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Strickland denies report Ryan is a shoo-in to be running mate
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U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles
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Ohio Governor Ted Strickland (D-Lisbon)
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan says he’s giving a close look to being Gov. Ted Strickland’s lieutenant governor running mate next year.
But The Washington Post reported Tuesday on its Web site that Ryan, of Niles, D-17th, has made that decision and “will announce that he is running for lieutenant governor later this week.”
The Tuesday report cites “two sources familiar with the decision.”
That was refuted the same day by Gov. Ted Strickland, who said he hopes to make a decision by next month.
“I have no idea who may have told The Washington Post that,” he said.
Strickland said Ryan is among about five people on his short list to replace Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, who plans to run in next year’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and not seek re-election.
Sources close to Strickland told The Vindicator last month that Ryan was at the top or very near the top of his list. The brief mention on The Post’s Web site about Ryan includes a link to a March 13 Vindicator column about that issue.
When asked Friday by The Vindicator about Ryan as his running mate, Strickland said, “I have incredible admiration for Tim Ryan, his commitment to public service and his skill set.”
He mentioned that Ryan has a bright political future and is a member of the powerful U.S. House Appropriations Committee.
“That’s a lot to give up,” Strickland said.
Brad Bauman, Ryan’s spokesman in Washington, D.C., would only say Tuesday that, “We know through news reports that he’s on the short list, and he’s very flattered to even have his name be mentioned.”
When asked Friday about running next year as Gov. Ted Strickland’s running mate, Ryan told The Vindicator that he was thinking about it.
“It’s worth exploring what the opportunity may be from that position. It’s worth at least looking at.”
“I need to look at what the opportunities are for this area,” he said. “If I think they’re better [as lieutenant governor] than from where I am now then I need to look at it. It’s a possibility that me being there could be really great for this community. I imagine I’d be advising the governor on issues that could be important.”
Regardless of whether he’d remain a House member or become Strickland’s running mate next year, Ryan said a 2014 gubernatorial run is a “possibility.”
“There’s no question that the most comfortable thing for me personally is to stay where I am” in the House, said Ryan, who’s serving his fourth term. “Sometimes you get called to do things to serve in a bigger way. I need to look at that.”
XCONTRIBUTOR: Vindicator Columbus correspondent Marc Kovac
skolnick@vindy.com