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    The Gubernatorial Lineup: 4 Republicans, 4 Democrats Join the Race

    The race for Ohio governor is on, and each party has four candidates to choose from for election in 2018. For convenience, CU has listed each candidate, along with their work experience, key policies, and personal input.

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    Democrats

    Connie Pillich, Montgomery, 56

    Served as an Ohio House representative from 2009 to 2014, representing the 28th district, which includes portions of Hamilton County
    Was a member of the United States Air Force, serving in Berlin at the height of the Cold War
    Following time as a public defender, opened a private practice

    Policy:
    Led bipartisan support for military service members, legislation to connect veterans to their benefits and provide financial assistance for military transfers

    From Pillich:
    “Too many in Ohio are hurting — we saw that in the election result,” she says in her campaign video. “We see it every day in the jobs lost to unfair foreign trade, automation and Wall Street greed. And we see it in our strained communities that are looking for new leaders willing to stand up for something larger than themselves. We as democrats need to reclaim our status as patriots.”

    conniepillich.com

    Betty Sutton, Barberton, 44

    Was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the state’s 13 congressional district, and served from 2007 to 2013
    Became the youngest woman to be elected to the Ohio House of Representatives at age 29 in 1993, serving until 2000
    Also served on Summit County Council and Barberton City Council

    Policy:
    Sponsored the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) Act, which created the “Cash for Clunkers” program, generating a reported 60,000 jobs
    Led a bipartisan effort to retroactively compensate 185,000 service members whose time on active duty was extended under the “stop loss” policy
    Instituted an ethics reform plan to keep legislators from receiving gifts or perks from special interest groups

    From Sutton:
    “Ohio deserves a governor who is strong enough to stand up to the powerful and to rock the status quo — a governor who recognizes our potential and appreciates the strength of our diversity,” she says on her campaign website.

    bettysutton.com

    Joe Schiavoni, Boardman, 37

    Serves as Ohio Senator since 2009, representing the 33rd district, which includes Columbiana and Mahoning counties
    Rose from Assistant Minority Whip to Assistant Minority Leader to Minority Leader between 2011 and 2014

    Policy:
    Introduced bills to boost the state’s green infrastructure, improve water quality and create jobs
    Has criticized online charter schools, specifically ECOT, and introduced legislation to strengthen attendance requirements for e-schools
    Helped lead the opposition to Senate Bill 5, which sought to limit the collective bargaining power of public employees

    From Schiavoni:
    “Kasich’s first thing he says is ‘We’re going to cut taxes again’ — income tax mostly for the highest earners, by $2.1 billion. That was his budget proposal,” he said after the Ohio Democratic Party’s 2017 Legacy Dinner. “How about no tax cuts this year? How about we invest in our future, how about we invest in our kids, how about we invest in the job market, invest in things that are important to people today, rather than just saying we have to do this monster tax cut again.”

    joeforohio.com

    Nan Whaley, Dayton, 41

    Serves as the Mayor of Dayton since 2013, and will run for re-election alongside her run for governor
    Elected to two terms on the Dayton City Commission, beginning in 2005

    Policy:
    Was one of the first in Ohio to declare a state of emergency in response to the heroin crisis. She asks, “Why shouldn’t the drug companies that caused it pay to clean it up?”
    Raised support from the City of Dayton for an income tax increase to fund high quality pre-k for every 4-year-old.

    From Whaley:
    “For the past decade, they’ve had the same tired, old ideas and plans to create jobs and it hasn’t worked,” she said in an interview with WKEF/WRGT. “As mayor, I’ve seen time and time again these failed policies that have come down from the state have not really helped our community, and they’re not helping people get really good quality jobs, so I think it’s time we have new leadership at the Statehouse.”

    nanwhaleyforohio.com

    Republicans

    Jon Husted, Montpelier, 49

    Currently serves as Ohio Secretary of State, elected in 2010
    Twice selected as Speaker of the House

    Policy:
    Conservative fiscally, cutting his office’s spending by 16 percent ($14.5 million) since his election
    Supports and is supported by Ohio Right to Life, which recently announced it would not endorse candidates who supports abortion access in cases of rape or incest
    Launched the “Safe at Home” program, providing domestic violence victims or survivors with a confidential address for interactions with the government, including voting

    From Husted:
    “As Barack Obama said, folks here cling to our religion and our guns, and there’s no doubt my family would firmly fit in Hillary Clinton’s basket of deplorables, and we’re proud of it,” he says in his campaign video. “I’m running for governor so that no matter how you grew up, the American dream is alive for you in Ohio.”

    jonhusted.com

    Mike DeWine, Cedarville, 70

    Currently serves as Ohio Attorney General, elected in 2010
    Served as United States Senator from 1995 to 2007
    Was Ohio’s Lieutenant Governor from 1991 to 1994
    Represented the 7th district as a member of the U.S. House
    Served in the Ohio Senate, representing the 10th district for almost two years

    Policy:
    Supports cutting taxes and reducing regulations to spur job creation
    Opposes legal abortion, leading the campaign against Planned Parenthood last year
    Historically in support of gun regulation, voting to renew an assault weapon ban and against legislation that absolve gun manufacturers of crimes committed using their products

    From DeWine:
    “I see a state where people will look at Ohio and say, ‘That’s the place to go, that’s the place to go for a job, that’s the place to go for opportunity, that’s the place, that’s the place we want to go to raise our kids,” he says in a campaign video released last month.

    mikedewine.com

    Mary Taylor, Columbus, 51

    Currently serves as Ohio Lieutenant Governor and Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance, as chosen by Gov. John Kasich in 2010
    Was Auditor of Ohio from 2001 to 2011
    Served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2003 to 2006, representing the 43rd district

    Policy:
    Helped pass a tax reform to cut personal income taxes by 21 percent
    Fought for the repeal of Obamacare in an effort to make Ohio’s insurance market competitive

    From Taylor:
    “I challenge the status quo every single day,” she says during her announcement of her run for governor. “Our job is to challenge the status quo and to challenge why things are being done a certain way. It’s who I am. It’s my DNA. It’s the way my dad raised me. Never accept an answer when the answer doesn’t make sense.”

    marytaylorforgovernor.com

    Jim Renacci, Wadsworth, 58

    Currently serves as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, elected in 2010 and serving his fourth term
    Works on the House Ways and Means and House Budget committees
    Served on Wadsworth’s Planning Commission and was later elected as President of Wadsworth City Council, then rising to Mayor in 2004

    Policy:
    Supports increasing competition and eliminating overhead costs on the health care system to broaden access, opposing a single-payer healthcare plan
    Vows to back legislation in the House that will spur economic growth and reduce environmental regulations, ultimately opting for an “all-of-the-above” energy plan that utilizes “natural gas, clean coal, and American-sourced oil, as well as alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, hydropower”
    Wants to defund Sanctuary Cities

    From Renacci:
    “…I ran, and I won, and I’ve been fighting ever since to keep Washington from interfering so much in our everyday lives,” he says on his campaign website. “Now I’m running for Governor because Ohio is lagging behind, and we need leadership in Columbus that will bring real world solutions and business experience to getting our state back on track.”

    renacciforohiofirst.com

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    Lauren Sega
    Lauren Segahttps://columbusunderground.com
    Lauren Sega is the former Associate Editor for Columbus Underground and a current freelance writer for CU. She covers political issues on the local and state levels, as well as local food and restaurant news. She grew up near Cleveland, graduated from Ohio University's Scripps School of Journalism, and loves running, traveling and hiking.
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