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Home > Blogs > Greene County News > Archives > 2009 > July > 22 > Entry
DeWine launches bid for attorney general
XENIA — Red, white and blue “I Like Mike” campaign buttons decorated the shirts of Mike DeWine’s extended family when they gathered for the announcement he was re-igniting his political career.
DeWine spoke in a courtroom packed with family, friends and former colleagues, the same Greene County Common Pleas courtroom where he served as prosecutor, his first elected office, 33 years ago.
“Mike is a prosecutor at heart, and that’s why we’re here today,” said his wife of 42 years Fran DeWine. DeWine served as Greene County prosecutor before being elected to state and national office. He lost a re-election bid for a third Senate term in 2006 to Democrat Sherrod Brown.
The totality of his law enforcement and political experiences, DeWine said, prepared him to be Ohio’s next top cop. “I’m running for attorney general because Ohio is in crisis,” he said. “The attorney general must take the lead and fight back.”
DeWine highlighted problems with gangs, drugs and a shortage of crime-fighting resources in his kickoff speech. He also said he would bring honor back to the office. Former Democratic Attorney General Marc Dann left the post in 2008 besieged by scandal. “The attorney general must be above reproach. The attorney general must be above politics,” he said.
DeWine planned similar speeches in Columbus and Cleveland Wednesday. He’ll have plenty of politicking to do before November 2010. DeWine will have primary opposition from Delaware County Prosecutor David Yost, who in a statement, said he has the support of 70 percent of Republican prosecutors across the state. The GOP winner in May 2010 will face incumbent Democrat Richard Cordray, who was elected in November to replace Dann.
Seth Bringman, Ohio Democratic Party spokesman, extended a welcome to the race to DeWine with a shot at his previous policies. “The choices in this race couldn’t be clearer,” Bringman said in a statement. “Rich Cordray is working hard to fix the mess in our financial regulation system that Mike DeWine helped create. Rich Cordray is working to hold the same Wall Street corporations accountable that Mike DeWine sided with in the U.S. Senate. Given these realities, it’s hard to imagine what DeWine’s campaign plan will be.”
Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment | Categories: Xenia
Comments
By UGH
July 22, 2009 12:40 PM | Link to this
I thought we were done with DeWhine when lost his senate seat. We dont need any has been washed up professional politicians back in the mainstream. He should quietly fade off to his farm in Cedarville.By mykesux
July 22, 2009 12:44 PM | Link to this
hows ‘bout ‘take a hike mike!’By Freedomlover
July 22, 2009 12:45 PM | Link to this
What Mike doesn’t understand, is that people are regaining their senses, and they remember the betrayals of their politicians.All incumbents, “BEWARE” if you want to steal our freedoms, you won’t get re-elected.By Mick
July 22, 2009 12:46 PM | Link to this
Not again… this geek has no clue. He needs to stay in academia at Miami and Cedarville, those who cannot DO teach…By Maple Fan
July 22, 2009 1:11 PM | Link to this
Seriously, Mick? “Those who cannot DO teach”? Wow. A lot of school teachers and college/university professors would probably disagree with that comment. If you don’t support DeWine or his political viewpoint, at least list your reasons in an educated way.By mtgolflady
July 22, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this
Mike was an excellent Greene Cty prosecuter and very tough on crime. That is what propelled him to higher office. Despite being a social moderate, he will make an excellent attorney general. He is all about the hard work and not about the “show” of politics.By Judy
July 22, 2009 1:23 PM | Link to this
DeWine, why don’t you go quietly into the night and take John “Boner” with you?By notaboveanything
July 22, 2009 1:40 PM | Link to this
I wouldn’t be too proud of the Greene County judicial system, Mike. Not once, but twice, the federal court had to reprimand the sheriff, prosecutor, and judges via a Consent Decree. When Mike’s office was approached to help with the problem, the reply was ‘there is nothing I can do.’ But what you did do Mike was appoint these same individuals to federal offices. So, Mike, I don’t believe you!By Ben
July 22, 2009 3:58 PM | Link to this
It’s amusing to see the rantings of the Lunatic Left on here. DeWine is sooo much better than anything we have in Columbus now. Let’s get him in there and see what he can do. He can’t be any worse than the status quo. Strickland needs to go before he flushes the whole state.By Freedomlover
July 22, 2009 4:59 PM | Link to this
Ben, What you don’t understand is that the people who have the greatest distrust for Mike Dewine is the far right! His back stabbing of the ones who voted for him in past years far outweighs what he has done to the left.By Gerald Sharkey
July 22, 2009 5:27 PM | Link to this
Mike DeWine has my greatest respect. I worked with him frequently as he assisted us in honoring the area’s aviation heritage. He was honorable, hard working and dedicated. I wish there were more politicians like him.By r
July 22, 2009 5:44 PM | Link to this
who would vote for this guy. He lost his senate seat because he didn’t do what people elected him to do…as a conservative there is no way i would vote for this guyBy Paula
July 22, 2009 5:48 PM | Link to this
Many people will vote for Dewine. Lets not forget the current Attorney General Cordray, lost for Congress, US Senate, and Attorney General before being appointed by Strickland to fill Dann’s seat! So this is not an issue!By myangel82
July 23, 2009 8:24 AM | Link to this
I am glad he is running. He is honest and already knows alot of goes on. www.money-burge.comBy Damon
July 23, 2009 8:44 AM | Link to this
I worked on Mike Dewine’s first Ohio Senate campaign, and thought a lot of his abilities, and his actions supported that conclusion. I supported him through his first Senate campaign. But once he became a U.S. Senator, he seemed to forget where he came from and what got him to Washington. He became a RINO by supporting additional regulation, larger government, and more governmental intrusion. All of these are the actions that got the Republicans booted from Washington. I certainly will be looking at Dewine’s opponent in the primary to see if I can support him. If he is the Republican nominee for Attorney General, I’ll probably vote for someone else, or as last time, none of the above by not casting a ballot for that office. At this point, I’m leaning more towards Cordray, as he seems more like a reliable conservative than Dewine’s actions portray him to be.