Jerse, 55, is the director of regional collaboration for Cuyahoga County and believes he is the Democrat most capable of being effective in the Republican-dominated Senate.

"The primary race will be about who is the most qualified candidate and who can be the most effective Senator." Jerse said in a prepared statement. "With the Republicans holding a 23-10 margin in the Senate, a Democrat needs to work across the aisle and be a leader in committee, on the floor, and in the media."

Jerse served as a state representative from 1995 through 2004, but could not seek re-election because of term limits.

"I always tried to be professional in my advocacy and people on both sides of the aisle respected that," he said.

As rregional collaboration director, Jerse said he helped persuade 59 communities to sign a "Business Attraction and Anti-Poaching Protocol".

When former Gov. Ted Strickland was in office, Jerse served as the liaison between the Ohio Department of Development and the Republican-controlled House and Senate.