The Republican and Democratic candidates for governor met for their second face-to-face debate, this time taking questions from an audience and via social media at Marietta College.
The candidates were asked about energy, education, the environment and ECOT, the online charter school that closed earlier this year owing millions of dollars to the state for overinflating student attendance.
Democrat Richard Cordray said when he was Attorney General. before Republican Mike DeWine, he got a ruling from the Ohio Supreme Court that said officials of failing charter schools could be held personally accountable for money that was lost.
鈥�(DeWine) should have used that decision,鈥� Cordray said. 鈥淏ut he hasn鈥檛. And why? Because he got tens of thousands in contributions from ECOT officials. And his running mate got tens of thousands of dollars from ECOT officials. And those have not been returned.鈥�
ECOT has been a big talking point in this campaign for Democrats. DeWine was ready for the question.
鈥淚鈥檓 the only person on this stage who鈥檚 taken any action against ECOT. Mr. Cordray was the attorney general before I was the attorney general, " DeWine said. "There was an audit done by the auditor of this state that showed that there could be a conflict 鈥� he took no action. We took action in the appropriate time.鈥�
DeWine also said that it was Cordray and not him who got donations from ECOT founder Bill Lager when the two faced each other in the attorney general鈥檚 race in 2010, and that Cordray hadn鈥檛 returned the money. Cordray said the total was $600 and he鈥檇 given it back to his local school district.
Throughout the debate, Cordray touted his proposed infrastructure bond issue, and DeWine talked up his early education plan.
The two were asked about a so-called 鈥渞ight to work鈥� law banning requiring that workers pay union dues as a condition of employment. And they agreed 鈥� sort of.
DeWine said he would veto such a bill.
鈥淭his is not a debate or a fight that we need. Ohio has many issues and many challenges that Mike DeWine and Jon Husted want to deal with when we take office. We do not need the divisiveness of a fight like this that would take place," DeWine said.
Cordray also said he鈥檇 veto it, but then went further.
鈥淲hat Mr. DeWine did not say, and he will not say, is that he would also like to see this be put on the ballot and let the people of this state decide. I don鈥檛 agree with that 鈥� Ohio is not a right to work state, should never be a right to work state. This was on the ballot 60 years ago and we voted it down," Cordray said.
The two tangled over health care issues such as protections for people with pre-existing conditions and over how to fight the state鈥檚 deadly opioid crisis.
DeWine blasted Cordray for his support of Issue 1, the constitutional amendment that would lower some prison time and penalties to relieve overcrowding, with the savings going to incentivize drug treatment.
鈥淓ven the Democrat nominee for attorney general is against state Issue 1. State Issue 1 is more drugs, more fentanyl. And if you live in Marietta, Ohio or on the border, they鈥檙e going to be coming over from West Virginia and other states. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 going to happen," DeWine said.
Cordray shot back that DeWine has been what he called a 鈥済rotesque failure鈥� on fentanyl.
鈥淲hat I want to see on that issue is some sort of change. We can鈥檛 just maintain and double down on the failed status quo of Mike DeWine. We have to do something different. It could be Issue 1. It could be a legislative package. I鈥檓 for any change that will make progress on that issue," Cordray said.
There were a few exchanges like that, but in answering a question about civility, both stressed they plan to be bipartisan in their approach as governor.
At two watch parties in Columbus, observers said this debate did have a less combative tone than the first one.
At a Democratic gathering, Catherine Girves said she likes the tone she鈥檚 heard.
鈥淚 appreciate knowing where people are, I appreciate thoughtful conversation, and crazy shenanigans are not helpful," Girves said.
Abby Dreiss is a junior at Ohio State, and watched from DeWine鈥檚 campaign headquarters.
鈥淚 do think Richard Cordray always does take some shots at Mike DeWine especially and I see that from him more so than Mike DeWine going at Cordray, but I think Mike DeWine has class all the time and really keeps it nice and civil,鈥� Dreiss said.
The candidates will meet for one final debate in Cleveland next Monday.
