Kasich takes show on the road to Sandusky in April

COLUMBUS — Gov. John Kasich will offer his annual State of the State speech before a joint session of the Ohio House and Senate in April in Sandusky.

The event is set for 7 p.m. on April 4 at the Sandusky State Theatre.

“Lake Erie has always held a special place in my heart, dating back to wonderful vacations I enjoyed there as a child,” the governor said in a released statement. “The towns and cities along the lake’s coastline — like Sandusky — are important parts of our state and our tourism industry. Holding the State of the State address in Sandusky, on the shore of Ohio’s Great Lake, will be the perfect opportunity to show off our state’s crown jewel.”

The governor formalized the site selection in a letter Monday to Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) and House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville).

Kasich offered his first State of the State speech in 2011 in the Ohio House Chambers, with thousands of protesters outside chanting in opposition to that session’s SB 5. Voters later rejected the package of restrictions of public employee collecting bargaining activities.

He took the annual address on the road to Steubenville the following year and has traveled around the state every year since then, with stops in Lima, Medina and Wilmington.

Last year’s speech in Marietta also bucked tradition with its timing in April, making it one of the latest State of the States ever.