Governor hits trio of election events Sunday in Athens
By Mike Ludwig
July 28, 2008
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland visited Athens Sunday to show his support for local Democratic state representative candidate Debbie Phillips, the grand opening of the local Barack Obama campaign headquarters, and the game cornhole.
Phillips, who serves on Athens City Council, is running against Republican Jill Thompson for the 92nd District seat in the Ohio House. Strickland attended a fundraiser brunch for the Phillips campaign at a law office on North College Street Sunday afternoon.
At the fundraiser, Strickland said he “needs” Phillips to help build a Democratic majority in the House and support reforms of Ohio’s educational system that the governor intends on introducing to the state Legislature early next year.
“I’m convinced that she will be an honest, hardworking and effective representative of the people in this district,” Strickland said.
Phillips said she’s pleased with the governor’s support and looks forward to working with him to bring “much-needed attention to our area,” according to a Phillips campaign release.
“The governor understands the challenges we face, and is making progress already,” Phillips said.
At 2 p.m. Strickland delivered a speech at the grand opening of the 2008 Campaign for Change local headquarters in the 5onCourt building on North Court Street. According to organizer Kristen Gwinn, the Campaign for Change is the Democratic effort to elect presidential candidate Barack Obama and other Democratic candidates, including Phillips, Ohio Senate candidate Rick Shriver and Athens County commissioner candidate Jim Pancake.
During his speech, Strickland berated the Bush administration for “trampling” the Constitution, ignoring the needs of middle-class Americans and starting “a war without end.” Strickland said that voters who want more of the same should vote for Republican presidential candidate John McCain, and those who want change should vote for Obama.
Strickland said he is confident that Obama will win the presidency, but victory will require hard work and personal sacrifice from his supporters.
“I am convinced that this will be a hugely challenging election; it will be ferociously fought and close,” Strickland told supporters.
The governor lightheartedly referred to himself as a “prophet” and predicted that the efforts of local volunteers will help Obama and other Democrats win in November.
“Beginning today, you are going to devote every spare second that you have to electing Barack Obama,” Strickland declared. “We are involved in a struggle that will change the entire world.”
Pete Couladis, chair of the Athens County Republican Party, said he expects a McCain for president office to open in Athens later this summer.
If brunch and an Obama ’08 office opening wasn’t enough, local fans of Gov. Strickland had the opportunity to participate in the 2008 Ted Strickland Cornhole Tournament Tour, which kicked off at noon Sunday at the Dairy Barn Cultural Arts Center in Athens.
Strickland told The Athens NEWS that he likes cornhole because it “doesn’t cost much” and is a game that everyone can play. (Cornhole is a “horseshoes”-like game that involves tossing a beanbag into a hole in a board.)
“It’s something that has gotten the attention of a lot of people, especially a lot of young people,” Strickland said about cornhole.
Comments
Please log in to post a comment.
