Incumbents who ran in northeast Ohio had, for the most part, an easy time holding on to their seats.

Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Dewine easily beat challenger Ted Celeste to earn another six years representing the state of Ohio in Washington, D.C.

In congressional races, incumbents Democrat Dennis Kucinich, Democrat Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Republican Steven LaTourette, Democrat Tom Sawyer, Democrat Sherrod Brown and Democrat Jim Traficant were all winners.

The much-embattled Traficant is the subject of a federal grand jury investigation and expects to be indicted, yet he had no trouble getting appointed to his ninth term.

Republican Ralph Regula also won a congressional seat in the 16th District.

In a hotly contested race for the Ohio Supreme Court, Democratic incumbent Alice Robie Resnick beat her Republican challenger Terrence O'Donnell by seven percentage points.

In Summit County, Democrat James McCarthy won the race for county executive. He received 58 percent of the votes compared to 42 percent for Republican Don Robart.

In the race for the state senate in the 22nd district, Republican Ron Amstutz beat Democrat Elizabeth Kelley 59 percent to 35 percent.

It was even easier for Republican Bob Spada in the 24th district. Spada received 64 percent of the vote compared to Ed Boyle's 38 percent.

In the 5th District covering Ashtabula County, Democrat L. George Distel beat Republican Sandra O'Brien 53 percent to 44 percent. O'Brien, however, will continue acting as county auditor for the next two years.

In other issue-oriented votes, there was a split on shopping-complex proposals. In Westlake, the voters passed the Crocker Park development idea by more than three-to-one. Issue 26 in Broadview Heights, however, was a shopping-center proposal that was turned down by voters by more than three-to-one.

The statewide Issue One vote concerning environmental conservation was passed 57 percent to 43 percent. This will give the state $400 million to spend on the environment and state farms.