COLUMBUS — The field of candidates may or may not be complete, but the Ohio Democratic Party will forge ahead with the first of six planned debates featuring candidates for governor in 2018.
Party Chairman David Pepper contrasted the plan with the other side of the aisle, where an early debate proposed by the conservative Americans for Prosperity already has fallen through.
“We’ve been watching with interest the Republican side of the aisle where they seem to already be in a food fight about debates …,” he said. “Not surprisingly, I guess Mike DeWine didn’t want to go. Jon Husted didn’t want to go. Mary Taylor is then attacking them for not going.
“We’re excited that we have a set of candidates that are very eager to go out and talk to voters about what they want to do to change our state,” Mr. Pepper said.
The four candidates — for now — expected to participate in the first debate on Sept. 12 are former Akron area U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, former Cincinnati state Rep. Connie Pillich, and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley.
Still a wild card is Richard Cordray, a former Ohio attorney general who has spent the last five years as the nation’s top consumer watchdog. Appointed by President Barack Obama, he would have to resign his federal job to run for governor.
“Every month that goes by is precious time in a campaign, precious time getting known, precious time to do your part in raising money,” Mr. Pepper said. “Going too far into fall is getting pretty late. ... The debates are starting because the campaign is starting.”
Republicans are offering Attorney General DeWine, Secretary of State Husted, Lt. Gov. Taylor, and U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci of Wadsworth.
“I’m glad to see that the Democrats have announced their debate schedule, and I look forward to hearing them struggle to explain how raising taxes for a radical single-payer health care system, as well as other failed far-left policies, will help Ohio families,” said Blaine Kelly, Ohio Republican Party spokesman.
“In the meantime, Republicans will continue traveling the state and meeting Ohioans who Democrats have turned their backs on,” he said. “All of our Republican candidates have expressed interest in negotiating debates, and we look forward to doing so when the time is right.”
The first Democratic debate will be held at Martin’s Ferry High School in Belmont County. Mr. Pepper expects two more this calendar year and three more in the spring before the May primary.
The chairman said he does not anticipate that the party will endorse a candidate early, as it has in past elections.
The debates will be streamed live via Facebook and Twitter with a chance for questions from the audience. The Democratic candidates can boost their name recognition. All the GOP contenders have held multiple statewide offices except Mr. Renacci, who serves a northeast Ohio congressional district.
Those seeking tickets for the Martins Ferry event may text DEBATE to 90975 or go online to ohiodems.org/debate.
Contact Jim Provance at jprovance@theblade.com or 614-221-0496.
First Published August 14, 2017, 3:17 p.m.
