YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION DeWine visits base, stresses its value to military, Valley

There is plenty of room for expansion at the Vienna facility, DeWine said.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
VIENNA -- U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine of Ohio may be somewhat biased, but he said it would make no sense for the Youngstown Air Reserve Station to end up on the federal government's list of military base closings.
DeWine, R-Cedarville, toured the base Friday.
Donald Rumsfeld, the U.S. secretary of defense, will recommend no later than May 16, and perhaps as early as Thursday or Friday, a list of stateside military bases to be closed.
As many as 25 percent of the military's stateside bases could be on the list, but in all likelihood, it will be less, probably about 20 percent.
Bush's deadline
That list will go to the nine-member Base Realignment and Closure Commission. The commission's recommended list must be to President Bush by Sept. 8.
Instead of closing the Vienna base, DeWine said there is plenty of room for expansion.
"We have the ability to grow here," he said.
DeWine said Rumsfeld's list is one of the best-kept secrets in Washington, D.C., a city known for leaking information before something is officially announced.
"Communities across this state and this country are nervous," DeWine said. "We have reason to be nervous. This is an unknown."
There are eight DOD facilities in Ohio, and DeWine doesn't want to see any of them close.
The Vienna base is the fifth largest employer in the Mahoning Valley with more than 2,400 reservists. It puts more than $120 million annually into the local economy and created more than 700 off-base jobs.
The base is the state's second largest military facility and provides the only full-time, fixed-wing aerial spray capability among Department of Defense facilities. It is the home of the Air Force Reserve's 910th Airlift Wing, and Navy and Marine reserve units.
DeWine stressed the importance of the Vienna base to national security, saying it provides a unique service.
During trips to Iraq and Afghanistan, DeWine said he was flown by a C-130 crew from the Youngstown Air Reserve Station.
Praises SOAR for its work
The senator had much praise for officials with Operation: Save Our Airbase Reservists, the local organization focused on keeping the Vienna base open, and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th.
"I think this community is well-prepared," DeWine said. "There are an awful lot of positive things here, but we just don't know. We can be a loser or be a winner. We just don't know until the list comes out."
If the Vienna base is on Rumsfeld's list, the BRAC commission must visit the facility, DeWine said. The base will then have the opportunity to show the commission why it should be taken off the list, he said.
"We know there's going to be closures and consolidations," DeWine said. "It's going to happen somewhere, but we think we've got a great case here."
The state's other U.S. senator, George V. Voinovich, visited the air base in March. During his tour, Voinovich said he liked what he saw of the facility, and would fight to keep it open.
The Bush administration says the BRAC process could save $7 billion annually that could be spent improving fighting capabilities to combat terrorism.
Also Friday, DeWine and Ryan were asked about the expected announcement Monday from U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lisbon, D-6th, that he will run next year for governor. Several Democratic officials say Strickland and his staff members have told them he is seeking the office.
Both work well together
Despite being members of different political parties, DeWine and Strickland have enjoyed a close working relationship, particularly on mental health issues.
DeWine said he spoke Friday to Strickland, and the senator congratulated him on his decision.
"I have a great deal of respect for Ted," DeWine said. "It's a tough decision to make to leave Congress. You can stay there for a long time. It's hard to decide to do something else. It's not an easy decision to make."
Three Republican officeholders -- Attorney General Jim Petro, Auditor Betty Montgomery and Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell -- have announced plans to run next year for governor.
Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman is the only Democrat to officially declare his candidacy for governor.
There have been numerous rumors that Ohio Republicans are urging DeWine, a former lieutenant governor, to give up his Senate seat and run for governor next year to avoid a messy and expensive GOP primary.
DeWine said he has every intention of running for re-election to the Senate next year.
skolnick@vindy.com