The Privilege of Hosting Governor Kasich in Medina
What a great honor it was for Medina County to host Governor Kasich for his State of the State address. I could not be more proud and more thankful to call Medina my home for so many years, and the exceptional nature of our community was certainly on display as the governor visited and addressed all of Ohio from here.
One of the most poignant moments of the evening was when the governor awarded Medals of Courage to the three brave women who had been held captive in a Cleveland house. Additionally, I am wonderfully humbled by the kind gesture of the Medina post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol bearing my name. Thank you!
Throughout my tenure as House speaker, I have been privileged to work with the governor, and I was very pleased with many of the topics he addressed during his speech. Most especially, I was glad to hear him address the issues that relate to Ohio’s economic situation, which has been the focus of our attention over the past four years.
Many of the implemented reforms to attract more business to Ohio and create jobs have set a very strong foundation for the future of our state. One of the best changes we have made is to provide tax cuts for Ohioans—especially in relation to the income tax. I’m glad the governor recognizes the disadvantages of having a high and uncompetitive income tax and that he continues to promote a smarter tax policy that will be beneficial to our state and put people to work. That, along with his continued focus on fiscal stability and balanced budgets, has certainly helped to get Ohio back on track. I look forward to looking at these new proposals in the near future.
One of the best ways to prepare for the jobs of the future, of course, is to ensure that our young people are prepared for the work force. The governor’s continued focus on empowering communities to support their schools and doing all we can to ensure a quality education should be admired. Knowing that he recognizes the importance of vocational education this day and age is also something that I take great comfort in and look forward to working with him on in the future.
Having known Governor Kasich for decades and having met with him so often over the past few years, I have always admired many of his personal traits. The concern he has for those who are in desperate need of support or assistance during unfortunate life situations continues to stand out to me. This includes his compassion and support for the people and families who struggle with mental illness, as well as his ongoing work in the fight against drug abuse.
The House has played an essential role in these and other endeavors. Having talked to many of my colleagues in the House following the State of the State address, I know that many of us are very eager to continue the great work that has taken place throughout Governor Kasich’s time in office. We have accomplished a lot, but we have much more to do.
I want to send a note of sincere thanks to everyone who made having the State of the State address in Medina possible. By all accounts, the event—and the entire day—ran successfully, with many people paying compliments to me on the hospitality, as well as the charm of our city and our county. We should all be very proud! Thank you!