Ohio’s car sellers are betting big on GOP Sen. Bill Reineke to take over as Senate President next year, a promotion that would land a fellow auto dealer into one of the three most powerful jobs in state politics.
Reineke has already announced his campaign for the top Senate leadership job, which opens at years’ end when the incumbent, Sen. Rob McColley, reaches his 8-year term limit. Reineke is likely to face Senate Finance Chairman Jerry Cirino, a Northeast Ohio Republican who has been semi-openly campaigning for the post.
So far this year, Reineke has raised about $418,000, far more than Cirino’s $230,000, according to new campaign finance reports released last week.
The reports show that of Reineke’s total haul, at least $130,000 of it came directly from automobile dealers around the state or their political committees.
That includes $16,600 from the Dealers Investment Group, and $10,000 each from Bruce Daniels of Performance Luxury Sports Columbus, Shane Dever of the Performance Automotive Network, and Patrick Preston of Preston Chevrolet.
Reinke’s haul from his colleagues show one of the reasons why car dealers have a track record in Ohio of running for office. The gig helps bring name recognition – familiarity from the general public – thanks to dealerships’ prominent billboards, license plate frames, and catchy local TV commercials. As Reineke shows, it also comes with a network of potential donors.
Car dealers have thrived in Ohio politics in the past. U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno’s professional connections as a former luxury car dealer helped him post surprisingly strong fundraising numbers in his first bid for Senate in 2021. Bill Harris, of Bill Harris Auto Center, served as president of the Ohio Senate in the late 2000s.
Today, Reineke is hoping to follow in their tire tracks.
Reineke’s father started the family automotive business in 1960 in Tiffin. Since then, it has grown into a sprawling success with seven locations around Northwest Ohio and one in Detroit, all kept within the family. Reineke reports earning at least $1.2 million in income each year (reports only offer a range, not a specific figure) from 34 different sources, mostly his car businesses, according to his financial disclosure filed with state ethics officials.
Two family members who work for the dealerships – Daniel and Thomas Reineke – each also wrote Sen. Reineke $10,000 checks this year.
It’s not uncommon for industries at large to back preferred candidates for leadership positions, most prominently governor, House speaker and Senate president. Utility companies, banks, nursing homes, insurers and others all have long histories doing so.
The two legislative slots – House speaker and Senate president – control committee assignments, floor votes, legislative agendas and a prominent bully pulpit. Both jobs are chosen by the majority caucus, and ample fundraising enables candidates to financially support sitting members and candidates in their races to help secure their votes.
Between the governor and two legislative leaders, all three officeholders wield outsize influence shaping the state budget and negotiating any number of policy issues that arise.
Reineke didn’t respond to inquiries about his campaign fundraising.
Joe Cannon, a lobbyist who helps run the Dealer Investment Group’s political operation, said the industry sees in Reineke a trusted partner.
“Our members support candidates throughout the state, including Senator Reineke, who has been able to develop relationships with dealers and other industry partners over the many years in which he has been active in the automotive retail space,” he said.
