Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate says he’s running ‘because Washington is broken’

May 15, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld reaffirmed his candidacy for the U.S. Senate with a few digs at his Democratic primary opponent and stronger words for incumbent Republican Rob Portman.

“I am running because Washington is broken, and I believe fixing it will require new faces and fresh voices, the kind of new leadership that will make this campaign an exciting conversation about the future rather than a stale argument about the past,” Sittenfeld said Thursday during a speech on the steps of the Statehouse.

The campaign of ex-Gov. Ted Strickland, who’s also seeking the Democratic nomination for the Senate and is the state party’s endorsed candidate, declined to comment.

Portman’s campaign, meanwhile, offered a released statement that focused on Sittenfeld’s primary opponent.

“This morning’s speech mentioned the future 18 times,” said spokesman Corry Bliss. “We agree – this race is about the future. Ted Strickland represents a terrible past.”

Sittenfeld used his Statehouse speech to offer ideas for several policy changes, including a plan to cut interest payments on student loans and another to increase Social Security benefits.

During his speech, Sittenfeld said: “As a senator, I will push for policies that restore equal opportunity and rebuild the middle class, and I will fight for a constitutional amendment that finally and forever stops the corrosive impact of big money on our system of government.”

The speech was also the latest move in an apparent push by Sittenfeld’s campaign to frame him as a progressive candidate.

On Tuesday, Sittenfeld publicly backed a “progressive agenda” from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio focused on reducing economic inequality, including raising the minimum wage, paid sick leave and free pre-school.

Sittenfeld is largely viewed as a moderate on Cincinnati’s council.

During his 2013 council campaign, Sittenfeld received one of the top ratings from the Greater Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce and was among only two Democrats endorsed by Citizens for Informed Voters, a conservative group, that endorsed 10 candidates for council.

Dale Butland, Sittenfeld’s campaign spokesman and senior adviser, said the candidate has always been a progressive, however.

“What he’s talking about now is what he’s done on council,” Butland said. “He voted on a resolution to raise the minimum wage and his work to stop foreclosed housing. There’s a whole list of progressive things he’s done.”

On that list, Butland said, are launching a college affordability assistance program, supporting energy aggregation and supporting an anti-predatory towing initiative.