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Kasich praises Salem plant owner
SALEM
Patty Colian and Larry Bowersock waited for Gov. John Kasich outside of Mac Trailer Manufacuring on Monday.
Colian was wearing a sign saying, “GOP: Clueless in Columbus.”
The Democrats are both members of the Columbiana County Board of Elections.
Jack DeFasio, a retired lawyer, was another protester outside the Allen Road facility.
He said it was “the war of words.”
Another protester had a sign saying, “Stop the War on Workers.”
A short time later, Kasich arrived to visit the plant, which produces dump, flatbed and transfer trailers in both Salem and Alliance.
Kasich praised Michael A. Conny, the president of the company, which is seeking workers since the economy is picking up.
Conny started out as a one-man operation repairing wrecked trailers. Today, Mac Trailers is a manufacturing business that employs 550 workers and occupies a combined 500,000 square feet at both the Salem and Alliance facilities, according to the company’s website.
The governor also portrayed himself as someone who was there to clean up a mess, pointing out that the state was $8 billion in the hole before his election with a growing deficit.
“We have to reduce our spending,” he said.
The governor his plans include selling five state prisons and leasing the state liquor distribution.
Kasich said he sees the county — as well as the entire state — as part of a growth area.
“If I want to create a job, Ohio would be the place to do it,” he said.
The governor twice mentioned the potential financial windfall if natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica shale deposits turn out to be much larger than expected in Columbiana County.