Democrats’ reactions to Cordray reports mixed
News that Richard Cordray will announce his candidacy for governor next week drew mixed reactions from his fellow Democrats in the field.
The Dispatch reported Wednesday that Cordray, fresh off a controversial exit as director of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, would kick off his campaign next week, although no formal announcement has been made.
Some of the five Democrats already in the field said a Cordray candidacy wouldn’t affect their plans. Some slammed the former Ohio attorney general. One said it might prompt him to get out — or it might not.
State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, D-Boardman, said he’s not surprised that Cordray is getting in the race. The rumors have been swirling since summer, when Schiavoni had already been crisscrossing Ohio for months.
“We’ll see if he relates to people with his Washington background,” Schiavoni said. “While he’s been in Washington thinking about it and going back and forth with Trump, I’ve been here, grinding it out.”
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley contrasted herself with Cordray, who lost his 2010 bid to be re-elected Ohio attorney general.
“I think the party’s going to have a real choice,” Whaley said. “We can go with the same-ole, same-ole leadership that’s made us lose 24 of the last 28 years instead of reaching out for new leadership from the local level.”
Another candidate, former state Rep. Connie Pillich, was harsh in her assessment of Cordray, who lives in Grove City.
“If, after his chaos-inducing decision to turn consumer protections over to Donald Trump, Richard Cordray plans to run for governor, then Rich should join our field — including the three qualified women candidates already running — on the debate stage Monday night,” Pillich, of Montgomery, said in an email.
The Democrats are scheduled to debate in Cleveland on Monday, but Cordray is not expected. Ohio Democratic Chairman David Pepper said at the last debate that candidates won’t be allowed on the stage until they’ve been vetted by the party.
Another of the Democratic candidates, former U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton of Copley, said a Cordray candidacy wouldn’t affect her campaign.
“I’m not going to speculate on individuals who have not announced a candidacy, especially because I’m not running against other candidates,” Sutton said in an email. “I’m running to offer the citizens of Ohio a new agenda — one focused on improving wages, creating jobs and improving education for working and middle-class families.”
Ohio Supreme Court Justice William O’Neill had said he would get out of the race if Cordray got in, but he waffled on that on Thursday.
“I’ve spoken with Rich,” he said. “We had a half-hour conversation.”
O’Neill, who on Nov. 17 stirred controversy of his own on Facebook, said 98 percent of the conversation was great. But Corday wouldn’t commit to adopting O’Neill’s planks to legalize recreational marijuana and use the proceeds to reopen Ohio mental hospitals to treat opioid addicts.
“I’m non-negotiable on marijuana legalization and reopening mental hospitals,” O’Neill said, adding that that doesn’t necessarily mean he’d run against Cordray if the former CFPB director doesn’t adopt his views.
Meanwhile, O’Neill said he’s talking to the City Club of Cleveland, which is hosting the Democrat debate, about participating over the objections of the state party. O’Neill said he canceled the vetting process after Pepper blasted O’Neill’s Facebook post that he had bedded 50 women over the past 50 years.
“I don’t go into rigged processes,” O’Neill said.