Democrats announce slate of debates
The four candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for Ohio governor have committed to mixing it up in a series of six regional debates.
The first debate is set for 7 p.m. Sept. 12 at Martins Ferry High School in Belmont County in eastern Ohio, Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper announced Monday.
Two more debates are expected to follow this year, with three additional face-offs next year before the May primary, Pepper said.
The Democrats currently running for governor are state Sen. Joe Schiavoni, D-Boardman; Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley; former state Rep. Connie Pillich, D-Montgomery; and former U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Barberton.
The staging of the first debate in Martins Ferry is to illustrate “so many communities have felt left behind by the current Republican leadership in Columbus,” Pepper said. “We are very excited we have a slate of candidates show they are very eager to go out and speak to the voters about what they want to do.”
Pepper was asked if he expects the need to add a fifth podium to the debate stage in Martins Ferry. Consumer Federal Protection Bureau Director Rich Cordray, a former state treasurer and attorney general from Grove City, is a potential candidate, but would need to quit, or be fired by President Donald Trump, to run.
“I don’t know what is going to happen there,” Pepper said. “Every month that goes by is precious time in a campaign ... going too far into the fall is pretty late” to begin raising money and courting familiarity with voters.
The Democratic debates will be streamed live on Facebook and questions will be taken from the audience and via Facebook and Twitter.
The state chairman said the party is committed to presenting its candidates to primary voters, while he called Republican talks about potential debates as a “food fight.”
Americans for Prosperity-Ohio hoped to stage a Sept. 5 debate in Columbus between the Republicans running for governor, but Attorney General Mike DeWine declined, saying it was too early. Secretary of State Jon Husted, Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor and U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Wadsworth, also are seeking the nomination.