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Voinovich recalled as giant in Ohio politics
YOUNGSTOWN
Area and state political leaders described two-term governor and former Republican U.S. Sen. George Voinovich as a public servant who put the needs of Ohio and the country ahead of partisan politics.
Voinovich died unexpectedly Sunday. He was 79.
Voinovich was a giant in Ohio politics, said Mark Munroe, chairman of the Mahoning County Republican Party.
When he was governor, Voinovich helped develop the George V. Voinovich Government Center on West Federal Street.
William C. Binning, who was associated with Voinovich through his terms as governor and U.S. senator, credited that project with beginning the turnaround of downtown Youngstown.
Two local factors led to Voinovich’s help with downtown, said Binning, former political science professor at Youngstown State University and chairman of the Mahoning County Republican Party in the 1980s.
First, former Youngstown Mayor Patrick Ungaro, a Democrat, supported Voinovich, a Republican, for governor; second, Voinovich worked with The Vindicator leadership to develop the project, Binning said.
“I thought he was a great governor. Because he was a mayor, he understood what mayors go through. He was very helpful leading the charge to bring the state building downtown and beginning the turnaround of downtown. He had done it in Cleveland and knew what had to happen in Youngstown,” said Ungaro, who today is Liberty Township administrator.
“I liked him. He was genuine. I thought he was real and a person who understood the problems and had strength of character to do what he thought was right. I’m saddened by his death. My sympathies are with his family,” Ungaro said.
Binning said Voinovich also took a great interest in the General Motors Lordstown Complex, and was instrumental in getting an Ohio Turnpike ramp constructed for the plant.
Binning, now a political analyst, was involved in the Jim Rhodes/Voinovich gubernatorial campaign in the Mahoning Valley in the late 1970s, ran Voinovich’s campaign for governor in 1990 and became a liaison for the Mahoning Valley for eight years.
Munroe said Voinovich’s long record of service in Ohio is remarkable, including as lieutenant governor under Rhodes and then as mayor of Cleveland, where he led the charge to dramatically improve the image of the city.
“While he may be remembered as a Republican who sometimes went against the grain of traditional Republican thought, he will always be remembered for his integrity, independence and commitment to fiscal responsibility,” Munroe said.
Voinovich agreed to raise the state income tax. That would be a cardinal sin in today’s GOP, Binning said. He showed the kind of courage needed to run the state and was “probably one of the best governors we had in the late 20th century,” Binning added.
The former governor’s death came as a surprise to some. He had delivered public remarks Friday at a 25th Slovenian Independence Day event at Cleveland City Hall, and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention coming to Cleveland next month.
In fact, Voinovich was slated to serve on the platform committee at the Ohio GOP convention, taking the place of Dave Johnson, chairman of the Columbiana County Republican Party, who was appointed to the position.
Johnson, chief executive officer of Summitville Tiles in Summitville in Columbiana County, said he had a conversation with Voinovich as recently as Friday.
“I was going to yield my seat to him. I had so much respect for him. I was shocked about his death and am deeply saddened for his family. He had unquestioned integrity and was a wonderful public servant,” Johnson said.
Voinovich’s successor in the Senate, Cincinnati-area Republican Rob Portman, said Voinovich “exemplified everything good about public service. It was never about him but always about helping others. In all of his public-service roles, his intangible contribution was to lift people’s hopes. All Ohioans have suffered a great loss,” he said.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown was among Democrats who recognized Voinovich on Sunday. “He was always willing to listen to the other side of an argument and put what he believed was best for our state and country ahead of partisan politics.”
“I extend my deepest sympathies to the family of George Voinovich ... who served our state with great distinction all his life. He was a consummate professional who always conducted himself with class and independent leadership. He will be missed,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th.
“He was friendly to Youngstown, and I enjoyed his friendship and we got some projects done,” said Harry Meshel, a former state senator and former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. “I sympathize with his family.”
Gov. John Kasich called Voinovich “a unifier who thought outside the box, never gave up and worked hard for the ideas he believed in up until the very end of his life.”