COLUMBUS — In his last speech in office, Gov. Ted Strickland Wednesday cautioned against trying to do too much too soon while the nation and Ohio remain in the economic doldrums.
But he admitted that his philosophy of the last four years of trying to keep the ship of state on a steady course despite the economic storm didn't serve him well on Nov. 2.
“During a recession you try to keep things functional,'' the Democratic governor said. “You try to maintain essential services, and you try to continue to invest in the things that are foundational for future growth, but you don't try to deal with problems that have been neglected for decades.
“You survive so that you can hopefully do the right thing when the economy's in a stronger position,'' he said. “That just seems like common sense to me, but 49 percent of Ohioans didn't believe it.''
Speaking to a standing ovation before the Columbus Metropolitan Club, Mr. Strickland never mentioned the name of former Republican congressman John Kasich, the man who defeated him by 2 percentage points last month.
Mr. Strickland, 69, said he'd been working on a “stirring second act'' for which the curtain will now never rise.
Mr. Kasich will be inaugurated on Jan. 10 and has vowed to undo a number of items that Mr. Strickland cited Wednesday as among his greatest accomplishments, including a long-term plan to revamp how the state pays for K-12 education, gradually shift a greater share of the costs onto the state, and increase teacher preparedness.
He again expressed his disappointment that the federal government last week took back what was left of Ohio's $400 million economic stimulus grant for rail development and distributed it to other states after Mr. Kasich said he would kill the current governor's plan to restore conventional-speed passenger rail service between Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Cincinnati.
As he did during the campaign, Mr. Strickland argued that his policies have solidified Ohio's economic foundation and prepared it for stronger growth once a national recovery takes hold.
He repeatedly pointed to the predictions of failure that preceded Dayton's own Wright Brothers' successful but brief first flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C. as he drew comparisons with what he attempted to accomplish in office.
“We may not have reached our final destination, but by God we put that plane in the air…,'' he said.
The governor appeared to be relaxed and offered no excuses for his loss, although he lamented what he characterized as a lack of depth in current political debate.
While saying he worked to help Ohio become a leader in renewable and advanced energy, he pointed to quasar energy group, an Ohio venture that is running plants converting manure into energy.
“You know, I'm still wondering if they might be willing to bring their equipment over to the Statehouse,'' he said.
Then, with a smile, he added, “I apologize for that. I couldn't help myself.''
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