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Kasich to visit GM Lordstown today
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Governor John Kasich
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Jim Graham, President of UAW Local 1112
LORDSTOWN
The union president at the Lordstown General Motors assembly plant is pleased John Kasich’s first official trip to Northeast Ohio as governor is to the car facility today.
But Jim Graham, president of the United Auto Workers Local 1112 union, said he will talk to Kasich about recent comments the Republican governor made about discussions he had with GM officials. Kasich said the officials are critical of the state’s business climate.
“There might have been a miscommunication, because General Motors has pumped a lot of money into Ohio,” said Graham, a Democrat running for Warren mayor. “I was kind of confused by his comments.”
Kasich told reporters Jan. 13 that meetings with the big three U.S. automakers in Detroit were “very sobering” and “in some ways very disturbing” in their assessment of Ohio’s business climate.
Despite Kasich’s comments, Graham said that “it’s great” Kasich is coming to the plant.
“I don’t know how familiar he is with the Mahoning Valley, but we need some support [for economic development] from Columbus,” he said.
The Lordstown plant is the home of the Chevrolet Cruze, GM’s fuel-efficient, compact car officially launched in September. GM officials say they are depending on the Cruze to rebuild the company’s standing in the compact-car market with three shifts of workers building the Cruze here.
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, who invited Kasich to the Mahoning Valley to discuss local economic-development projects, won’t be here for the visit. It conflicts with U.S. House committee meetings Ryan, of Niles, D-17th, is attending in Washington, D.C. Also, the president’s State of the Union address, which Ryan is attending, is a few hours after Kasich’s visit.
“I am confident that the governor will be impressed by the quality workmanship of a skilled work force dedicated to producing an outstanding car that will help drive growth in Ohio’s automobile industry for decades to come,” Ryan said. “I look forward to coordinating a date with the governor’s office in the near future to discuss the rebirth of General Motors and other exciting projects under way in the 17th District.”
Ohio Senate Minority Leader Capri Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd, and state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Canfield, D-33rd, will tour the plant with Kasich.