Phil Plummer: Nan Whaley weaponized anniversary of Dayton shooting to slam Mike DeWine

Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) is a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 40th House District. Plummer also serves as the chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party.

If you follow Dayton area politics or community affairs, you know that when Nan Whaley sees tragedy, she sees opportunity.

She recently saw her opportunity in weaponizing the anniversary of the horrific shooting in Dayton’s Oregon District.

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Nan Whaley said the quiet part out loud when she published a column in this publication: "We’re going to take every opportunity — press conferences with sheriffs and police chiefs, events with gun violence survivors, and guest columns like this …."

Ohio voters should beware of such political opportunism in the name of tragedy.

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If Mayor Whaley actually cared about violence, why then, less than a year after the Oregon District shooting did then-Mayor Whaley back a city budget that canceled the police academy in order to save $800,000?

Nan Whaley can spout platitudes about improving public safety, but her actions consistently tell a very different story.

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According to FBI data compiled during Whaley’s first six years as Dayton’s mayor (published on the Ohio Republican Party website NanWhaley.org):

• Violent crimes increased by 23%

• Homicides increased by 70%

• Aggravated assaults increased by 97%

• Motor vehicle thefts increased by 32%

Despite these staggering statistics, under Whaley’s presidency, the U.S. Conference of Mayors "recommended shifting funds and responsibilities from police to social services."

Yes, this means defunding the police.

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Still, Mayor Whaley went further in 2021: She pushed two proposed charter amendments, one of which would change police hiring processes to the detriment of police, and another that would greatly increase elected officials’ pay after police were asked to take a pay cut. This put her at odds with Dayton’s police union.

She has made Dayton more unsafe, so it’s no surprise that the Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Gov. Mike DeWine over her.

Ohioans will not be fooled: Whaley’s indignation isn’t about solutions for the people of Dayton, it’s about opportunity for her political career.

Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) is a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 40th House District. Plummer also serves as the chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Nan Whaley uses Dayton tragedy to further her career | Opinion