Today, former Governor Ted Strickland released the following statement:
"Today, I am announcing my decision not to seek election as Governor of Ohio in 2014.
"In
many ways, this has been a very difficult decision. I look back fondly
on my time as Ohio's 68th Governor –and am proud of my Administration's
efforts to guide our state through the greatest national economic crisis
since the Great Depression. With the help of my First Lady -- Frances
Strickland-- my dedicated and loyal Cabinet, and
my incredibly hard-working Executive Staff, we held the ship steady.
With the help of President Obama, who provided the funds necessary to
keep Ohio and all of America from slipping into another Great
Depression, we were able to preserve the social safety net, make
important investments in education, and position Ohio's economy for the
recovery that started in February 2010.
"And
when I look back on my four years as Governor, I am equally proud of
those in the Strickland Administration who served the public with honor,
integrity, and humility. We sought to make Ohio better.
"My
administration was about positioning Ohio as a leader in our rapidly
changing economy and global world. We worked to rebuild our
infrastructure with a special effort to make sure the national system
for rail transportation included Ohio. We worked to ensure there were
more Ohioans with affordable health care coverage. We significantly
improved our national standing in public education, made sure it did not
suffer from deep cuts during the economic crises, and worked to satisfy
the Supreme Court's ruling for equitable funding with a new formula
that was less dependent on property taxes. We enacted a comprehensive
energy reform bill that helped to stabilize the energy market for
consumers and business while creating a renewable portfolio standard
that has positioned Ohio as a leader in advanced energy. And, we made
college more affordable. Most significant for jobs, we were leaders in
investments in alternatives sources of energy and went to bat for the
automobile industry; working closely with President Obama on the rescue
plan that has been so pivotal in Ohio's economic recovery.
"In short, I believe my Administration stood and spoke for the causes that count.
"Frances
and I will continue to be politically active private citizens. We will
continue to stand with working men and women to build a stronger Ohio
---and to defeat anti-worker and anti-middle class legislation that may
arise."
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