond’s mailing.
Smith called the mailing “same old, same old” but did not criticize Hesmond’s tactics.
“Politics is a contact sport,” Smith said.
Carney was elected county engineer in 1988 and has won re-election in each subsequent race.
Contact Cindy Leise at (440) 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.

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