TOLEDO -- Toledo City Council President Jow McNamara says he is considering a run for an Ohio State Senate seat.

McNamara (D), a member of city council since 2006, announced Friday that he will form a committee to explore a campaign for the 11th District seat being vacated by Teresa Fedor.   Ohio's Democratic Primary is set for May 4, 2010.  McNamara says he will decide whether he will enter the race before the end of January.

"I'm taking this step because we need an effective advocate in Columbus who will stand up for our values and demonstrate leadership during these difficult times," McNamara said in a statement released Friday.  "Now, more than ever, we need public servants that seek common ground and pursue common sense strategies to fix government, promote job growth, and strengthen our middle class."

McNamara  is a partner in the downtown Toledo-based law firm of McNamara and Schaller.  He was chosen by fellow council colleagues to serve as Council President in July 2009.  The position was left vacant by out-going president Mark Sobczak.  He recently re-elected to council in the November General Election, receiving the most votes of any city council candidate on the Toledo ballot. 

Statement By Joe McNamara Announcing State Senate Exploratory Committee:

Today I am establishing a committee to explore a campaign for the Ohio Senate.

I’m taking this step because we need an effective advocate in Columbus who will stand up for our values and demonstrate leadership during these difficult times.

On Toledo City Council, I’ve fought for jobs and delivered for middle class families. I’ve worked to bring strategic vision to our economic development efforts, to establish new career training opportunities, and to promote job creation in high-tech sectors like clean energy.

As Council President, I’ve taken on the toughest challenges and brought people together to get things done. We confronted Toledo’s

2009 fiscal crisis with action – forging consensus around bipartisan budget solutions that put public safety first. We reduced the city’s debt by $11.3 million. And we embraced efficiency and technology to save taxpayers millions more in the years ahead.

Now, more than ever, we need public servants that seek common ground and pursue common sense strategies to fix government, promote job growth, and strengthen our middle class. That’s the kind of Councilman that I have been and the kind of Senator I aspire to be.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be talking with people from across the district about what our communities need – and about what we should expect from our representatives in Columbus. I’ll also be working with Toledo’s Mayor-elect and members of Council to chart a responsible course for city government for 2010 and beyond.

By the end of January, I will make a judgment about where I can best be of service. But wherever that is, I pledge to continue working hard every day to build a better community.