There may not be any debates in the Republican primary for governor. So Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor and Attorney General Mike DeWine are going back and forth in TV ads and online instead. On the Democratic side, what will almost certainly be the last debate before the May primary is set for April 10 on Miami University’s Middletown campus in southwest Ohio.
Lawmakers were back for a final voting session before spring break – passing the $2.6 billion capital budget. Lawmakers also approved a bill creating a permanent sales tax holiday in August, but a provision was added that would grant educational service centers the power to seek levies for security upgrades and mental health services. There are some controversial and difficult bills that still have to get past one chamber, such as new penalties on prostitution, which some lawmakers fear could hurt efforts on human trafficking, a plan to withhold state money from communities that use traffic cameras and a proposal cracking down on so-called puppy mills.
Eight years ago, two people who are on this May’s primary ballot were on the November ballot, running for attorney general – Mike DeWine and Richard Cordray. Now they could face each other on the fall ballot as candidates for governor, if they survive the May primary. We conclude our series of conversations with the major candidates for that office with Richard Cordray.