Hagan in Ohio’s 60th District

Candidate inter- views can go off in different directions.

Take two that the Vindicator editorial board conducted Monday in the Democratic primary race for the 60th Ohio House District between state Rep. Robert F. Hagan, who has served 23 years in the Legislature, and Don L. Hanni III, a 12-year veteran on the Youngstown Board of Education.

As it happened, the interview was scheduled for the same day that an Associated Press story quoted Hagan as saying he supports Ohio becoming the 15th state to allow the use of medical marijuana, but that a bill he is cosponsoring would never pass because many of his colleagues are afraid of the political consequences.

And so, we spent time listening as Hagan pointed out that Ohio’s bill would be much stricter than some other states and would require prescriptions from medical doctors to avoid abuse. There was even confusion over whether the marijuana would be taxed and why it would be, since other prescription drugs aren’t taxed in Ohio.

Later, during our meeting with Hanni, the interview took a different meandering road, after Hanni announced that he is staunchly pro-life, which he is certainly entitled to be, but something that is even less likely to have anything to do with his service as a state legislator than a proposal to legalize medical marijuana. As to a question on the Hagan marijuana story, Hanni answered with his own question: “Why not just legalize marijuana?”

All of which proves only that in political interviews and politics in general, there is often as much smoke as fire.

The big issue

The over-arching fact of political life for a member of the General Assembly that will be seated in January 2011 is this: Ohio barely managed to balance its present biennial budget, and the mechanizations the Legislature went through last year are nothing compared to what it will face next year.

Whoever is in Columbus is going to have to find a way of cutting costs and raising revenue. On those key points, Hagan notes that the Democratic House put a five percent pay cut for the legislators in its budget, but the Republican Senate took it out. Next time, he says, “we have to take pay cuts.” The amount of money saved will only be a drop in the budgetary bucket, but the symbolism would be powerful, and it would clear the way for other cuts. He suggests services are going to have to be consolidated, including among the state’s 600+ local school districts, as well as courts, police, fire and 911. And, he says, the personal income tax hikes approved for all Ohioans that were to total 21 percent are going to have to be rescinded at the highest income levels, those above $250,000.

Hanni, who is retired from the Ohio Department of Transportation, also agreed that cuts are going to have to be made. One of those areas is in public employees, he said, noting that state employees already took 10 unpaid days to help cut costs. He also agreed that the state will need more money to operate, but had no specific proposals. He said he would have to think about Hagan’s proposed increase for those making $250,000, and might support such a plan.

Hanni points to his belief that port authority responsible for the area in and around the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and cleaning up the Mahoning River provide potential for economic growth. Hanni sits on the port authority board. Hagan points to his success in bringing state money to the area for economic development and for the arts, and says more can be done. He said stimulus money should be put to work in labor intensive ways — cleaning up the Mahoning River or insulating houses — that will also provide long-range benefits.

On his record, Hagan

As to our endorsement, it goes to Hagan, who has a stronger record of working with people and getting things done. While Hagan is a patron of the arts, Hanni has always provided good theater. He has a talent as a provocateur, but the 60th District needs someone in Columbus with a strong record of effective representation, and in this race, that is clearly Hagan.

The primary winner will face Republican Daniel R. Thimons of Struthers in November.