Gov. Mike DeWine ducked the Republican debate, but he was a near-constant presence in the Democratic one Tuesday night.
"This primary is about one thing: who is best to beat Mike DeWine," former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley said in the first gubernatorial debate with former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley.
Both are vying for the Democratic nomination and an opportunity to defeat the sitting GOP governor. They faced off at the Ohio Debate Commission's event at Central State University.
The Democrats criticized DeWine's approach to COVID-19 as too weak to protect children. They also went after corruption at the Ohio Statehouse stemming from a $1 billion nuclear bailout.
"Mike DeWine has been complicit in this whole piece," Whaley said. "He got FirstEnergy to fund his campaign and in return he gave them everything they wanted, including a $1 billion bailout we're paying every single month on our electric bill."
State lawmakers did repeal fees for two nuclear plants but charges for coal plants and cuts to renewable energy remain.
When they weren't bashing DeWine, Democrats answered questions about their visions for Ohio. Here are some of the topics discussed:
Abortion
Whaley's most prominent swipe at Cranley came on his record on abortion. Whaley has sweeped up endorsements from proponents of abortion access, including Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio and Pro-Choice Ohio. She fought to keep Dayton's sole surgical abortion clinic open.
"I'm the only candidate that has been pro-choice my entire career," Whaley said. "And while I'm very excited that Mayor Cranley has joined us in allyship in fighting for a woman's right to an abortion, this is too important when Roe is about to fall to have someone in the governor's seat that just decided a few months before he announced for governor that he was pro-choice."
Cranley, who is Catholic, was anti-abortion for many years. He said his opinion shifted during fertility decisions with his wife. "During that process, it became obvious to me what my wife was already telling me that government had no role in reproductive decisions."
Gas tax
Cranley joined DeWine's Republican challengers in calling for the governor to reduce Ohio's gas tax, at least temporarily, to offset high gas prices. DeWine pushed for a 10.5 cents increase in 2019 and has defended it in recent months.
Cranley said he would "absolutely" reduce Ohio's gas tax to give drivers a break at the gas pumps – at least temporarily. "Mike DeWine raised the gas tax, refuses to budge even in this extreme inflation."
Cranley also pushed his $500 annual energy dividend modeled off states such as Oklahoma and Texas. Ohio's Republican-controlled Legislature has been wary of restrictions on fracking and that industry.
Gun policy
Whaley chastised DeWine for not implementing gun reforms that he promised after nine people were killed and 27 were injured in a mass shooting in Dayton's Oregon District in 2019. Instead, DeWine signed policies such as stand your ground and permitless carry.
She recalled how Dayton mourners shouted for DeWine to "do something." "Never in my worst nightmare did I think that the thing he was going to do was to actually make it worse," she said.
Cranley agreed that DeWine's gun policies had been disastrous and "a stain on his soul." Both agreed they would fight for universal background checks – a popular policy with Ohioans.
Qualified immunity
Both candidates were asked whether they would sign an executive order to end qualified immunity, a legal principle that shields government officials such as police officers accused of violating constitutional rights. Opponents of the policy say it protects police misconduct.
Cranley said he would not sign an order to end qualified immunity, but he would support licensing police officers, reforming use of force and adding body cameras across the state.
Whaley didn't answer the question directly. Instead, she talked about an "alternative response model" in Dayton that might send medical care or mental health professionals to a scene rather than a police officer. "We also recognize that too often Black Ohioans are overpoliced, oversentenced and overcharged."
LGBTQ rights
Whaley incorrectly stated that Dayton was the first city in the state to ban conversion therapy, the attempt to change someone's sexual orientation or gender expression.
In fact, Cincinnati was the first city to do so – a year and a half earlier. The $200-a-day fine on violators was imposed in December 2015, led by Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Seelbach.
"I thought, according to Mr. Seelbach, my former colleague that we were the first city to ban conversion therapy, but I'm glad we both did it," Cranley said. He also emphasized the importance of supporting the transgender community, which "is being demonized all across the country."
Statute of limitations on rape
Both Democrats agreed that the statute of limitations on rape, which is between 20 and 25 years, should be eliminated. Cranley cited the efforts of his running mate, state Sen. Teresa Fedor, to increase penalties for human trafficking victims.
Whaley said Ohio's Legislature, dominated by men, had not addressed the issue adequately.
"This is just one of those things, again, that has not been addressed because there are not enough women in politics," Whaley said.
Democrats have agreed to two more debates.
Original source can be found here.
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