Tressel Considers Run For Governor
BY JEFF SKINNER
STATEWIDE - Lt. Governor Jim Tressel has confirmed he is considering throwing his hat into the ring in the race for Governor of Ohio. The move comes just 24 hours before the Ohio Republican State Central Committee is set to vote to break tradition and potentially endorse Vivek Ramaswamy an entire year before a primary vote.
Tressel had previously avoided the question of whether or not he was considering a run, but did not rule out the move. This afternoon, in a statement to news outlets, Tressel announced he may be pursuing the position.
"What has been a surprise, and it has been humbling, is how many people are encouraging me to run for Governor," Tressel said in a statement, first reported by NBC News. "I have not decided yet, but when I became lieutenant governor in February, (Tressel's wife) Ellen told me that it seemed like God had more work for me to do, and she was right."
Friday Morning, the ORSCC will be considering a vote to endorse and potentially commit advertising and marketing funding to a candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy, an entire year before any primary has taken place to decide the Republican candidate in Ohio's Governor race. Members of the ORSCC and insiders close to the issue have raised significant concerns over the move, seeing it as a way to circumvent any debate or vote and force Ramaswamy into position.
ORSCC District Rep. Laura Rosenberger, who represents the Springfield, Ohio area, commented she believes the vote would be against principle and in support of a candidate who is little more than a self-promoter and those pushing for the vote within the ORSCC are simply seeking endorsements and PAC money.
Social Media was ablaze with discourse on the vote this week and members of communities like Euclid, Ashtabula and others saw the move by the ORSCC as akin to Democrats curtailing primaries to install candidates into power.
With Lt. Governor Jim Tressel announcing his interest in the Governorship, it presents the party with several viable candidates for a primary in twelve months time. It remains to be seen if the ORSCC will submit to the will of the people and permit a Primary vote to decide their endorsement or break tradition and vote to install a candidate.
