Enquirer – State Rep. Connie Pillich, the Montgomery Democrat who had been planning a run for Congress in 2012, has decided to run for re-election to her 28th Ohio House District seat instead.

She also turned down Democratic party leaders who wanted her to run next year for Hamilton County commissioner against Republican incumbent Greg Hartmann.

“Everybody has been calling me to run for everything,” Pillich said Monday morning. “In the end, it was a decision about where I believe I am needed the most. And, for now, I believe that is in Columbus.”

Pillich had already set up a “Pillich for Congress” website – although it was not yet clear if she intended to run against Republican incumbent Steve Chabot in the 1st Congressional District or against Republican incumbent Jean Schmidtin the 2nd Congressional District. Under the new congressional district map now being challenged by Democrats in Columbus, her Montgomery home would be in Chabot’s district, but there is nothing in the constitution that requires a candidate for Congress to live in the district he or she would represent.

Pillich, who has served two terms in the Ohio House, appeared to be leaning toward challenging Schmidt. But then David Krikorian, a Schmidt foe who took 17 percent of the vote as an independent in 2008, announced he would probably run as an independent in 2012 if Pillich were the Democratic candidate facing Schmidt.

“If Krikorian runs as an independent, all it is going to do is make sure Jean Schmidt is re-elected,” Pillich said. “That’s what happened to (Democrat) Vic Wulsin when she ran against Schmidt (in 2008). Krikorian cost her the election.”