Our view: With much at risk, Mike DeWine must swim against divisive tide for Ohio's good

A new year offers an opportunity for restarts and resets for individuals and the leaders who influence how we live.

The start of 2023 and his second term inauguration today offer Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine a chance to refocus priorities that will drive the state's prosperity for years to come.

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Manufactured fights about trans athletes in Ohio schools and how teachers discuss the impact of racism and slavery might help politicians score points or look tough on national TV, but they do not put food on Ohioans' tables.

More:Ohio House rejects bill to ban transgender girls from female sports, overhaul public education

The divisive cultural wars waged by state legislators in 2022 must be put in the past in the name of addressing the state's challenges and seizing its opportunities.

Putting Ohioans before political warfare

There is no red state or blue state. Ohio is one state.

The state government must align with the real needs of Ohioans regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability or any other characteristics.

The ranking of those needs varies on whether Ohioans call a city, suburb, township, village or unincorporated area home, but they are often driven by access to education, jobs, shelter, nutritious food, quality health care, safe water, mobility, secure neighborhoods and streets and technologies like broadband.

There are indications that the business community understands some of the challenges Ohioans face.

In its Blueprint for Ohio's Economic Future, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce lists priorities you'd expect from a statewide business advocacy group like reducing the tax burden and lowering the cost of doing business.

But it is also champions a list of unheard of objectives such as increasing affordable housing and alleviating the impact of barriers for employment for those with criminal records, childcare issues and physical disabilities.

Seizing the moment

Ohio is on the cusp of something that could change the state's projection.

There are hopes that the impact of a list of recent economic wins that include Intel's $20 billion investment in Licking County and Honda's $3.5 billion battery plant in Fayette County will be spread throughout the state.

That's not a given.

DeWine must focus his agenda on ensuring Ohio remains an attractive place to do business as it faces competition from neighboring states like Kentucky and Michigan.

Leaving a legacy

Term limited and restricted for seeking reelection, DeWine should be less tethered by political alliances and consequences as he seeks to cement his legacy.

Many of his stated objectives could move the state forward in positive ways. The real needs of all Ohioans should be priorities when DeWine unveils his two-year budget in the coming weeks.

During his gubernatorial campaign last year against former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, a Democrat, and throughout his tenure, the Republican has listed the state's manufacturing recovery, workforce development, childhood education and mental health and addiction care among his chief concerns.

DeWine — a longtime critic of how easy kids can access tobacco — showed he will stand up for Ohio kids last week when he vetoed a bill that would have blocked cities from banning the sale of flavored tobacco products like those used for vaping.

The 2019 The Ohio Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 29% of this state's high school and 12% of its middle school students use flavored tobacco or vaping products.

The vetoed bill was in response to an ordinance Columbus City Council approved in December banning menthol cigarettes and other products.

"When a local community wants to make the decision to ban these flavors to protect their children, we should applaud those decisions," DeWine said at a press conference Thursday.

He said a statewide ban of flavored tobacco would save lives by preventing kids from being introduced to smoking.

DeWine must also swim against the political tide to achieve the will of the people on gun control.

Ohioans support so-called common-sense gun regulations, according to an October poll from Baldwin Wallace University's Community Research Institute.

According to the poll, 79% of likely voters supported increasing the minimum age to buy an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle from 18 to 21, three-quarters favored so-called "red flag" laws that allow police to temporarily remove firearms from owners deemed to pose a danger and 85% approved expanding background checks for those ages 18 to 21.

Following the Dayton mass shooting in 2019 which left nine innocent people and the gunman dead just 20 miles from his Greene County home, DeWine released a plan to reduce gun violence.

Instead, of pushing that plan forward, the governor signed laws that made it easier for more guns to end up in the streets.

Representing all Ohioans

Division has been the name of the game at Ohio's Statehouse like elsewhere around the nation.

DeWine must use his influence to push for change in the Ohio General Assembly.

For the good of Columbus area residents and all Ohioans we hope DeWine finds partners not adversaries in Senate President Matt Huffman and newly-elected House Speaker Jason Stephens.

Thomas Suddes: Suddes: State budget will be focus for Gov. DeWine, lawmakers in 2023

Stephens drew the support of House Democrats and a hodgepodge of conservative and moderate Republicans to claim the speakership from Rep. Derek Merrin, R-Monclova Twp., in a 54-43 vote last week.

Stephens says he intends to represent all Ohioans and "be very open and receptive to all members of the Ohio House."

We hope that he sticks to that plan and that DeWine, one of the most successful and recognizable politicians in state history, will do the same.

Ohioans deserve a governor that represents all Ohioans no matter where they live or which political party they vote with.

It is the only path to true prosperity.

Share your thoughts?

What do you think Gov. Mike DeWine's second term priorities should be? Let us know in a letter to the editor of 200 words or less emailed to Letters@Dispatch.com. Include your full name, daytime and phone number for publication consideration.

This piece was written by the Dispatch Opinion Editor Amelia Robinson on behalf of The Dispatch Editorial Board. Editorials are our board's fact-based assessment of issues of importance to the communities we serve. These are not the opinions of our reporting staff members, who strive for neutrality in their reporting.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Editorial: What should Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine do in his second term