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Three out of five announced Ohio gubernatorial candidates presented their political views to Farm Bureau members during Leadership Conference.

Gubernatorial Democratic candidate Ted Strickland and Republican candidates Ken Blackwell and Betty Montgomery spoke at least 30 minutes to Farm Bureau's board of trustees with two of the discussions open to county presidents. Two months ago, Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro, a Republican candidate, addressed a group of agricultural leaders as part of a meeting organized by Farm Bureau. The other announced Democratic candidate for the November 2006 election is Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, who couldn't attend Leadership Conference because of scheduling conflicts.

"The gubernatorial race will be here before you know it, and it's important for us to have the candidates in to not only present their views but hear our concerns. This gives us a chance to emphasize that agriculture is a vital part of Ohio's economy," said Keith Stimpert, Farm Bureau's vice president of government affairs.

Blackwell, currently Ohio's secretary of state, spoke briefly about his proposal to amend the state's constitution to place limits on how much Ohio can spend and require voter approval of tax increases. A group headed by Blackwell has postponed trying to put the issued on the ballot until November 2006.

"Short of a presidential ballot, I think a gubernatorial ballot gives us the widest possible exposure of the optimal number of voters," he said.

Blackwell also expressed his opposition to the state using $500 million in state bonds for the public funding of high-tech research, known previously as Third Frontier. Farm Bureau opposed the measure two years ago but voted last month to support it. (See story on Page 1.)

"If it's such a strategically important aspect of our economic growth and economic future, then we ought to pay for it out of general funds," he said.

Montgomery, who is state auditor, said Ohio needs to stop the "brain drain" of young, educated people leaving the state for more prosperous jobs and focus on education. She said her "success grants" proposal would give students up to $2,000 in tuition if they agree to stay in Ohio for a length of time.

"We need to invest in the economy that we know we can be competitive in -- that's the knowledge economy," she said.

Strickland, a six-term Congressman who is one of nine children, talked at length about his rural upbringing, emphasizing that he can relate to Farm Bureau members.

"Most people don't understand that agriculture is Ohio's largest industry," he said. "If I'm elected, maybe I'll be known as the agriculture governor."

The state needs to stop living "budget to budget" and work on more long-range planning, Strickland said. He said Ohio's recently enacted sweeping tax reforms were long overdue.

"We've got no vision of where we're going and how to get there," he said. "I think I've got a backbone. I've got the ability to do what is needed."

Caption: Top photo: OFBF Executive Vice President Jack Fisher (right) talks with Republican Ken Blackwell (left) as Keith Stimpert, vice president of OFBF's government affairs, listens. Bottom left: Republican Betty Mongomery addresses the audience. Bottom right: Democrat Ted Strickland talks to OFBF members.