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Gov. Kasich sets his sights on Valley
On the side
During Gov. John Kasich’s State of the State address, he mentioned two state senators from the Mahoning Valley.
When talking about bipartisanship — sort of, because Kasich only spoke of Democrats working with Republicans — he singled out state Sen. Jason Wilson of Columbiana, D-30th.
Kasich said: “I‘m here to tell you that this trend [of partisanship] must be stopped and we’re going to do it. We’re going to stop this trend with Republicans and Democrats if I have to pull the Democrats across the aisle myself personally. We are going to get this done, Jason.”
Kasich also mentioned Senate Minority Leader Capri Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd, for her support of Kasic’s bill to privatize many Ohio Department of Development responsibilities.
“Look, this was really, really hard for Capri Cafaro to rally the Democrats in the Senate to vote for one of my most important initiatives. It took guts. I respect her for it. Don’t you?” Those attending applauded.
If his State of the State address is any indication, Gov. John Kasich is focused on the Mahoning Valley.
In his 60-plus minute speech on Tuesday, Kasich, a Republican, mentioned Youngstown 13 times, Lordstown four times and Mahoning Valley once.
(I did a word search on an electronic copy of the speech.)
The only area mentioned more was Cleveland. The city was mentioned 21 times by Kasich, and Cuyahoga, Cleveland’s county, was mentioned twice.
Among his first mentions of Youngstown and Cleveland was how both cities have lost half of their populations since 1950.
A day after the State of the State, the U.S. Census Bureau released information showing the populations of the Valley and the Cleveland area continue to decline — more than any other regions in Ohio between 2000 and 2010.
They’re both two of the most Democratic areas in the state with Kasich not faring well in either region against then-Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, in last year’s election.
Scioto County in south-central Ohio received four mentions by Kasich. Those weren’t too flattering including Kasich saying, “The devil had been running Scioto County.”
Strickland used to live in Scioto County, but Kasich wasn’t referring to his former rival.
Other mentions
Kasich mentioned Akron six times, Toledo five times, Cincinnati three times and Canton twice. Columbus and Steubenville were each mentioned once.
They should feel slighted.
Kasich mentioned Naples, Fla., twice in the speech.
The governor used the wealthy Florida city as a location that has seen growth at the expense of Ohio.
Naples had a population of about 22,200 in 2009, about 2,700 more than it had in the 2000 census.
But back to the Mahoning Valley.
As several legislators pointed out, Kasich’s State of the State address was very similar to the speech he delivered Feb. 24 at a Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber event in a hangar at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna.
He said Youngstown reminds him of his childhood home of McKees Rocks, Pa., and that the two cities are a “stone’s throw” from each other. That must be a heck of a stone to travel about 65 miles.
Kasich did throw out a new line as for why he comes to Youngstown. “It’s in my blood,” he said.
Kasich has messed up the name of V&M Star, a company building a $650 million expansion in Youngstown, a number of times. He smartened up this time referring to it as “the steel plant.”
GM Lordstown
Kasich also talked about the Lordstown General Motors complex being the area’s economic center.
As for the reaction from state legislators who represent the Mahoning Valley, they weren’t impressed.
Of course those criticizing are Democrats, but their point is important.
Kasich can come to the Valley and talk about the area, but it’s his actions that are more important.
The area will be closely watching to see what Kasich does rather than what he says.