Published: Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Governorship returns to Dems
Strickland is the first resident of Columbiana County to be elected governor.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS — For the first time in 16 years, Ohio will have a Democratic governor. And the state's new leader is someone with strong ties to Mahoning and Columbiana counties.
"I am proud and humbled to stand before you tonight as Ohio's next governor," Democrat Ted Strickland told a packed ballroom at the Hyatt on Capitol Square late Tuesday. "We are standing at the threshold of a new day in our great state," said Strickland, the congressman from Lisbon, who was surrounded by his wife, Frances, other family members and supporters.
With 60 percent of precincts reporting, Strickland was defeating GOP gubernatorial nominee J. Kenneth Blackwell of Cincinnati 59 percent to 38 percent.
Strickland becomes the first Democratic governor since Richard F. Celeste left office in 1991. He's also the first resident of Columbiana County ever to be elected governor of Ohio.
Since 2003, Strickland has represented the 6th Congressional District, which includes Columbiana County and parts of Mahoning County.
Victory speech
Clad in a dark suit, white shirt and blue tie, Strickland credited the voters of Ohio.
"They made the choice of hope over despair and the choice of unity over division," Strickland said to a cheering crowd.
When Strickland addressed the crowd around 10:20 p.m., he was greeted by chants of "Ted! Ted! Ted! Ted!" The overflow crowd spilled from the ballroom and into the hallway outside.
Strickland said it's time for Ohioans to unite.
"Ohio's challenges are considerable," Strickland said. "We can't tackle our challenges if we are divided."
Blackwell called Strickland shortly before 9 p.m. to concede, Blackwell campaign and GOP officials said.
One Republican official acknowledged the tough times for the GOP both in the Buckeye State and across the nation.
"It's been challenging," Jo Ann Davidson, Republican National Committee co-chairwoman, said at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Columbus, where many GOP officials gathered to watch election returns.
Celebration
Democratic Party officials and public officials celebrated late into the night.
"What a difference eight years makes," said Lee Fisher, Strickland's lieutenant governor candidate. Fisher, of Shaker Heights, was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1998 who lost to current GOP Gov. Bob Taft.
"It's a great day to be a Democrat in Ohio, isn't it?" Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman said to cheers from the crowd.
Coleman sought the Democratic gubernatorial nomination before pulling out late last year.
Strickland, a six-term congressman whose district hugs the Ohio River in eastern and southern Ohio, waged a campaign pledging new leadership after years of Republican domination of state government.
Strickland pushed for a plan called "Turnaround Ohio," which he said would connect education and health-care reform and build on Ohio's strengths in economic development.
Meanwhile, Blackwell campaigned on flattening the state income tax and cutting state bureaucratic red tape for businesses to help them grow and produce jobs.
Blackwell, Ohio's secretary of state, had also advocated some controversial proposals such as leasing the Ohio Turnpike to private interests to help fund economic development.
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Strickland is the first resident of Columbiana County to be elected governor.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS — For the first time in 16 years, Ohio will have a Democratic governor. And the state's new leader is someone with strong ties to Mahoning and Columbiana counties.
"I am proud and humbled to stand before you tonight as Ohio's next governor," Democrat Ted Strickland told a packed ballroom at the Hyatt on Capitol Square late Tuesday. "We are standing at the threshold of a new day in our great state," said Strickland, the congressman from Lisbon, who was surrounded by his wife, Frances, other family members and supporters.
With 60 percent of precincts reporting, Strickland was defeating GOP gubernatorial nominee J. Kenneth Blackwell of Cincinnati 59 percent to 38 percent.
Strickland becomes the first Democratic governor since Richard F. Celeste left office in 1991. He's also the first resident of Columbiana County ever to be elected governor of Ohio.
Since 2003, Strickland has represented the 6th Congressional District, which includes Columbiana County and parts of Mahoning County.
Victory speech
Clad in a dark suit, white shirt and blue tie, Strickland credited the voters of Ohio.
"They made the choice of hope over despair and the choice of unity over division," Strickland said to a cheering crowd.
When Strickland addressed the crowd around 10:20 p.m., he was greeted by chants of "Ted! Ted! Ted! Ted!" The overflow crowd spilled from the ballroom and into the hallway outside.
Strickland said it's time for Ohioans to unite.
"Ohio's challenges are considerable," Strickland said. "We can't tackle our challenges if we are divided."
Blackwell called Strickland shortly before 9 p.m. to concede, Blackwell campaign and GOP officials said.
One Republican official acknowledged the tough times for the GOP both in the Buckeye State and across the nation.
"It's been challenging," Jo Ann Davidson, Republican National Committee co-chairwoman, said at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Columbus, where many GOP officials gathered to watch election returns.
Celebration
Democratic Party officials and public officials celebrated late into the night.
"What a difference eight years makes," said Lee Fisher, Strickland's lieutenant governor candidate. Fisher, of Shaker Heights, was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1998 who lost to current GOP Gov. Bob Taft.
"It's a great day to be a Democrat in Ohio, isn't it?" Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman said to cheers from the crowd.
Coleman sought the Democratic gubernatorial nomination before pulling out late last year.
Strickland, a six-term congressman whose district hugs the Ohio River in eastern and southern Ohio, waged a campaign pledging new leadership after years of Republican domination of state government.
Strickland pushed for a plan called "Turnaround Ohio," which he said would connect education and health-care reform and build on Ohio's strengths in economic development.
Meanwhile, Blackwell campaigned on flattening the state income tax and cutting state bureaucratic red tape for businesses to help them grow and produce jobs.
Blackwell, Ohio's secretary of state, had also advocated some controversial proposals such as leasing the Ohio Turnpike to private interests to help fund economic development.
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
For the first time in 16 years, Ohio will have a Democratic governor. And the state's new leader is someone with strong...
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