Governor's race offers Ohioans a clear choice

Republicans in Ohio made history Tuesday by nominating a black candidate to be their standardbearer in the November general election. But history should not be the reason that Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell is elected Ohio's first black governor in the November.
With the myriad problems confronting the state, the general election race for governor should be about substance, not appearance. We are confident that in the months leading up to Nov. 7 showdown, Blackwell and the Democratic nominee for governor, Congressman Ted Strickland of Lisbon, will provide Ohioans with a clear picture of where they stand -- and differ -- on the issues.
The loss of high-paying manufacturing jobs, the rising cost of health care, the uncertain future of the automotive industry, the unconstitutional funding system for public education, the decreasing state support for higher education and Ohio's late-entry in the high-technology sweepstakes have made Ohio economically unstable.
We listed those issues in our endorsement editorial prior to the primary in which we supported Attorney General Jim Petro for the GOP nomination for governor. It was our belief that Petro had presented a more thoughtful, realistic platform for addressing the challenges confronting Ohio than Blackwell had done.
However, Republicans by better than a 10 percent margin were swayed by Blackwell's message of fiscal conservatism and his focus on so-called moral issues. His victory over a popular, well-known officeholder, Petro, who had previously served as state auditor, is noteworthy.
By contrast, Strickland, who should be regarded as a hometown candidate even though his Mahoning Valley roots aren't deep, campaigned on a platform that was neither ideological nor partycentric. Of course he railed against the 16 years of Republican control of state government, but it was in the context of the decision-makers in Columbus charting the wrong course for this state.
While Strickland's ties to the Valley were established after he won the race for the 6th Congressional District in 2004, he has shown a willingness to immerse himself in just about every aspect of this region's life.
Region's problems
He goes into the general election with a firm grasp of the problems that continue to haunt the area since the steel mills closed more than 20 years ago and is well aware of the effects that decisions made in Columbus and Washington have on old manufacturing regions.
The general election battle for governor must be one of ideas to improve the lives of Ohioans. Blackwell and Strickland should not become distracted by the so-called values initiatives being pushed by the evangelical movement in Ohio that wields so much influence over the Republican Party.
This year should not be a replay of the 2004 presidential election in Ohio in which pro-Republican voters were lured to the polls by the so-called marriage amendment. President Bush carried Ohio, which set the stage for his re-election.
Democrats have been out of power in Ohio for more than a decade. It is up to Strickland to make the case for whether the party deserves to take over the reins in Columbus. Republicans have been in power for more than a decade. It is up to Blackwell to make the case why four more years of a Republican in the governor's mansion would be a good thing for state.