AP Former Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper speaks at a presidential primary debate at Otterbein University in Westerville. Pepper resigned from his party post at the end of 2020. Rarely is there anything that happens in the Ohio Democratic Party that takes place as smooth as silk. Take the choice of a new state party chair, which is scheduled to take place when the party's executive committee meets in Columbus Jan. 14. The party needs a new leader with the resignation of Cincinnati's David Pepper. As this is written, there are five candidates to replace him. I'm told that the choice of a new party chair is getting mixed up in the 2022 gubernatorial race, as several potential candidates, including mayors John Cranley of Cincinnati and Nan Whaley of Dayton, jockey for position to possibly take on GOP incumbent Mike DeWine in 2022. No Democrat has formally announced a candidacy; several are sniffing the air to see if the time is right.