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by Amy Beth Graves

The importance of this year's gubernatorial race was evident when all of the leading candidates spoke to about 250 farmers and rural leaders during Ohio Farm Bureau's Ag Day at the Capital last month.

Republican gubernatorial candidates Kenneth Blackwell and Jim Petro and Democrat Ted Strickland (via video) and his running mate Lee Fisher spoke at length and at times passionately about the need to turn around Ohio's economy. They all emphasized that agriculture is an integral part of Ohio's future.

"It's certainly a salute to the Ohio Farm Bureau that all of the candidates for governor spoke to our county and state leadership at Ag Day," said Rocky Black, OFBF's director of legislative affairs. "It says that as an organization we are respected and taken seriously at the highest levels of government."

OFBF President Bob Peterson kicked off the daylong event by telling the group to know the candidates' views and issues that could affect the agriculture industry.

"2006 is a year of change. You're going to see great change in state government," he told the group gathered in the Hyatt on Capital Square across from the Statehouse. "Take advantage of this opportunity to make sure your elected official knows agriculture's position."

The Feb. 15 event took place the day before the filing deadline for statewide offices and drew about a dozen media members from newspapers, TV, radio and wire services. The candidates' remarks during Ag Day were featured prominently in several news stories.

The ag leaders received an update on legislative issues important to agriculture such as line fence law and workers' compensation before meeting with dozens of state lawmakers during a leisurely lunch. They also learned about some of the issues that might be on the November ballot such as casino gambling and school funding. In the afternoon, the farmers attended one of three breakout sessions on eminent domain, Ohio's energy future or Ohio politics in 2006.

Strickland, who could not attend because of commitments in Washington, spoke first and talked about growing up in a small rural community. He said Ohio needs to develop a "stable and affordable energy supply" by investing in alternative, renewable energy such as ethanol. He proposed a $250 million per year plan to direct 30 percent of Ohio’s tax-free bonds to next generation energy production.

"This is no ordinary race for governor – this is a race for the future of Ohio," Fisher said as he emphasized that Ohio lawmakers need to "leave partisanship at the door" and take bold steps to revitalize Ohio's economy.

Blackwell's speech focused on the need to rein in state spending and his proposal to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would limit government spending. He talked about his proposal to lease the Ohio Turnpike to private investors, which he said would generate up to $6 billion for economic development in Ohio. He also suggested that the state privatize its workers' compensation system, which has been plagued by a multi-million dollar investment scandal.

Petro, who appeared with running mate Joy Padgett, said Ohio needs to do more with tax and tort reform and proposed cutting the number of cabinet departments from 23 to nine, which he said would save more than $1 billion. Responding to a question from the audience, he said that at this point his plan does not have a cabinet of agriculture.

Petro also called for a revitalization of urban areas as a means of attracting and retaining young people.

"We have to be focused on restoring our urban core and need to have incentives to make that community home for people," he said.

During the energy seminar, Rep. John Boccieri, D-New Middletown, said Ohio needs to create an incentive program to reclaim brownfields and put refineries and ethanol plants on them. "We can grow and refine our own fuel," he said.

Concerns about the seizure of property through eminent domain were the focus of another session. Among the speakers were Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chesterland, and Larry Gearhardt, OFBF director of local affairs, who are part of a 25-member task force that is currently studying whether Ohio needs to make changes to state law dealing with eminent domain.

During the politics session, former Republican Sen. Dick Finan and Joe Hallett, business editor for The Columbus Dispatch, gave an outlook for the 2006 elections. Finan predicted there would not be a shift of power from Republican to Democrat this year in the Ohio House and Senate. Both agreed that if the trial of Tom Noe, who has been linked to Republican scandals, falls near the election, it could help Democrats. Finan said it's likely Noe will make a deal to avoid trial.

"If the Democrats think they can win on scandals alone, they've got another thing coming," Hallett said.

OFBF’s Black said many attendees indicated that this year's Ag Day was one of their favorites, a sentiment echoed by Don Heilmann of Lucas County. He liked hearing from the gubernatorial candidates and talking with Auditor Betty Montgomery and Sen. Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green, during the luncheon.

"It was a real good, educational program. It was well worth the time," he said.

Caption: State Sen. Charlie Wilson, D-Bridgeport, (left) shakes hands with Carol Carpenter of Belmont County as other Farm Bureau members from Belmont and Monroe counties watch during Ag Day at the Capital.