Former governor and current Senator, George Voinovich, told the Vindicator that future governor Ken Blackwell has the vision and experience Ohio needs. But, he's wary about privatizing BWC and he doesn't know enough about leasing the turnpike to take a stand, yet.

YOUNGSTOWN — U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich, a former governor, said fellow Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell is an excellent gubernatorial candidate because "the state needs someone with new ideas to solve current problems."

... Voinovich said Blackwell is "very articulate" and he's "as good on the [political] stump as I've ever seen."

He said with terms as Ohio treasurer and secretary of state, Blackwell has "good management experience" in comparison with U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, who doesn't have any. Besides a lack of management experience, Voinovich's only criticism of Strickland is the Democrat doesn't have strong name recognition.

As for privatizing the BWC, a scandal-plagued state agency, Voinovich said it isn't necessary. Voinovich said the problems occurred there because of a "couple of bad eggs that tinkered with it."

As governor, Voinovich had a study done that stated privatizing the BWC isn't a good idea.

"I'm afraid Ken may not be aware of this," Voinovich said. "Ken ought to look around and see how the states that privatized it are doing."

Carlo LoParo, Blackwell's campaign spokesman, said the Republican gubernatorial candidate is well aware of the study. Ohio is one of only three states — the others are Washington and North Dakota — that don't have their workers' compensation programs run by private agencies, he said. That shows that privatizing the service is the better option, LoParo said.

If a private BWC isn't wrecking the 47 other states that are doing it, why would it wreck ours?

From Ken Blackwell's

Gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell today applauded Governor Bob Taft's decision to accelerate state income tax cuts. The move will save Ohio families about $390 million.

"By accelerating tax cuts, Governor Taft has taken a necessary step toward moving Ohio's economy forward," said Blackwell. "Ohio's next governor must be committed to sustained and meaningful tax cuts or our state will continue to lose jobs and talented young people to better positioned neighboring states."

"I have proposed bold job-creating initiatives that will streamline state government, cut taxes and create an economic environment that will encourage entrepreneurship," added Blackwell.

Blackwell has advocated the following job-creating initiatives:

• Create a $6 billion job creation and infrastructure improvement fund by leasing the Ohio Turnpike;
• Implement a single-rate state income tax system over a four year period, with a target rate of 3.25 percent (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania currently have single-rate income tax systems);
• Eliminate the stand alone estate tax and increase the definition of residency for tax purposes from the current 120 days to 180 days or more;
• Repeal the sales tax increase of 2003, returning the state sales tax to 5 percent; and
• Privatize the Bureau of Workers' Compensation.

From Greg Hartmann's

COLUMBUS-Greg Hartmann, flanked by the former Chairman of the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), the Director of the Allen County Board of Elections, a former county and state elections official, and a Columbus business attorney, unveiled his 20-Point Plan for the Secretary of State's office.

Hartmann's plan promotes improvements in the elections and business administration aspects of the Secretary of State's office. Hartmann, a national leader in preventing identity theft, also advocates for the creation of an Identity Theft Protection Center within the Secretary of State's office.

"Election administration is a fundamental part of the Secretary of State's job," remarked Brad Smith, former FEC Chairman. "Greg understands that Ohioans must have confidence in the integrity of our elections. His 20-point plan balances the need to make sure that every person who wants to vote can vote, easily and quickly, with the necessity of combating and preventing election fraud through appropriate penalties and better enforcement."

Keith A. Cunningham, Director of the Allen County Board of Elections, believes that the Hartmann 20-Point Plan addresses the communication and direction that county boards of elections are looking for from Ohio's next Chief Elections Official.

"Greg understands how important it is to communicate with the people on the ground," noted Cunningham. "He met with several board directors while drafting this plan and incorporated many of our suggestions, by listening to people on all sides of the issues he has developed a set of goals designed to address not just the current issues, but the future of elections in Ohio as well."

Cunningham is also the past President of the Ohio Association of Election Officials and a current member of the United States Election Assistance Commission Advisory Board. In 2000 he served on the Secretary of State's Election Systems Study Committee and on the Voter File Update Committee in 2001.

Tim Miller, a Columbus business attorney with extensive experience and knowledge of Ohio's business law, agreed that Hartmann's 20-Point Plan emphasizes the fact that the Secretary of State's office is the front door to doing business in Ohio and the gateway to economic development.

"Eliminating red tape and making it easier to do business in Ohio is the best way the Secretary of State's office can help promote economic development," said Miller. "Greg's plan promotes business growth by using straight forward and common-sense approaches."

"I'm honored by the support of my plan from individuals who are experts in their fields," Hartmann said. "During this election season, I'll be continuing my travels across Ohio and working hard to make my plan a reality in November."

Greg Hartmann represents the next generation of leadership for Ohio. As the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts, Greg has earned a national reputation for modernizing the office and making it more accountable to taxpayers. During the last three fiscal years, Greg has returned over $1.3 million to taxpayers. He's also a national leader in protecting Ohioans from identity theft.

Hartmann's professional career includes private sector experience managing West Coast operations for Airline Distribution Services, Inc. Greg served as an Assistant Prosecutor in Hamilton County where he prosecuted hundreds of criminal cases including many involving violent felonies.

Greg and his wife Tracy are raising their four children in Cincinnati.

From the Blade

Ken Blackwell campaigned near Toledo yesterday, and Ted Strickland plans to open an office here today, but Ohio's two leading candidates for governor will skip the city when debating time rolls around.

 

Mr. Blackwell, the Republican secretary of state, and Mr. Strickland, a Democratic congressman from Lisbon, said yesterday that they agreed to four debates before the Nov. 7 election. Neither side released set dates, although a Blackwell adviser said they will likely start in mid-August and end in October.

The list of locations, forged from weeks of negotiations, includes Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Youngstown.

check out this quote from the Blade's editor

John Robinson Block, publisher and editor-in-chief of The Blade, said, "It's disappointing to learn that Toledo is not important in the govenor's race, in that in the eyes of the candidates it doesn't merit hosting a debate. Particularly, it's disappointing that Mr. Strickland, who as the front-runner should have more clout in the negotiations, didn't insist on a Toledo debate."

Why would Strickland have more of a say?

From Vindy.com

The gubernatorial campaigns of Democrat Ted Strickland and Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell decided the candidates will participate in four debates, including one in Youngstown.

The dates, locations, topics and formats of the debates have not been announced by the campaigns, but a Youngstown debate is definite.

The other debate locations are in Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland — Ohio's three largest cities in terms of population.

The two sides bypassed larger cities including Dayton, Toledo and Akron for Youngstown. The two candidates have repeatedly emphasized the importance of the Mahoning Valley in the November gubernatorial election.