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Party poopers: The Ohio Republican Partys financial support of Gov. Mike DeWine is causing headaches for party leadership, Andrew Tobias writes. A small but vocal group of state committee members take issue with the $500,000 the party gave to DeWines re-election campaign, plus $394,000 in in-kind services, and at least some of them are trying to block a party endorsement of DeWine. In an internal note to committee members, Ohio GOP Chairman Bob Paduchik said its typical for the party to support incumbent elected officials, and that doing so doesnt constitute an endorsement. The group of committee members also has raised questions about an ongoing internal party audit, the results of which are expected soon.

Holding off: With less than six months to go before the Feb. 2 primary candidate filing deadline, only one Democrat (the relatively unknown Chelsea Clark of suburban Cincinnati) has launched a campaign for any of the states four down-ticket executive statewide offices. Jeremy Pelzer offers three reasons why so few Dems have announced runs so far for attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, and state auditor in 2022.

On the map: A nonpartisan team of voter advocacy organizations called Fair Districts Ohio launched a remapping contest with cash prizes for creating compact and competitive state legislative districts that focus on keeping communities together instead of protecting particular political parties or legislators, Sabrina Eaton reports. Maps will be evaluated on whether they comply with federal and state laws, are representatively fair, and demonstrate best practices for compactness and respect for local political jurisdictional divides rather than being gerrymandered along partisan lines.

Setting boundaries: The Ohio Redistricting Commission, the panel of Ohio elected officials tasked with redrawing state legislative lines, and possibly state congressional lines, has launched a website Ohioans can use to offer public input into the process. As Tobias writes, the commission also is launching public hearings this week, with stops planned in Cleveland and Youngstown today.

Green-lit: Attorney General Dave Yost on Friday announced he has certified proposed summary language for a measure to legalize marijuana for adults in Ohio. As Pelzer writes, the proposed initiated statute -- which would generally allow adults 21 or older to buy, possess, and grow marijuana -- now goes before the Ohio Ballot Board.

On track: Ohio and the Great Lakes region need more passenger train service. Thats the message that Northeast Ohio passenger rail advocates are sending to Amtrak and other officials as the recently passed Senate infrastructure bill promises $66 billion for rail improvements. Susan Glaser reports on a recent meeting of transportation planners and members of Congress from Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, with the goal of focusing attention on Great Lakes routes rather than just the East Coast, where passenger rail travel is already well established.

Jobs report: Ohios unemployment rate ticked up to 5.4% in July, up from 5.2% in June, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Still, Mark Williams reports for the Columbus Dispatch, Ohio employers added 19,200 jobs in July.

Ric roll: Ric Grenell, the former U.S. ambassador to Germany and director of national intelligence during the Trump administration, will appear in Union County to promote Bernie Morenos U.S. Senate on Sunday. The event will be held at the rabbit and poultry barn at the Union County Fairgrounds in Marysville, according to Moreno.

Water logged: While Lake Erie water levels have receded since the record highs in 2019, they are still well above normal. And what hasnt subsided is a growing fear that climate change will bring more extreme conditions to the Great Lakes beyond simply eroding the shoreline in places and create serious havoc. Peter Krouse has details on how the problem is being studied and what can be done about it.

Capitol crimes? A mother and son were among four Toledo-area residents charged last week in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, John Caniglia reports. Jodi Lynn Wilson and her son, Cole Temple, were charged with knowingly entering a restricted building without lawful authority, demonstrating in a U.S. Capitol building and two counts of disorderly conduct. Authorities also charged a couple, Gabriel Burress and Madison Pettit, with similar offenses.

Making a list: FirstEnergy has made its first round of disclosures as required under the deferred prosecution agreement the company made last month with federal prosecutors. Per the Cincinnati Enquirers Jesse Balmert, FirstEnergy on Friday disclosed $2.2 million it paid to nonprofits and groups benefiting public officials. Nearly all the money was a mandated payment to a nonprofit grid operator. The only Ohio payments were $475 FirstEnergy paid to the Rotary Club of Youngstown, and $135 for training paid to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Northeast Ohio chapter. Notably, the prosecution agreement doesnt require FirstEnergy to disclose political spending from previous years.

Soft landing? MyPillow, the retailer thats become well-known because of its vocally conspiratorial, pro-Trump founder, Mike Lindell, plans to open a storefront in Columbus this fall. Per Columbus Business Firsts Dan Eaton, the location, a rare company-owned store outside of its home state of Minnesota, will be in Clintonville, a Columbus neighborhood known for its residents very liberal political views.

Five things we learned from the May 17, 2021 financial disclosure of state Rep. Monique Smith, a Fairview Park Democrat:

1. Besides her legislative salary, she reported only one other source of income: An amount from $1,000 to $9,999 she made performing general office work for Gibson General Contracting, Inc.

2. She or someone in her immediately family does business through Kiriworks, a company that helps businesses reduce their paper use. Her husband, Dan, works there.

3. Her only investments are through the state employee retirement system.

4. At some point in 2020, she owed at least $1,000 to: ED Financial Services, a student loan servicer, Capital One and Nordstrom.

5. She disclosed no gifts or free travel.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Morgan Harper has been endorsed by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a Washington, D.C.-based coalition of liberal groups.

Tristina Allen, legislative aide to state Rep. Dontavius Jarrells

Lisa Harris, Ohio House floor coordinator

Torri Huebner, central regional liaison with State Auditor Keith Fabers office

State Rep. Laura Lanese

State Rep. Jessica Miranda

Justin Nigro, operations and public affairs director for the Ohio Arts Council

No one this side of the Pearly Gates can take the politics out of Ohio politics and that miracle doesnt seem to be on the agenda, least of all with 2022 contests looming for the governorship and the U.S. Senate.

-Thomas Suddes, in a cleveland.com/Plain Dealer column about redistricting.

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Ohio Republicans and Democrats dealing with challenges as they look to 2022: Capitol Letter - cleveland.com