Ryan: 'We are all in this together'

Oct. 14—NORWALK — Cutting workers in on the deal.

That was the message Wednesday afternoon at Suhr Park in Norwalk from U.S. Rep. (D) Tim Ryan, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Rob Portman.

Portman announced earlier this year he would not seek a third term.

Ryan, a U.S. Representative from the Youngstown area, will face a primary in May, 2022, with the general election in November.

"So many of these small towns in Ohio have the character, the history, they've got the sense of community that in so many ways have been left behind," Ryan told a small, but enthusiastic crowd at Suhr Family Park.

"I represent small villages and townships. I believe we can move the needle in this country and re-invest back in communities like this."

Ryan talked about growing up in Niles near Youngstown. He and his older brother competed with the two boys next door.

"All we did in winter, spring, summer and fall ... two-on-two everything," Ryan said. We were taught to go out and compete. It was all about competing. If you lost nobody said "Aw, you did great, honey." It was, no, you lost. You have to get better.

"Go back to work. Go back to practice. You have to get better."

Ryan said the country has outsourced everything and communities like Norwalk have suffered.

"How do we out-compete China? How do we create middle-class jobs? If you are going to compete you have to work together," Ryan said. "Common ground. Find some common ground so we can find some higher ground."

Ryan said it is time to step up to the plate.

"I think in Ohio, and the country, we have a hell of an opportunity," he said about electric vehicles, batteries, charging stations, wind and solar.

"This is stuff we do in Ohio. This is our sweet spot. We manufacture stuff. We make stuff. That's what we do here. ...Why wouldn't we go all in on this so we can rebuild the middle class. This will happen if we cut workers in on the deal."