A crucial race in 2006

It was inevitable that news stories last week emanating from Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro's formal entry into the 2006 governor's race would focus on highly charged issue of abortion. After all it was Republican Petro who raised it when he announced his choice for lieutenant governor, Phil Heimlich,
In talking about how he and Heimlich share the belief that "we should encourage a culture of life in Ohio," Petro invited criticism.
The attorney general obviously was trying to assure the GOP faithful that he was qualified to carry the party's banner even though he opposed the so-called sanctity of marriage constitutional amendment last year -- it passed -- and at one time was pro-choice on abortion.
The two other Republicans who are expected to seek the GOP nomination next year, Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell and Auditor Betty Montgomery, were quick to blast Petro for flip-flopping.
Distraction
While the battle made for good reading, it detracted from what should have been the beginning of a thoughtful debate on the myriad problems confronting Ohio. The loss of 200,000 manufacturing jobs, the failure of the General Assembly to develop a constitutionally solid formula for funding public education, the inadequate funding for Ohio's public universities and colleges, and the ever growing cost of Medicaid are issues that must be addressed in next year's election by both Republicans and Democrats.
To his credit, Petro has issued a series of white papers on the reorganization of state government to save money, higher education and the privatization of economic development, but they have now been overshadowed by abortion as an issue.
Ohio is at a crossroads and needs a campaign that will demonstrate who will be the best governor, not who would be the best spiritual adviser.