Thomas Suddes

Columnist Thomas Suddes writes that in what could be a tight election, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton have a common enemy -- complacency.

Dick Celeste’s enthusiasm for, and public participation in, Dr. Amy Acton’s campaign for governor is a vote of confidence in Acton’s prospects of victory. TV ads can’t muster that kind of enthusiasm. Celeste is walking his talk. So, likewise, are Acton’s other enthusiastic volunteers, motivated by what they see around them in Ohio – and not on TV, writes Thomas Suddes today.

From the perspective of responsible public school funding, it’s hard to fault Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton’s property tax plan. But GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s plan is a non-starter, writes Thomas Suddes today.

Mike DeWine has been an excellent steward of Ohio’s finances. Now it’s time to ask those vying to replace DeWine -- given a solid budget base -- for kick-starting robust investments in out-state Ohio, especially the Northeast. What say you, Dr. Acton? Mr. Ramaswamy? asks Thomas Suddes in his column today.

Amy Acton's and Vivek Ramaswamy's “Trust Me” doesn’t say much to the roughly 700,000 Ohioans whose Medicaid-expansion healthcare is under threat (as are rural hospitals) because of federal GOP budget antics. It calls for plain talk from Ohio candidates and their proxies – something now in scant supply, writes Thomas Suddes in his column today.

Somebody – political liars? – may well deserve miserable exile from America. But not the men, women and children, refugees from a lawless Haiti, empowered by liberty to live in peace and enrich Ohio, who seek only what the Declaration of Independence has promised everyone for 250 years: The right to pursue happiness, writes Thomas Suddes in his column today.

Gov. Mike DeWine, who’ll turn 80 on Jan. 5, isn’t likely to run for office again, so however and whatever he does about death penalty inmates before completing his final term as governor in January will be judged by history, not by voters. And on the death penalty, Mike DeWine is so far on the side of history – not of barbarism, writes Thomas Suddes in his column today.

Like Capt. Renault in “Casablanca,” people who know better say they’re “Shocked! Shocked!” to find that the General Assembly hands out tax breaks to data centers as if the Statehouse were a giant Pez dispenser. Which, come to think of it, if you have the right ... friends... it kind of is, writes Thomas Suddes in his column today.

There’s nothing wrong with promoting healthy recreation, though that’s usually local governments’ job. But when a pickleball court in towns like those Ronald Reagan once called South Succotash is opened or rededicated after a spruce-up with state help, you can bet the local legislator will be on hand for applause, and maybe feel-good video on local TV, writes Thomas Suddes in his column today.

Leaving aside six years when Democrats led Ohio’s House, Republicans have virtually owned the Statehouse for 30-odd years -- and now Mike DeWine’s stewardship of Medicaid is a problem? No, the problem for Republicans isn’t Medicaid. It’s that they’re hearing the footsteps of a Democratic woman running for governor, writes Thomas Suddes in his column today.