DAYTON DAILY NEWS                   Copyright (c) 1994, Dayton Newspapers Inc.DATE: Sunday, September 18, 1994             TAG: 9409180138EDITION: CITY           SECTION: NEWS        PAGE: 1B TYPE: ELECTION '94   PROFILE SOURCE: By Tim Miller COLUMBUS BUREAU                              GEORGE VOINOVICH                  VOINOVICH'S WINNING STYLE HAS FOES FUMING COLUMBUS    Mention to Harry Meshel about Republican Gov. George Voinovich shining his own shoes, and you can almost see his blood boil.   The story infuriates the chairman of Ohio's Democratic Party for two reasons. One, he believes Voinovich is a cunning politician who has hoodwinkedthe public and the media into believing he is the opposite. Second, it portrays Voinovich in a manner envied by politicians - just a common Joe.   But much to Meshel's dismay, statewide polls show Voinovich's image remainsuntarnished, even after four years in Ohio's highest office.   And he still shines his own shoes.   Those who have known him since childhood or have followed his long political career express puzzlement as to why so many others remain mystified about the "real Voinovich."   "What you see is what you get," said James Conrad, a longtime friend, right-hand political appointee and currently the director of the Department ofAdministrative Services. "He is not your usual politician."    Little in Voinovich's career has been usual.   Osteomyelitis, a sometimes-fatal bone marrow disease, forced Voinovich to undergo three major operations before the age of 7. At times he had to wear corrective shoes. Unable to fully participate in youth athletics, he became a team manager and played in the band.   The grandson of immigrants and son of a Serbian Protestant father and Slovenian Catholic mother, he often served Mass as an altar boy before delivering his morning newspapers. He ranked 60th of 208 in the Cleveland Collinwood High School class of 1954 - but was voted the most likely to succeed.   That success, he decided early in life, would come in politics and government service.   After graduating from Ohio University, where he was elected student councilpresident, he received his law degree from Ohio State University, where he waschosen class president.   While operating a small law office on Cleveland's east side, he dabbled in local politics as a volunteer before deciding to challenge a two-term Democratic incumbent for a seat in the Ohio House in 1966.   After twice winning re-election, he was appointed Cuyahoga County auditor, a position he won on his own in 1972. Four years later, he was elected county commissioner and in 1978 Gov. James A. Rhodes picked him as his running mate.   With little to do as Rhodes' lieutenant governor, Voinovich quickly accepted a plea from his hometown Republicans to come back and run against Democratic Mayor Dennis Kucinich, who was being blamed for Cleveland's impending collapse into bankruptcy.   That fall he was to realize a long-time dream - easily winning election as mayor of his hometown - as well as experiencing his greatest personal tragedy,the death of his 9-year-old daughter, Molly.   The following decade sharply defined Voinovich the politician.   To Meshel and other detractors, Voinovich virtually turned the city over tothe vested financial interests, who in turn financed his political campaigns. To his supporters, Voinovich did what he does best - brought diverse intereststogether to work for the common good and make Cleveland the "comeback city" ofthe '80s.   The voters overwhelmingly decided in Voinovich's favor. He easily won re-election despite the city's 8-to-1 Democratic registration.    He rode that popularity to his party's nomination for the U.S. Senate in 1988, but turned that into the one blemish on his public career. Not only was he soundly defeated by Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, but his last-minute attacks on Metzenbaum's character so badly backfired that his own reputation was damaged.   Given his current high standings in the polls - favorability figures few politicians ever achieve in a strong two-party state - it's easy to forget that Voinovich was the long shot when the 1990 gubernatorial campaign began.   "He apologized for '88 and he went on," GOP political consultant Curt Steiner said. "People saw a guy who was willing to admit mistakes, but then look forward."   Voinovich's mayoral mantra - make government work "harder and smarter" and "do more with less" - not only became his campaign theme, but attracted national attention as voters demanded that government be more accountable.    Following his defeat of Anthony J. Celebrezze Jr. in 1990, it quickly became clear that Voinovich's managerial method was to appoint people he trusted in key positions and stay out of their way.   Ohioans also soon discovered that they had a governor who shunned the spotlight, was deeply religious, would take periodic vacations to "recharge the batteries," and didn't pay much attention to his press clippings.   During the greatest crisis of his administration, the Lucasville prison riot, Voinovich took advice from the hostage experts, stood in the shadows, prayed daily for guidance, and when it was over thanked the Lord for its peaceful resolution.   Voinovich sidesteps discussions of any potential national political aspirations if he wins re-election Nov. 8, but he does not contain his enthusiasm for what potentially can be done in Ohio during a second term.   "An advantage of having been mayor for a long period of time is the knowledge that making some fundamental changes requires patience," he said. "Ibelieve we've accomplished a lot, but I also believe we've only just started in some areas. I want to finish what we set out to do."THE REPUBLICAN   George Voinovich   * Born: July 15, 1936, Cleveland   * Offices: Ohio House 1966-70; Cuyahoga County auditor, 1971-76; Cuyahoga County commissioner, 1976-78; Ohio lieutenant governor, 1978-79; Cleveland mayor 1979-89; governor, 1990-present   * Education: Ohio University, bachelor's degree, 1958; Ohio State University College of Law degree, 1961   * Married: Janet Allan, Sept. 8, 1962, four children, George, Betsy, Peter,Molly (deceased.)   * Running mate: Nancy Hollister, former Marietta mayorLENGTH: Long  :  113 LINESILLUSTRATION: COLOR PHOTO: Voinovich's popularity shines while he shuns the           spotlightSUBJ: OHIO POLITICS   GOVERNOR   ELECTIONS   CANDIDATES NA: GEORGE VOINOVICH MEMO: THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR ENHANCER: REF1