Connie Pillich, one of several Democratic candidates for governor who will face off in a May primary, told local Democrats that Ohio is in need of major change at the top levels of leadership.
Connie Pillich, standing, a Cincinnati area candidate for governor in 2018, says goodbyes to local Democrats during the Logan County party’s annual fall dinner on Wednesday evening at the Ohio HI-Point Career Center. (EXAMINER PHOTOP | REUBEN MEES)
“I do have a primary to get through first, but if we look out to November, on the other side of the aisle, every single candidate is a sitting office holder and they’re deep in the pockets of special interest groups,” the three-term Ohio House member said. “We are last in the nation in job growth and last in protecting children from child abuse; we’re 22nd in education and first in opioid deaths. I don’t think this is the direction people want Ohio to go.”
A native of Buffalo, N.Y., and Air Force veteran of Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, she graduated law school from the University of Cincinnati and practiced law there until about 10 years ago.
“I was practicing law and I had everything I could want. I was a soccer mom and a career mom but when I drove around I would see factories falling apart and there were scandals in the state government,” Pillich said.
“That was what inspired me. We should have a state that works for everyone. So, I decided to run and I won a seat held by a Republican for 30 of the past 40 years.”
She served three terms in that role from 2008 to 2014 when she ran unsuccessfully for State Treasurer.
Before facing a Republican, however, the candidate must navigate through the May 8 primary, that will include at least four other Democrats — former Wayne County Commissioner Dave Kiefer, State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, former U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley.
Pillich said she has a leg up on the competition because she has already visited 76 of Ohio’s 88 counties and shared her five-point plan for job creation and plans for education and healthcare. And she is confident she can win over voters in Republican strongholds, such as Logan County.
“If we want to win, the first thing we have to do is show up,” Pillich said. “And we have to have a plan to create economic opportunities and jobs that pay good salaries; we have to make sure our kids are getting a good education and are prepared for the 21st century workforce; that everyone has equal access to healthcare; and that the streets are safe.
Read complete story in Thursday’s Examiner.
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