Strickland makes his case for 2010 re-election race

By Marc Kovac

COLUMBUS — Gov. Ted Strickland has remained mum on a potential running mate for 2010.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Dix Capital Bureau, he said he will make official his re-election intentions in coming weeks.

And he said he hopes Ohio voters are willing to give him another four years.

“I think for two reasons,” he said. “First of all, I think I have provided an honest, mature, effective leadership to this state during very, very difficult times. And, secondly, I think they should give me a second term because, when they compare me with my likely opponent, I think they will determine that I represent the future and he represents the past.”

Q. Why haven’t you officially announced your re-election intentions?

A. “Well, for the last two months or more, I’ve been focused on trying to get this budget balanced. I haven’t wanted to interject something that had real political overtones to it in the midst of this effort to find a balanced budget. But I will announce my candidacy and file for re-election, and I’ll do that certainly before the middle of February, which is the deadline.”

Q. Why should Ohioans give you another four years?

A. “If people are concerned about a structural deficit under existing circumstances, I would ask them to contemplate the magnitude of the deficit that we would have if my opponent’s suggestion that we eliminate the state income tax was enacted. We would have the dismantling of support for higher education and education and natural resources and public safety and our prison system. It would be so harmful to our state to deprive it of 40 percent of the general revenue fund that is used to operate and carry out the functions of state government.”

Q. You are in your 15th year of public office, counting your time in Congress. How does 2009 compare with the other years you have served?

A. “It’s been among the most challenging for me and for our state, because these are the most challenging economic circumstances that our state and our nation has faced in the 15 years since I’ve been in public office.

“But I’m encouraged because of the character of our state, because of the people in our state, because of the economy that our state has. I say this and I truly believe it: If you were to shrink America, you would end up with Ohio, because Ohio has a little bit of everything that exists in the larger nation. And we have much of the very best that exists in the larger nation. I’m really proud of Ohio, I’m proud to be Ohio’s governor.

“I think Ohio’s going to have better days ahead because of some of the things that we’re doing now to provide a foundation for that future growth that includes investing in education at every level, that includes having an energy policy and an energy bill that is making Ohio attractive for renewable and advanced energy technologies. It’s based upon the fact that we have largely protected [the tax reform that was enacted] before I became governor, that gives Ohio I think the most competitive tax structure of any state, certainly in the Midwest. I’m hopeful because of the emphasis that we have on trying to bring higher education together with industry in Ohio to work in private-public partnerships to advance Ohio’s economy.

“I think we’ve done a lot of those things which are so important to future growth and development, and that’s why I’m hopeful.”

Q. Anything new happening on your end with the Northside Hospital/Forum Health situation?

A. “I was in a meeting not many days ago with the local leadership certainly to talk about that. This is a matter that I think is going to require a lot of cooperation on the part of the hospital and the local community leaders. There are limits to what I can do, except certainly [being] an advocate for the local community and to be willing to sit down and work with all of the interested parties and stakeholders to try to find an appropriate solution to the problem. It is complex, and it is a longstanding problem. It did not just surface recently, but this has been an ongoing problem. But the main thing that I want to do is work to see that essential medical services are continued where they are needed and that the work force be dealt with in a fair and equitable manner. And I know there are various discussions and proposals under consideration, and I would hope the outcome would be a positive one. So, I’m available to the mayor and the local political leadership as well as the hospital leadership as these efforts continue. But I know of no single solution that I could recommend at this time.”