Two weeks ago I sat down and had a talk with U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland (he represents the 6th district, which includes Athens) at the Blue Gator, following his speech to local Democrats.
On Monday Strickland announced his candidacy for Ohio's 2006 governor's race. However, at the time I spoke with him, he was undecided.
Beforehand, I didn't know much about Strickland or his policies. A few college Democrats drooled over his greatness to me, which I expected.
Strickland is an honorable man, yet, like most politicians, he likes to engage in the time-honored sport of mudslinging. In his speech, he aimed straightforwardly at the president and his administration, as well as conservatives, chopping away like any big lefty has been doing. If we let them win this fight
we lose our country he said.
And the local Democrats at the bar took their shots too. Criminal! Traitor! they yelled, directing their anger at the president. I had to duck a couple times for safety, but I was OK once each of them got their turns in.
Afterward Strickland talked to a few people; and I politely waited while an old wisdom-saying coot offered him a critique, something about him being a bit phony. He asked Strickland if he would run for governor in 2006. Strickland was uncertain; he said he's 63 years old and not sure what to do with the rest of his life. Glancing out the window at sunny Court Street, he beamed at the idea of retiring to Athens. He extolled its charm and generosity.
Then I told the old coot to scram and Strickland happily obliged my interview. He noted how long I waited to speak with him and said I should be a peskier, more irksome journalist. We laughed.
So he put down his axe and we talked for 40-45 minutes.
Among other things, I asked him the big question -Why do you remain a representative and not run for senator or governor? He laughed for a minute, at a loss for words, and then turned serious. He promised he would do his best to give me an honest answer. But he fumbled his thoughts and caught his words often. Only bits and scraps came across.
The sixth district, which he's served for five terms -the longest of all sitting Ohio congressmen -represented what Strickland believed to be the heart of Ohio's rich social and cultural diversity. It's also a shade more conservative, and to win that district means he has to carry at least some favor with conservatives and us independents. He said he felt a genuine connection with the people there as he has personally listened to their concerns and attended many community events.
Herman Munster, or I mean, John Kerry, told Strickland that he regretted not campaigning door to door in the sixth district; it might have won him Ohio -which Strickland called the epicenter of the U.S. political struggle -and maybe even the presidency.
Despite saying he was the best Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Strickland remained undecided. He said he had his family to consider, and in an election one has to invest a considerable amount of time and energy on the road.
Strickland seemed to be caught between his allegiances to his family, community and country. He deeply cared for each and didn't want to betray his loyalty to them.
Despite my uncertainty about some of his views, I perceived Strickland to be a politician with the most selfless and humble intentions. That he would even talk to a schmuck college reporter with a straight face for 40 some minutes surprised me.
Now in the race for Ohio's governorship, Strickland might just be the right candidate to unite both parties and, more importantly, win over us independent-minded voters.
-Kevin J. Hogan, a freshman telecommunications major, writes for The Post's state staff. Send him an e-mail at kh360904@ohiou.edu.
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