If both candidates stay in the race, Gov. Ted Strickland will be forced to find a new running mate next year and Brunner's seat on the crucial State Apportionment Board will be left undefended by an incumbent.

Despite professing a "deep respect" for Brunner, Strickland heartily endorsed Fisher at a news conference last night and denied that his picking sides could open a rift in the party less than three years after it won control of four of five statewide executive offices.

"I don't believe my support for Lee is an indication of a split within the party," Strickland said, adding that he is "obviously concerned" that Brunner's decision to forgo re-election might increase the risk of losing the secretary of state's office.

In an interview, Brunner brushed aside Strickland's endorsement of Fisher as expected and downplayed the prospect of a divisive primary campaign. Noting that she had served as legal counsel to Fisher's failed bid for governor in 1998, Brunner said their friendship would keep the race civil.

"I think that a primary can be healthy for a party," Brunner said. "Lee and I have had several discussions about running a clean campaign, and that's what I intend to do."

Fisher referred to Brunner as his "longtime friend" and said they would conduct the campaign in a "respectful way."

Fisher announced that although he will remain as lieutenant governor, he was resigning as director of the Ohio Department of Development because it requires full-time attention and he wanted to avoid any potential conflicts because of his dealings with business as director.

Strickland named Mark Barbash, 59, the department's current chief economic-development officer, as interim state director.

The governor said he has given some thought to who would replace Fisher as his running mate for next year and expects to name someone soon.

Brunner estimated that the race would cost each of them between $3 million and $5 million. Fisher long has been known for his fundraising prowess, but Brunner said she has developed a state and national fundraising base that will keep her competitive.

Along with the governor and state auditor, the secretary of state is one of five members of the Apportionment Board, which draws new legislative districts every 10 years. The party winning two of those three seats in 2010 will have the ability to draw a majority of House and Senate districts that favor its candidates.

As a result, some Democrats have been lukewarm about Brunner forgoing re-election to run for the Senate. Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern said he expects the party to remain neutral and contended that having "two well-qualified candidates for the same office might not be a bad thing because everybody will be talking about Jennifer Brunner and Lee Fisher instead of a little-known candidate from Cincinnati."

His reference was to former U.S. Rep. Rob Portman, the lone Republican to announce his Senate candidacy. Republican Auditor Mary Taylor, who holds an Apportionment Board seat, has indicated that she might enter the race.

Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine said in a statement that he couldn't "think of two more unimpressive candidates than Lee Fisher and Jennifer Brunner," saying Fisher "brings to the table a dismal record of accomplishment" and Brunner "offers nothing more than a widely criticized record of rabid partisanship and poor judgment."

Yesterday, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason, a Democrat, said through a spokesman that the "position of secretary of state is intriguing to me and I am seriously considering this opportunity."

The statewide primary election in 2010 is on May 4. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in the primary is Feb. 18, 2010, so there remains plenty of time for jockeying by the candidates and parties.

jhallett@dispatch.com

mniquette@dispatch.com