As the May 3 Primary Election nears in Ohio, the Buckeye State could select a new governor or they again could pick a career politician who is already sitting in the seat.
Republican Mike DeWine is seeking re-election, and there are five others—Republicans Joe Blystone, Ron Hood and Jim Renacci, and Democrats John Cranley and Nan Whaley hoping to make the November general election ballot.
But as always that will be up to the voters many of whom are looking at other options, or as many say, “picking the lesser of two evils” of who will serve in the state’s top political post from 2023 to 2026.
Getting opinions from Ohio voters waiting in long lines to get into former president Donald Trump’s Save America Rally at the Delaware County Fairground near Columbus on April 23, they varied in who they would vote for.
One of DeWine’s more surprising endorsements came from the Ohio Restaurant Association, an organization that oversees developments of an industry that has lost more than 3,500 eateries since the pandemic began in March 2020.
“Mike DeWine is an advocate for Ohio’s business community and has demonstrated an appreciation for the unique challenges that face the restaurant community,” ORA president and CEO John Barker said.
“This has never been truer than over the past two years during the pandemic where he consistently reached out to listen and understand our industry’s complex issues.
“Gov. DeWine and Lt. Gov. [Jon] Husted spent countless hours with the ORA and our restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry leaders, and we are thankful for their thoughtful approach.
“The governor’s restaurant advisory group developed the roadmap to safely reopen restaurants in Ohio in May of 2020. We partnered on the Ohio Restaurant Promise for guests and employees, and the state provided a grant program with more than $200 million in COVID relief for impacted operators.
“These steps enabled Ohio to fare significantly better than other states that suffered from overreach on mandates and restrictions, which devastated their hospitality communities.
“It is critical to our members that Ohio’s leaders are balanced and pro-business, pro-economic growth, and pro-job creator, especially now as our economy continues to rebound and we position restaurants to thrive again.”
The sentiments of a woman waiting in line at the Trump rally echoed Barker’s.
Amy Richards of South Charleston near Springfield, said she supports DeWine and will vote for him again.
“I like the job he’s doing,” said Richards as she stood in line waiting to get in the Trump Save America Rally at the Delaware County Fairgrounds on April 23.
“Mike DeWine has made some mistakes, but overall, I think he’s done good as governor. He’s very personable and goes to a lot of gatherings. He makes himself known—and where he stands on the issues known.”
“I appreciate the way he handled the pandemic, and the mask mandate he did,” Richards added. “Covid is going to be here regardless.”
Others believe that it’s time for DeWine to retire.
“Mike DeWine has been running for some kind of office ever since I was a kid,” said John Hickman, 46, of Marion County. Hickman is a truck driver and livestock hauler who supports Jim Renacci.
“As governor, DeWine raised the gas tax and during COVID, he put a lot of restaurants out of business.
“Jim Renacci is a businessman, and this state, this country needs to be run like a business,” Hickman added. “Our roads are falling apart. We need to get people back to work and eliminate a lot of these handouts.”
As Renacci was stumping, shaking hands and making his way to the Northeast Ohio Chapter of Bikers for Trump area at the fairgrounds, its president spoke about the non-profit organization’s support for Renacci.
Bikers for Trump has about 3,600 members in Ohio, said Mario Innocenzi, the chapter’s president.
“I haven’t seen anything Mike DeWine has done right, especially during the beginning of COVID,” said Innocenzi. “I had three barber shops, and lost two of them during that time.
“Jim Renacci is a businessman,” Innocenzi added. “He understands. The policies he has for Ohio would not have allowed that to happen and if he becomes governor it will never happen again.”
Then there’s the silver-haired bearded candidate who’s a farmer, cattle rancher, and restaurant owner—Joe Blystone. His signs are apparent in various corners of the state.
Brenda Mayes of Morrow County near Mansfield, told The Epoch Times she is going to vote for Blystone.
“He’s not a politician,” Mayes said. “I’ll never vote for a politician again. I love where Joe Blystone stands against abortion, he’s personable and seems to have his common sense about him.”
Mayes said she also supports Blystone’s intentions of removing Critical Race Theory and comprehensive sex education out of public schools, which echoed Renacci’s sentiments on those issues.
“Politicians and school leaders need to know that our schools are not free game to do what they want with our children,” Mayes said. “You mess with my children or grandchildren, there’s going to be problems.”
Andy Myers, who was waiting in line to get inside the Trump rally, said that he is supporting Blystone because he’s a businessman addressing common sense issues facing Ohio and is not a politician.
Myers, 42, is running for the state’s Republican Central Committee in District 12 that covers Darke County near Dayton.
“We need a conservative constitutionalist,” Myers said. “I believe Joe Blystone is honest and tells the truth.”
Myers said he believes corruption in politics is rampant in both parties, and change needs to be made by the voters.
“Like Ronald Reagan said, “If you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat,” Myers added.
“The Democrats are bringing socialism into the United States, but it’s in the Republican party, too. We need to eliminate that.”
