Community shares what they are looking for in Ohio’s next governor

The race for governor is among the big contests to watch in the state this November.

Democrat and former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley is trying to oust incumbent and republican Governor Mike DeWine.

Several polls from last week show Governor Mike DeWine with a double-digit lead.

• Ohio Northern University has Governor DeWine ahead by 31 points.

• Suffolk University has DeWine ahead by an 18-point difference.

• The Trafalgar Group shared the same spread with DeWine ahead by 18 points.

>>2022 Election: No debates for Ohio Governor between DeWine and Whaley

News Center 7′s Molly Koweek spoke with voters about what matters to them. As voters choose their candidates for Ohio’s Gubernatorial race, they are thinking about what matters most to them in state leadership.

“I think the education definitely the women’s rights to her own body, and the policies on the taxation of companies in the state,” said James Griffin from Dayton.

Wanda Doughman from Middletown says, “the gas prices, and really we can’t even go to the store anymore because the prices in the stores have went up so much too.”

These issues were brought up by Whaley last Thursday night.

“I believe communities all across the state deserve better,” said Whaley.

Whaley hosted the first of a series of stops called “Debates Ohio Deserves.” This is a reference to the Governor not agreeing to a traditional debate.

We reached out to Governor DeWine’s campaign team, and a spokesperson told us, “The premise that Governor DeWine is not debating her is incorrect— the Governor has agreed to participate in” an “Editorial Board debate.”

Editorial boards are usually when journalists and decision-makers from news organizations ask candidates questions.

“I don’t understand why he can’t sit there next to, or stand there next to her and have discourse about what’s going on,” said Griffin.