Chrissie Thompson

cthompson@enquirer.com

'Pro-life' candidates%2C facing off in heavily Dem. district%2C said they'd hesitate to oppose abortion.

Ohio Right to Life is reconsidering its endorsement of Thomas.

Thomas on abortion votes%3A 'I would support my Democratic constituents.'

Winburn%3A 'It's a woman's body. It's not my body.' Would 'really%2C really look' at each bill.

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Cecil Thomas and Charlie Winburn both say they're "pro-life" and have long adopted the rhetoric of the Right to Life groups they support – until now.

In interviews this week with The Enquirer, both men said they'd hesitate to vote for new abortion restrictions if they're elected to the Ohio Senate.

Thomas and Winburn are facing off in a district that leans 70 percent Democratic, encompassing most of the city of Cincinnati and some central Hamilton County suburbs. The winner will represent the Ninth District in a Republican-dominated Statehouse that recently passed several new abortion restrictions credited with helping to close Ohio abortion clinics.

"I get a little concerned when I try to influence my personal thoughts on a woman. I'm not a woman. I haven't been a woman," said Thomas, a North Avondale Democrat. He acknowledged he calls himself "pro-life," but said when voting on abortion restrictions, "I would support my Democratic constituents."

Winburn, a Mount Airy Republican and a pastor, made similar comments, but was less direct.

"When you get into areas around women and their own bodies and their own regulations of their bodies, that's something that we really need to tread lightly on. It's a woman's body. It's not my body," Winburn said. "In the '90s, I was pretty much this radical, right-wing guy, trying to be a good Republican. (Then) I said, 'Look, I really don't believe all this stuff.'

"I would take each one of those bills, and I would really, really look at it."

Thomas and Winburn, both veterans of the Cincinnati City Council, have endorsements from Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati's political action committee. The group so far has no plans to change its mind on either candidate.

The Ohio Right to Life PAC also endorsed Thomas, but plans to reconsider that endorsement after Thomas' comments this week to The Enquirer editorial board.

"Mr. Thomas was crystal-clear in his support of the pro-life mission of Ohio Right to Life. It appears he's flip-flopped," said Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life. "He's either lied to Ohio Right to Life or to The Enquirer or both, but this should raise serious concerns among both Democratic and Republican voters in the district about who he is."

What they said:

To The Enquirer this week:

Thomas: "You hear so much about this separation of church and state. What a woman chooses to do is between her and her church, which is her God. I could say, 'Well that's wrong, because the church says.' And I can say that in the church. But is it my right to say from a state standpoint, 'The church said, and you must do'?

"Now, if I have to face my Maker one day, I will be able to say that yes, anyone that I spoke to who was considering an abortion, I did my best to convince them not to do that. But is it my right as a state legislator to force that decision from a state standpoint on an issue that's truly centered in the church? So if I'm in a situation at the state level, I'm voting with the majority of my constituents. It's just that simple."

Winburn: "My mother died from a (back-room) abortion. It's not based on my religious belief. I joined the Republican Party, and they were getting off into women's rights and women's bodies and all that. That's never really been one of my things.

"I'm just a young boy that came through, my mother died. And that's all I know about abortion. So I've just really tried to stay away and, to be honest with you, try to dodge those issues. Yes, I'm pro-life. I think the woman and the baby has the right to live. And when it comes to the mother choosing whether she lives or the baby, I think the mother ought to make that determination."

On their Cincinnati Right to Life PAC surveys:

Thomas: "My family and I have always considered abortion as wrong. I've always followed the passage in the book of Jeremiah ... 'Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.' ... I thank God that Mary didn't abort Jesus!! And I thank God my mother didn't abort me!!"

Says he supports the reversal of Roe v. Wade; legislation to ban abortion from fertilization to birth, except if the mother's life is in danger or if the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest; and all other abortion-related positions the PAC takes.

Winburn: "I have been pro-life since I was 10 years old. My mother died form an abortion. I am pro-life, period. I know firsthand the devastation of abortion."

Says he supports the reversal of Roe v. Wade, legislation to ban abortion from fertilization to birth and all other positions the PAC takes.

How anti-abortion groups responded:

Paula Westwood, executive director of Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati: "We send out a survey to candidates, and we know the candidates don't always tell us the truth on those surveys. If they've told us one thing on a survey and have led us to believe that they're for the protection of human life and yet they do not act on that in their public life, then they will not be endorsed again.

"Both of those candidates in the past have volunteered and voted on pro-life initiatives on the local level. But sometimes things change when they move higher up. And we're well aware of that."

Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life, on Thomas: "My staff met with him in person, and he left no doubt where he would vote if he was elected. It's very disingenuous for him to now change his tune, 30 days out from an election. The Ohio Right to Life PAC will be taking this matter up immediately as to whether to revoke his endorsement."

On whether the PAC might consider endorsing Winburn instead: "Winburn wasn't an announced candidate (when) we made our endorsement. With this unique situation, I think everything is on the table, to be frank. I can't recall an instance where a candidate flip-flopped on this issue."

Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values, where Winburn worked for about a year starting in 2008: "Citizens for Community Values Action PAC is still considering an endorsement for Charlie Winburn. He has our questionnaire, but he has yet to return it. ... We're not going to endorse him unless he fills out in writing what he (thinks). He will not be able to dodge the question when he fills out our survey.

"Cecil Thomas is unacceptable for public office. He's not pro-life, and he also marched in the homosexual parade.

"Charlie is most definitely our candidate. If he does not apply for our endorsement, we would still support Charlie because he is certainly better on our issues than Cecil Thomas. He told me his position on life. I have that personally from him.

"(After The Enquirer interview), he's on dangerous ground with us. But the answers to those questions sound more political than what I think he really believes."

How abortion rights supporters responded:

Kellie Copeland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio: "I really welcome, in their own way, each of them taking another look at this issue with women's health in mind. It seems like they're both moving toward the conclusion that these are decisions that should be made by women and not by politicians. And that's our position as well."

Celeste Ribbins, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio: "Planned Parenthood is glad that both of the candidates recognize how complex the issue of abortion is, and we would welcome an opportunity to sit down and talk with both of them further about their positions on this topic. We would love to share more about the services that we provide statewide beyond abortion and welcome their future support for the women and families who rely on us for preventive care."