Belmont County Democrats will campaign earlier this year, said county party chairman Ed Good.

Belmont County Democrats kicked off the election season at their annual picnic Sunday at Powhatan Point Park.

Good told attendees it was especially important to elect Democrats to the Ohio General Assembly this year, as the legislative body will be responsible for redrawing district lines next year after the 2010 census.

In July, Belmont County Democrats will convene an organizational meeting that Ohio first lady Francis Strickland is expected to attend, Good said.

The county will work closer with local labor unions, and will also institute a rapid dialing system to quickly get messages out to volunteers and supporters when necessary, he said.

"We are starting early to get people more engaged," Good said. "They need to look beyond the sound bites to see what candidate is best for them. I feel confident that if we do that, we'll win every time."

And races for the Ohio Supreme Court are especially important this year, as the courts decisions are "critical to working families," he continued.

Mary Jane Trapp, a candidate for the state Supreme Court from Cleveland, quizzed the Belmont County Democrats by first asking them how many of the current justices were elected from their party.

The current chief justice, Eric Brown, is a Democrat appointed to the post earlier this year by Gov. Ted Strickland. But the answer is that no Democrats have been elected to the court in recent years, she noted - despite the fact that Democrats have been elected to many statewide offices.

"But they didn't vote down the ballot," Trapp said. "Is it any wonder that there are no elected Democrats on the Supreme Court."

Ohio Rep. Joshua O'Farrell, D-New Philadelphia, took office earlier this month, and introduced himself to Belmont County supporters. He is now on the ballot as the party's nominee for the 96th District Ohio House seat.

His predecessor, former Rep. Allan Sayre was also present in Powhatan Point Sunday.

Rep. John Domenick, D-Smithfield, can't seek re-election this year in the 95th District due to term limits. He said his tenure in the Ohio House "was the fastest eight years of my life."

"I found out that as a legislator, there are a lot of things you can't do a doggone thing about," Domenick said. But he noted that he nevertheless has always answered phone calls from constituents, who "want to vent."

"I want to look back and say I was a part of what was happening statewide and nationwide at this point in time," he said. "I hope I've always done what was right."

Lou Gentile of Steubenville is the Democratic nominee to the 95th District seat in November. He encouraged voters to go to the polls and elect Democrats as the state prepares to draw new district lines next year.

"There is a chance the lines that are drawn might not benefit this area," he said.

Belmont County Commissioner Chuck Probst is serving his third term and is seeking a fourth term in 2010.

Despite recent budget tightening in the county, Probst reported "things are looking good now."

"In the last 12 years, I think I've made good decisions along the way," he said. "I got into this job to help people, and I want to continue to do that every day."