Dems prepare to push agenda
BYLINE: Jon Craig Enquirer Columbus Bureau
Pledge to carry
Strickland vision
COLUMBUS - Ted Strickland didn't just win the governor's office Tuesday night, he won a friendlier General Assembly as well - which could make it easier for him to govern.
"We will be able to carry Ted Strickland's agenda," Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern said Wednesday at a news conference at state Democratic headquarters.
Democrats picked up seven seats in the 99-member Ohio House in Tuesday's election. That's important, because currently Republicans hold 60 House seats, the three-fifths supermajority vote needed to override gubernatorial vetoes. With the new General Assembly, the GOP won't be able to override Strickland's vetoes.
Democrats also reported their first net gain in the Ohio Senate in 14 years, although Republicans will retain a 21-12 majority in January.
Topping Strickland's priority list is a constitutional funding plan for public schools, reduced dependence on foreign oil and a state budget - which is due in March.
"Our school funding remains a very serious problem, perhaps the most serious problem in our state," Strickland said during a press conference at his Columbus campaign headquarters, where he thanked campaign volunteers.
He also said:
He was not euphoric Tuesday night. "What I felt was a heavy responsibility because Lee and I understand there are about 11.3 million men, women and children in this state."
As a six-term congressman, Strickland might be able to get more done in Ohio because his political party won a majority of the U.S. House seats Tuesday.
He plans to have his transition team together "in a matter of days, or a couple weeks."
He will run an inclusive, tolerant administration "that recognizes the incredible diversity that is Ohio" - religious, economic and geographic. He said his cabinet might even be bipartisan.
He's spoken with Lee Fisher, lieutenant governor-elect, about serving as an economic development director, similar to the dual job held by Lt. Gov. Bruce Johnson.
Strickland said Ohioans are tired of the combative, partisan atmosphere in government.
"This has been an incredibly negative, divisive campaign season," he said. "It's important that we return to civility and mutual respect."
Fresh off an easy win Tuesday over Republican Ken Blackwell, where he got 60 percent of the vote, Strickland said he doesn't expect showdowns in the Ohio House or Senate.
In fact, the Democrat from Columbiana County praised the GOP leaders he'll be dealing with.
"I believe that the (legislative) leaders are responsible people who will try to do what they perceive to be the right things to do," Strickland said during a news conference at his campaign headquarters Wednesday. "I have no reason to doubt the good faith and the worthy intentions of the House speaker and the president of the Senate."
Strickland said he already has spoken to Senate President Bill Harris, House Speaker Jon Husted and Taft, and that their conversations were amicable and productive.
Redfern, who was re-elected to his House seat, said the politics of division and distortion by Blackwell and other Republican officeholders "has soundly been rejected."
Redfern joked he didn't have enough money to provide doughnuts for Statehouse reporters Wednesday morning since he spent every dime on campaigns, including David Pepper's win as Hamilton County commissioner.
But he said he was pleased a half dozen camera crews showed up.
That's because when he became state Democratic chairman last December, his inaugural news conference was sparsely attended.
Another regret, he said, was not having enough money to help Supreme Court candidates.
Republicans now hold all seven justice seats for the first time since 1921.
The state Democratic chairman promised sweeping reforms in the first 100 days of office by newly-elected Democrats within the offices of secretary of state, attorney general and treasurer.
E-mail jcraig@enquirer.com