Veteran legislator offers newbies advice

COLUMBUS — Ronald Gerberry has been around for quite a few State of the State speeches.

“This would probably be 19 or 20,” the Democrat state representative from the Youngstown area said after Gov. Ted Strickland’s speech last week.

He’s one of the few House Democrats who served when his party was last in control of the chamber. Meaning he’s been part of the majority and minority parties, under Democratic and Republican governors, and understands the triumphs and challenges that come with both.

So what advice does he have for the newbies — the Democrats who have served under a Republican-controlled House over the past 14 years?

“First and foremost is they take leadership roles in committee to respect the [Republican] minority,” he said. “I think that’s important. And be willing to listen and be willing to take advice not only from your Democratic colleagues but from your Republican colleagues.”

Accomplishing “good work” is going to require a willingness to compromise, particularly in light of a continuing Republican-controlled Senate that will have to sign off on legislation, he said. It’s going to be a difficult session, given the economic circumstances and decisions that will have to be made in coming months.

Serious times

But, Gerberry said, “We can get great things accomplished during these very, very difficult economic times — times that are so serious. I’ve never seen anything like this as long as the many years I served in the General Assembly and the number of biennial budgets I’ve been involved in.”

Education and school funding reform will be front and center — and likely to cause some partisan disagreement.

Strickland’s comments about charter school funding during State of the State were met by a standing ovation from the Democratic side of the aisle and seated silence from the Republicans.

(Here’s what the governor said on the topic: “For those who may have misunderstood my position on charter schools, I want to be very clear. I support charter schools that meet the same high standards we demand of traditional public schools. Charter schools that hire quality teachers, show fiscal and academic accountability, are regulated by the Department of Education, and are not run by for-profit management services have a place in my plan.”)

Gerberry acknowledged that not all aspects of Strickland’s package will make it through the process.

“We haven’t fixed school funding, and people said, ‘Why don’t they do something? Why doesn’t the Legislature do something?’” he said. “And for the last year, people were saying, ‘Where is his proposal?’ Well, you know what? The proposal is here. It’s bold. It’s going to take some very, very strong leadership on the part of the administration and some strong leadership on the part of both sides of the aisle.”

X Marc Kovac is The Vindicator’s Statehouse correspondent. Email him at mkovac@dixcom.com