By Deba Uwadiae

Incidentally, the two Ohioans bear the name Richard which means “brave power”, and it is derived from Germanic elements “power, rule” and hard “brave, hardy”, according to “behindthename.com.” One is Richard Adams Cordray, Democrat and the other is Richard Michael DeWine, Republican. While one still keeps the first name in public identification as in Richard Cordray, the other chooses the middle name as in Mike DeWine. But the two Richards are on the “mat:” again, after the State Attorney General battle of 2010 won by Mike DeWine. This time it is the biggest in the State of Ohio – Governor of Ohio State. Who becomes the Governor of Ohio come November 6, 2018 elections?

On the night of May 8, 2018 the two emerged as candidates of the Democrat and Republican, therefore putting aside the hard campaigns of the primaries to face a harder campaign of winning the number one seat of the Ohio State. Running with them are Betty Sutton, running mate to Richard Cordray and Jon Husted, running mate to Mike DeWine.

As they traverse the territory of Ohio State to mobilize for votes, Mike Dewine says “for our state to succeed in the future, we have to take efforts to create and retain jobs in Ohio to the next level. By curbing excessive taxation and burdensome regulations, creating a more inviting business environment and bringing and keeping jobs in Ohio.”

In the word of Rich Cordray, “we can build a better, more inclusive Ohio that works for everyone, not just the rich and powerful;  fight for universal pre-k, quality public schools, free community college, small business support, ending the opioid epidemic, preventing gun violence, and more. “

With many promises to make Ohio State better, the two share common interest in controlling Opioid Crisis. Mike DeWine has his “Recovery Ohio” Plan based on 12 pillars while Richard Cordary has his five ways of combating the Opioid crisis. They both agreed on the need to declare a State of Emergency as first step.

                          Mike DeWine

50th Attorney General of Ohio January 10, 2011

United States Senator
from Ohio January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2007

59th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio January 14, 1991 – November 12, 1994                                                                                                      Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio‘s 7th district        January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1991                                                      

Member of the Ohio Senate
from the 10th district           January 2, 1981 – December 13, 1982

                                              Priorities

Create and retain jobs in Ohio to the next level

Curb excessive taxation and burdensome regulations

Create a more inviting business environment by bringing and keeping jobs in Ohio

Opioid Crisis “Recovery Ohio” Plan

1: Pass legislation to give the Governor the ability to declare a public health emergency.

2: Create a 21st century law enforcement data sharing and analytics infrastructure for every Ohio law enforcement agency.

3: Expand proven drug task force models to tackle flow of money and drugs from Mexican drug cartels.

4: Create at least 60 more specialized drug courts.

5: Double the substance use treatment capacity in Ohio.

6: Expand workforce of critical specialists.

7: Empower employers to help employees with substance use disorder.

8: Help business owners hire employees in recovery by offering employers incentives and reducing risks.

9: Create a special position reporting directly to the Governor with Cabinet-level authority.

10: Implement proven Kindergarten-12th grade drug prevention education in all Ohio schools.

11: Roll out statewide drug prevention media campaign.

12: Expanded early intervention programs that target Ohio families and children in foster care.

Education

Favors school choice.

“What I want for every child in Ohio is what I want for my own children, and that is that they find something in life that they love and have a passion for and are good at. We have children languishing in schools that are not helping prepare them for that kind of life. We have many good teachers and many good schools, but we need to be aggressive about getting kids into these higher-performing schools.”

 Honoring tradition

Teach a child to hunt and they’ll learn patience, perseverance, and a love of the outdoors. Mike DeWine and Jon Husted will protect that legacy and work with sportsmen to keep Ohio wild.

 Protecting the wild life fund

Mike DeWine and Jon Husted will protect necessary funds to maintain and expand hunting lands in Ohio.

 Supporting hunters

Supported common sense legislation that made it easier for sportsmen to transport firearms and utilize tools like suppressors for hearing protection.

 Preserving public lands

As a U.S. Senator, Mike DeWine secured millions in funding to maintain facilities, keep waters clean, and preserve outdoor recreation.

 Protecting armed citizens

Mike DeWine made traveling with firearms easier by expanding reciprocity to 38 states. As Speaker of the House, Jon Husted led the passage of a comprehensive reform to Ohio’s concealed carry laws protecting law-abiding gun owners.

 Protecting Lake Erie

From securing millions in federal funds for clean-up efforts to taking on the Army Corps of Engineers, Mike DeWine will protect our Lake.

                    Richard Cordray

1st Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

January 4, 2012 – November 24, 2017

49th Attorney General of Ohio    January 8, 2009 – January 9, 2011

46th Treasurer of Ohio                 January 8, 2007 – January 7, 2009

Treasurer of Franklin County   December 9, 2002 – January 8, 2007    Solicitor General of Ohio          September 1993 – January 6, 1995  Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 33rd district                January 7, 1991 – December 31, 1992

                                      Priorities

 Ohio’s Opioid Crisis

Implement “State of Emergency” Coordination

Protect the Medicaid Expansion and Increase Local Capacity

Expand Access and Funding for Prevention and Treatment Provide Support and Resources for Families and Improve Foster and Adoptive Services

Replace Economic Despair with Broader Economic Opportunity

 Support for Small Businesses

Provide Better Tax Incentives, Grants and Small Business Loans

More Transparency

Empower a New Small Business Chief

Business Services/Business Development Support

Community Development

Economic Empowerment

 Reliable Health Care for All Ohioans

Protect the Medicaid Expansion to Keep Our Health Care

Improve the Exchanges to Provide More Choice, Reduce Costs, and Ensure Access Across the State

Expand Children’s Health Insurance Coverage in Ohio

Tackle Ohio’s Opioids Addiction Crisis Focus Resources for Women and Children

Investing in Ohio’s Health Care industry

 Universal Pre-K

Create a Statewide Pre-K “Hub” to Help local Educators “Connect the Dots” and Build More Comprehensive Programs

Guarantee Adequate Funding for Universal Pre-K Through Combined Public/Private Efforts

 Clean Energy

Strengthen Ohio’s Renewable Portfolio Standard

Stop Over-Regulation that has Halted Ohio’s Wind Energy Development

Support Farmers and Public Bodies Like Schools as Sites for More Clean Energy

Invest in Solar Power to Create More Local Jobs

Agriculture and Farming

Appoint an Assistant Director of Food Policy and Rural Development in the Ohio Department of Agriculture

Support Ohio Farmers with Strategic Business and Technical Resources

Target the Disproportionate Rural Impact of the Opioid Crisis

 Reducing Gun Violence

Require Universal Background Checks

Ban Sale of High-Capacity Magazines and Bump Stocks

Align the Minimum Age to Purchase All Classes of Firearms

Enhance the Safety of Our Schools and Reduce Suicides

Appoint a Gun Violence Prevention Czar

Create Gun Violence Task Forces

 Seniors and Retirement

Establish a “Retire as a Buckeye” Initiative

Create a Retirement Savings Plan Option for Those Who Lack Access through Their Employer

Launch a Life Expectancy Improvement Task Force