[img_assist|nid=638|title=Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman|desc=with John Carney|link=none|align=none|width=371|height=157]

COLUMBUS -- Health Care attorney John Carney (D-Clintonville) held a fundraiser last night with Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman (D-Columbus) at the downtown eatery Due Amici Wednesday night.

Also present at the event was state Rep. Ted Celeste (D-Grandview) and state Rep. Armond Budish (D-Beachwood). The two representatives are each vying for Democratic leadership next year and are courting the support of potential newcomers to the state legislature.

Carney is running against Dublin City Councilman Michael Keenan (R-Dublin) to replace term-limited state Rep. Jim Hughes (R-Clintonville) in Ohio's 22nd House district. This is Carney's second effort at the seat. He was defeated by Hughes by six points in 2006. The district includes the Clintonville neighborhoods of Columbus and stretches northwest to Dublin.

At the event, Coleman said Carney was one of the finest people he knows.

"He has worked diligently at the law firm, been a great community activist, worked with our young professionals' commission," Coleman said. "He has great ideas. He's energetic, enthusiastic. And I wanted to make sure that we do everything we can to win that seat. We're only a few seats away, in order for Democrats to take over the House."

Coleman praised Carney's canvassing efforts and said that once he's elected he would do wonderful things for the district.[img_assist|nid=639|title=Coleman|desc=with Carney|link=none|align=right|width=137|height=174]

Carney thanked Coleman and said he wanted to see state legislators working hand in hand with the city of Columbus to help improve the city and the state.

"That's one of the things I plan to focus my efforts on, is really to breech whatever I can between the state and the city to work for Columbus and all the state of Ohio," Carney said.

Carney specifically mentioned the idea of mass transit, which, he pointed out, Coleman has been working on.