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David Skolnick

Tressel eager to tackle new job

Lieutenant governors in Ohio typically run a state agency in addition to being a close adviser to the governor because the actual responsibilities of the position are minimal. The Ohio Constitution states: “The lieutenant governor shall perform such duties in the executive department as are assigned to him by the governor and as are prescribed by law.” The state Constitution also reads: “In the case of the death, conviction on impeachment, resignation, or removal, of the governor, the lieutenant governor shall succeed to the office of governor.” So if the governor doesn’t ...

Many of DeWine’s budget plans won’t go anywhere

While this was the first State of the State address for Tex Fischer, R-Boardman, and David Thomas, R-Jefferson, as Ohio House members, the two said they knew what to expect from Gov. Mike DeWine. “The governor was going to emphasize education, workforce and career tech and try to sell for his budget plan,” Fischer said. “It’s part of the political process. He’s selling his budget.” But Fischer said he and other Republicans in the Ohio House remain unmoved on DeWine’s budget proposals to increase taxes on sports betting, cigarettes and adult recreational ...

Ramaswamy rises to the top

Even before he officially joined the governor’s race, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy had all of the momentum on his side. While the biotech entrepreneur and short-lived presidential candidate has never held elected office before, he was seen as the 2026 gubernatorial front-runner before his Feb. 24 announcement. Then just a few hours after declaring, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social about Ramaswamy: “I know him well, competed against him and he is something SPECIAL. He’s Young, Strong and Smart! Vivek is also a very good person who truly loves his Country. He will be a ...

After communities protest, bill on marijuana revised

A proposal to take away the funding revenue stream for communities with adult recreational marijuana dispensaries located there was pulled from a bill, but the state Legislature is still expected to move ahead with other major changes to the law. Also, just because the funding for communities that have marijuana dispensaries is out of a Senate bill doesn’t mean the idea is dead. Removing funding from communities with marijuana dispensaries raised numerous objections from officials in those localities. Struthers City Council recently voted to oppose the proposed funding ...

Tressel could be hard to beat

Before Gov. Mike DeWine met with Jim Tressel on Feb. 1, he already made up his mind to offer the former football coach and retired Youngstown State University president the opportunity to be his lieutenant governor. A little more than 48 hours after DeWine announced Monday that Tressel, a fellow Republican, would be his lieutenant governor nominee, the state House and Senate overwhelmingly confirmed him to the position. It’s perhaps the fastest rise in Ohio’s political history. Tressel is keeping things close to his sweater vest when it comes to a 2026 gubernatorial ...

Covering White House visits can be unpleasant, exhausting

Covering visits from presidents and vice presidents — or those running for those offices — can be exhausting. It’s not the actual events that are difficult, but the hoops journalists often have to jump through primarily before it that make it so challenging. I learned last Friday that Vice President J.D. Vance, a Republican and former U.S. senator from Ohio, would be returning Monday to East Palestine to commemorate the two-year anniversary of the horrific train derailment in the village. Memories of covering Republican Donald Trump in East Palestine as he was running for ...