Senator lauds oratory, service of Blackwell

Voinovich praised the candidate's experience but questioned some of his proposals.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich, a former governor, said fellow Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell is an excellent gubernatorial candidate because "the state needs someone with new ideas to solve current problems."
But Voinovich disagrees with Blackwell's proposal to privatize the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. In addition, while Voinovich said he doesn't know enough about Blackwell's proposal to lease the Ohio Turnpike, he'd be concerned that the company leasing it would raise rates to "whatever the market dictates."
Those two proposals are among Blackwell's five major job-creation and economic stimulus initiatives.
Blackwell estimates a 99-year lease agreement for the 241-mile turnpike would bring about $4 billion to $6 billion to the state.
"A lot of things you do [as governor] initially brings in a lot of money," Voinovich told The Vindicator during a interview Friday. "That's great for the guy in office, but it becomes a problem for the people who follow him."
Indiana is finalizing a $3.8 billion lease of its turnpike, and state officials there predict tolls will double after the deal is sealed.
Voinovich said Blackwell is "very articulate" and he's "as good on the [political] stump as I've ever seen."
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ckwell vs. Strickland
He said with terms as Ohio treasurer and secretary of state, Blackwell has "good management experience" in comparison with U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, who doesn't have any. Besides a lack of management experience, Voinovich's only criticism of Strickland is the Democrat doesn't have strong name recognition.
As for privatizing the BWC, a scandal-plagued state agency, Voinovich said it isn't necessary. Voinovich said the problems occurred there because of a "couple of bad eggs that tinkered with it."
As governor, Voinovich had a study done that stated privatizing the BWC isn't a good idea.
"I'm afraid Ken may not be aware of this," Voinovich said. "Ken ought to look around and see how the states that privatized it are doing."
Carlo LoParo, Blackwell's campaign spokesman, said the Republican gubernatorial candidate is well aware of the study. Ohio is one of only three states -- the others are Washington and North Dakota -- that don't have their workers' compensation programs run by private agencies, he said. That shows that privatizing the service is the better option, LoParo said.
Opposed to gambling
Voinovich also discussed his opposition to a likely initiative on the November ballot to legalize slot machines at the state's seven horse racetracks and two downtown Cleveland locations.
Voinovich said gambling has a "destructive impact" on lives, and that is reason enough to reject the proposal. He also said that except for the counties with the racetracks, the state's other counties will end up with a minimal amount of income under the proposal.
"I'm sure it will be after I'm dead, but someday people will wake up to the fact that gambling will destroy our country," said Voinovich, who turns 60 on July 15.
Earlier Friday, Voinovich attended an event at Youngstown State University to discuss the importance of math and science education to the future economic competitiveness of the state and the nation.
Voinovich touted the Protecting America's Competitive Edge Act of 2006, which provides funding to place an emphasis on math and science education.
Voinovich also praised a program between YSU and the 47 school districts in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. Officials with the Mahoning and Trumbull counties educational service centers successfully wrote a proposal that brought nearly $1 million for a program that provides additional training for science and mathematics teachers in the three counties.
For Ohio to compete in the global marketplace, it must graduate more students with degrees in science and math, he said.
After the YSU event, Voinovich met privately with Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams.
"I'm impressed with this mayor," Voinovich said of Williams. "... I'd feel real good about him as Youngstown mayor at this stage of the game."
skolnick@vindy.com