The debate was moderated by News Center 7 anchor James Brown. Questions were asked by Dayton Daily News Columbus Bureau reporter Laura Bischoff, News Center 7 reporter and WHIO Reports host Jim Otte and University of Dayton assistant political science professor Christopher Devine.
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We take a look at where DeWine and Cordray stand on key issues such as fighting the opioid crisis.
Credit: DaytonDailyNews
Q: Ohio leads the nation in opiate deaths. What specific steps will you take to address this epidemic? Are there programs that the Kasich administration began that you’d continue or scrap?
Mike DeWine: I have a 12-point action plan that includes K-12 prevention education in every school, more drug courts, more resources for law enforcement, and incentives to get the business community involved to help people in recovery get back to work and on with their lives.
Additionally, I am very proud of what we have already done in the Attorney General’s office. We have shut down pill mills, putting crooked doctors in jail and taking away licenses from over 100 doctors and pharmacists.
We sued the drug companies who played a huge role in creating this epidemic. We started a heroin unit with dedicated and compassionate people who have worked with every county in Ohio to activate local government, the faith-based community, and businesses to fight back against this epidemic.
And, we have cracked down on the Mexican drug cartels by seizing $155 million worth of drugs, 1,200 illegal guns, $30 million in cash, and enough fentanyl and heroin to kill every man, woman, and child in Ohio 3.5 times!
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Richard Cordray: Republicans have failed to respond effectively to this epidemic that is ravaging our families and our communities; it now kills about 14 Ohioans every day and costs as much as $8.8 billion each year.
As governor, I will start to address this epidemic by taking the following steps:
1) immediately declare a “state of emergency” requiring the strategic coordination of federal, state, and local government resources and community-based efforts;
2) protect Medicaid expansion, which supports treatment, and increase local capacity for local enforcement and first responders;
3) expand access and funding for prevention and treatment;
4) provide support and resources for families and improve foster and adoptive services; and
5) lift families and communities out of hopelessness and economic despair with policies that spread out economic opportunity so that no part of Ohio is left out or left behind.
What do you think?Add your voice to the conversation on our Facebook page, and see what your neighbors have to say as we move forward. — Ron Rollins, Community Impact Editor
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