TCV Exclusive - While most of the media attention focuses on the presidential race, a GOP race is heating up in Ohio pitting a Reagan conservative against what's become known as a RINO.

State Senator Steve Buehrer is a sixth generation resident of Northwest Ohio and was raised in Delta, Ohio. Upon graduation from Delta High School, he attended Bowling Green State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies Education, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Following college, Buehrer served as an intern for Congressman Paul Gillmor and aide to former State Representative Jo Ann Davidson in the Ohio House of Representatives. Following these experiences,

Buehrer served for nearly eight years in the administration of Governor George V. Voinovich in a series of policy and management positions including deputy director of two different state agencies.During these years of state government service, Buehrer worked his way through night school at Capital University Law School, where he graduated Cum Laude with his Juris Doctor.

In 1998, Buehrer sought and was elected to the office of state representative from Ohio's 82nd House District (Defiance, Fulton and Williams Counties). He was re-elected in November 2000, when his district became the 74th, and again in November 2002 and 2004 with a large majority.

Representative Buehrer's leadership was recognized by his peers in the House as he was elected Assistant Majority Floor Leader for both the 124th and 125th General Assembly, becoming the first person from his district to ever serve in a leadership position in the Ohio House. Among his numerous achievements in the House, Buehrer authored major reforms of the civil service and transportation funding systems of Ohio leading to more efficient and effective state operations.

In 2006, Buehrer was elected by an overwhelming majority to represent Ohio's 1st Senate District. Senator Buehrer has been named the vice-chairman of the Public Utilities and Energy Committee and has introduced legislation to protect the second amendment right to bear arms and prohibit human cloning in Ohio.

The American Legion Buckeye Boys State recently inducted Senator Buehrer into the organization's Hall of Fame. Marquis' Who's Who in the Midwest continues to recognize Senator Buehrer as one of the most accomplished men and women in the region.

Additionally, the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance honored Buehrer with the Patriot Award in 2005 for his work in promoting gun ownership and outdoor sports.The United Conservatives of Ohio (UCO) have honored Senator Buehrer three times with the Watchdog of the Treasury Award for his strong conservative voting record and named him the Conservative Legislator of the Year at the conclusion of the 125th General Assembly.

Senator Buehrer is a practicing attorney at the law firm of Barber, Kaper, Stamm & Robinson and also operates a small business with his wife. He resides in Delta, Ohio, with his wife, Cathy, and sons, Benjamin, Simon and Daniel.

Buehner's opponent in the upcoming election, State Representative Bob Latta, won election to the Ohio House of Representatives in November 2000, and is currently serving his fourth term. To many in Ohio, Latta is a moderate at best, a RINO (Republican in Name Only) at worst.

He represents the people of the 6th House District, which is comprised of Wood County. Prior to his tenure in the House, Latta was elected to the Senate in November 1996 and represented the 2nd Senate District. Throughout his tenure in the Senate he chaired the Judiciary Committee passing key legislation making Ohio’s streets safer.

During the 125th, 126th and 127th General Assemblies, Representative Latta served as Chair of the Criminal Justice committee and has also served as a member of Alternative Energy, Civil and Commercial Law, Ways and Means, Judiciary and Public Utilities Committees, the Criminal Sentencing Commission and the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee.

Based on his work towards the elimination of the Ohio estate tax in the Ohio Senate, Latta was honored as “Legislator of the Year” for 2000 by the Ohio Farmers Union. As enacted, the death tax bill, Senate Bill 108, increases the exemption for estates in Ohio, which eliminated 78% of the death tax filers.Based on his voting record for sound fiscal management during his tenure in the Senate, Latta was honored by the United Conservatives of Ohio.

However, most real conservatives believe Latta is a moderate who poses as a conservative during elections. In essence, the race between Latta and Buehner pits a Republican moderate against a Reagan conservative.

For example, in the 125th General Assembly, Latta worked with the Ohio Division of Wildlife to enact legislation that mandates sportsmen and women to contribute to the Ohio Division of Wildlife Fund by paying an additional $25 license fee for each set of Sportsperson’s License Plates. The fee is a disguised tax according to Latta's opponents.

Most recently, Latta’s Wildlife Violator Compact allows the Division of Wildlife to work jointly with other state and federal wildlife agencies in maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of conservation law enforcement officers and to enter into an interstate compact to track wildlife violators. To many, this is not the work of a true conservative.