Husted: Good values, good education, good economy can solve most problems

BERLIN − Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted made a couple of stops in Wayne and Holmes counties Tuesday, visiting The Ohio State University ATI campus in Wooster and enjoying a lunch stop at the Homestead Restaurant in Berlin.

Husted, who is running for governor, told a group of supporters in Holmes County he hopes to build on the success the state has seen under the leadership of Gov. Mike DeWine.

"We need leadership to see things through. We need leadership that understands how to get things done," he said. "I aspire, when I am governor, by the end of my term, Ohio will be the unquestioned leader in the Midwest for economic development and opportunity.

"I consider myself like the co-captain of team Ohio," Husted said. "I care about what happens to anybody in this state. When anything good happens, I'm proud of that, and when something bad happens, I feel sad. I just want to see good things happen to our state."

Husted said Ohio has the most private sector jobs in the history of the state, with the unemployment rate under 4% for 16 straight months. He sees Ohio as the economic powerhouse of the Midwest.

"It's amazing what's happened. We've landed some of the biggest economic development projects in our history with Intel," he said. "We are the heart of it all once again. Ohio's the place where we make the things people need to live and thrive."

He said people come to Ohio from all over the world for things like automobiles, computers and health care innovations. That is Ohio and he is proud to be part of that.

Husted credits Republican leadership in the 1990s for reforming the worker's compensation system, the court systems, the tax system, the creation of JobsOhio, for the state's turnaround which consistently has Ohio ranked among the top states in the country.

"You can change things. We did it," he said.

Character development based on life experiences

"As we grow older, we don't always appreciate what forms our character," Husted said. "If you look back at your life experiences, you get a chance to see why you believe what you believe. For me, it started pretty early in my life because I was adopted. I was raised in rural Northwest Ohio by hardworking parents who had great values, going to church every Sunday and spending family time together.

"The basic things you learn as a kid, to work hard, tell the truth, be honest, that shapes your lives," he continued. "I played football, basketball, baseball and ran track in high school and football in college. That shaped me. I became a competitor."

Husted recalled the factory where his father, relatives and most of the people in his small town worked closed down and they all lost their jobs as he went off to college at the University of Dayton.

"Those experiences shaped me. That's why I care so much about economic development," he said. "That's also why I care about workforce development and education. Give somebody a good education and create a good economy, then they can solve most of the problems they might have.

"It also has to be tethered in foundation of values, which to me were hard work personal responsibility, family, faith, freedom and patriotism," Husted continued. "There may be other things that are important, but I think when it comes right down to it, you find the things that are important to you in your life like your family, your faith and your community. Those things are super important."

Local leadership supports Husted

Holmes County Republican Chairman Rob Hovis said Ohio's future leadership is strong and conservative, and he believes Husted is that man.

"We need leadership that sees things through. It is my hope that he will be our next governor, succeeding Gov. DeWine as the leader of our state," Hovis said. "John Husted is the kind of candidate who only comes along now and then. I've always had the impression with John Husted that his word is his bond.

"He has a tap root that goes deep in principles," he continued. "I admire that, and that's the kind of person I want to vote for as governor of Ohio."

Husted spent most of his adult life in the Dayton area, working with the chamber of commerce and business enterprises in Dayton and Montgomery County.

He served in the state house of representatives, the state senate and as Secretary of State before being elected lieutenant governor.

Holmes County Commissioner Joe Miller praised the work Husted has done during his time in officee.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Husted: Good values, good education, good economy can solve most problems