ODP Weekly Update: An Action-Packed Weekend, And Many More To Come
AN ACTION-PACKED WEEKEND, AND MANY MORE TO COME!
The 2018 Election Cycle is an all-hands-on-deck moment and will be critical to deciding the future of Ohio for years to come. Hard-working Ohioans know this, which is why we saw such tremendous energy and enthusiasm during the Campaign for Ohio Weekend of Action Aug. 18–19.
This is how we build a wave together. It doesn’t happen on its own — it happens because of the hard work and dedication of thousands of Ohioans motivated to make a difference!
Also this weekend, the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus held its bi-annual convention. Gathering in Columbus, the theme of the convention this year was, “Our Time is Now,” as it applies to all things affecting the black community in Ohio, from civic engagement to social justice, and why now is the perfect time to build consistency and strength in both electoral justice and community investment.
The Evening of Champions Dinner at COSI Saturday Night celebrated achievements and trailblazers both past, present and future for African Americans, while also focusing on the call to action for this critical election cycle.
YOUR HEALTH CARE IS ON THE BALLOT
Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Pepper and Ohio Treasurer candidate Rob Richardson toured Southeast Ohio Tuesday, holding events with candidates in Gallipolis and Marietta to highlight the importance of affordable and accessible healthcare and the need to protect it.
“No matter what distractions Republicans try to throw our way, Democrats are focused on the issues that matter to Ohio families — and no issue matters more to Ohioans than their health care,” said Chairman Pepper. “In every race from the Statehouse to the U.S. Senate, health care is on your ballot this year. If voters want to protect and expand quality, affordable health care access, then it’s time to vote Democrat.”
At the Gallipolis event, speakers included Chairman Pepper, Richardson, candidate for Ohio’s 6th U.S. Congressional District Shawna Roberts and candidate for Ohio Senate District 17 Scott Dailey, who shared personal stories during post-press conference interviews.
At the Marietta event Chairman Pepper and Richardson were joined by Roberts and candidate for Ohio House District 95 Dan Milleson. The team then headed over to a postcard party for Taylor Sappington, candidate for Ohio House District 94.
OHIO SUPREME COURT CANDIDATES RACKING UP THE RATINGS
The Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) Commission on Judicial Candidates released its ratings for the 2018 General Election Tuesday, with Judges Melody J. Stewart and Michael P. Donnelly pulling in higher ratings than their respective opponents in the two races for Ohio Supreme Court. Judge Stewart earned the highest rating among all the candidates with a score of 29 out of a possible 30.
http://go.ohiodems.org/page/m/44bdf34a/5d8a7f90/39a1229f/2dd96797/1194881379/VEsEAA/
Judges Donnelly and Stewart also received perfect 4.0 “excellent” scores from JudgeForYourself.com, a service of the Judicial Candidates Rating Coalition, while Republican candidate Craig R. Baldwin refused to participate, and Judge Stewart received a preferred marking over her opponent Mary DeGenaro.
Judicial Candidates Rating Coalition members include the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the Norman S. Minor Bar Association, the Ohio Womens Bar Association and the Cuyahoga Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS
Democratic Ohio governor candidate Rich Cordray and Lt. Gov. candidate Betty Sutton spoke to the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Thursday at a candidate forum held at the PSA Airlines hangar at the Dayton International Airport.
The two men running to be governor — Democrat Richard Cordray and Republican Mike DeWine — each made the case Thursday that Ohio needs to address the workforce development gap with a full-spectrum of training programs.
“This is really a tragedy that we have in the state of Ohio that we have many people who want to work but they don’t have the skills to fill the job openings that are available and we have many employers who want to hire but they can’t find the employees who have what they have to bring them into the workforce,” Cordray said. “Closing that gap is really important.”
He said his administration would focus on helping small businesses, offering industry certification training as well as two-year and four-year degrees and position Ohio as a tolerant, progressive state for all workers.
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Cordray’s running mate Betty Sutton said their administration would work to revamp Ohio laws so that military service members qualify for in-state tuition as soon as they move to Ohio and their spouses can more easily acquire professional licenses.
The two slates did not appear on stage at the same time. Instead, DeWine and Husted spoke for nearly 50 minutes while Cordray and Sutton followed, speaking for nearly 30 minutes to crowd of about 100 business leaders.
“We are going to be on the side of lower taxes and less regulation,” Husted said. He added that their administration wants the legal authority to waive any regulation “that stands in the way of job creation.”
Cordray refuted the allegation made by Husted that he wants to raise taxes.
“I’m against tax increases at this time. We do not need them in the state of Ohio.What we need instead is to make the right investments in our workforce and in our small businesses, our home-grown businesses here so that we can thrive and create opportunity across this state,” Cordray said.
He also said he wants to put a bond issue of at least $1.8-billion before Ohio voters to pay for roads, bridges, underground infrastructure, public transit and broadband technology.
Also this week, the Columbus Dispatch editorial board held its interviews with Ohio Auditor candidate Zack Space and Treasurer candidate Rob Richardson, and Attorney General candidate Steve Dettelbach was featured on Cleveland.com’s Ohio Matters Podcast, and received an endorsement from Vice President Joe Biden!
GIBBS SIDES WITH BILLIONAIRES, SPECIAL INTERESTS OVER WORKING OHIOANS
The results from recent elections should frighten Congressman Bob Gibbs — who has to be worried not only about a too-close-to-call result in Ohio’s 12th Congressional District, but also the spectacular defeat of so-called “right-to-work” legislation by Missouri voters.
That’s because Gibbs recently confirmed his support for the divisive, anti-worker policy. At an April 3 event in Shelby, Gibbs was asked, “I want to know what side of the fence are you on when it comes to right-to-work and why?”
Gibbs responded: “I support right-to-work.”
Gibbs’ opponent, Ken Harbaugh, on the other hand, has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with workers fighting against ‘right-to-work’ and fighting to protect their health care, their pensions and and their livelihoods.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Tuesday, Aug. 21 — Trumbull County Blue Cocktail Hour
- Tuesday, Aug. 21 — Warren County Democratic Party Hosts Kathleen Clyde
- Wednesday, Aug. 22 — Kathleen Clyde and Frank LaRose League of Women Voters Voting Issues Forum
- Friday, Aug. 24 — Mahoning County Democratic Party Picnic
- Saturday, Aug. 25 — Licking County Democratic Party Golf Outing
- Saturday, Aug. 25 — CAIR-Columbus Meet the Candidates Town Hall at the Ohio Union
- Saturday, Aug. 25 — Franklin County Commissioner John O’Grady’s End of Summer Party
- Sunday, Aug. 26 — Parma Democratic Party Picnic
- Wednesday, Aug. 29 — Lucas County Democratic Party Blue Cocktail Hour
- Thursday, Aug. 30 — Clermont County Young Dems “Skate Jill to the Hill” Event
- Thursday, Aug. 30 — OSU College Dems Fundraiser in Columbus
- Thursday, Aug. 30 — Health Care Town Hall with Vanessa Enoch
- Tuesday, Sept. 4 — Ottawa County Blue Cocktail Hour
- Tuesday, Sept. 18 — Montgomery County Blue Cocktail Hour
- Wednesday Sept. 19 — Hardin and Hancock Blue Cocktail Hour
PODCAST: LOUISE VALENTINE TALKS ABOUT HER RACE IN OHIO’S 19th SENATE DISTRICT
This week’s Ohio Democratic Podcast features Louis Valentine, the Democratic nominee for the Ohio Senate in the 19th District, about her decision to run for office, all the endorsements she’s received, what she wants to accomplish in the Ohio Senate and her opponent’s role in the ECOT ‘Chartergate’ scandal and attacks on public education.
