x
Breaking News
More () »

Rape kits, opioid crisis and Trump: Ohio governor candidates Rich Cordray and Mike DeWine debate

Richard Cordray and Mike DeWine held their first debate at the University of Dayton as the two are locked in a tight race to become Ohio's next governor.
Getty Images

DAYTON – Ohio governor hopefuls Rich Cordray and Mike DeWine came out swinging in their first debate, attacking each other over testing rape kits, tackling the state’s devastating opioid crisis and standing up to President Donald Trump.

With fewer than 50 days until Election Day, Democrat Cordray and Republican DeWine accused the other of doing little to solve the state’s biggest problems.

Cordray said asking for DeWine’s advice on solving the state’s opioid crisis was like “asking for navigational device from the captain of the Titanic.”

“Richard, you’ve been a failure at every job you have ever had,” DeWine said after a heated exchange.

Cordray and DeWine are locked in a tight race. DeWine was leading Cordray, 42 percent to 37 percent, in a Baldwin Wallace University poll of likely voters released Tuesday. Another 21 percent of voters hadn't made up their minds.

Those voters were the targets during Wednesday's debate at the University of Dayton. Here’s what DeWine and Cordray had to say on some hot topics:

Ohio Issue 1

Fierce debate has arisen around Issue 1, a constitutional amendment to reduce drug penalties, on the ballot this fall. DeWine, like many Republicans, opposes the measure. Cordray supports it.

“Rich Cordray would put a star on Ohio and every drug dealer in Ohio would come here,” DeWine said.

The proposal would reduce fourth- and fifth-degree felony charges for drug users to misdemeanors without a change of jail time for the first two offenses. Ohio Supreme Court Justice Maureen O’Connor argues that’s a problem for fentanyl – a deadly opioid. A person could have nearly 20 grams, an amount that could kill 10,000 people, without facing prison time.

Cordray says Issue 1 isn’t the only solution to the state’s drug problem, but it’s a good start. He questioned how much DeWine had done to tackle the growing rate of fatal overdoses in Ohio.

“News flash: We already have an opioid czar,” Cordray said of DeWine, the state’s top cop. “When you see him, tell him he’s doing a horrible job.”

Abortion

DeWine is pro-life, a stance he’s proudly taken as a candidate and as attorney general. DeWine has filed court briefs seeking to strip Medicaid money from Planned Parenthood, which provides abortions and other health services. (Taxpayer money cannot pay for abortions under state and federal law.)

DeWine said he would sign the so-called “heartbeat bill,” which bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Gov. John Kasich vetoed the proposal from GOP lawmakers, saying it was almost certainly unconstitutional.

Cordray said he would veto the heartbeat bill.

Recreational marijuana

DeWine opposes legalizing recreational marijuana, saying the rollout has gone poorly in other states. Cordray initially said he would leave it to voters to decide.

"I can't believe you can't take a position on that? Really?" DeWine asked.

Cordray replied that he would be a “yes” vote to legalize recreational marijuana if it were on the ballot.

Red flag law on guns

DeWine said he would support a “red flag” law to remove guns temporarily from people whose relatives or police fear might be a threat to themselves or others. Kasich has pushed for this legislation but GOP lawmakers are wary of infringing on Second Amendment rights.

“I support the red flag law as long as there are constitutional protections,” DeWine said.

But Cordray said DeWine has done little to push the issue with fellow Republicans.

Rape kits

DeWine repeatedly brought up a backlog of rape kits that his office has cleared since the GOP attorney took office.

“You did absolutely nothing,” DeWine said of the untested rape kits. “We ended up testing 12,000 that were out there when you should have tested them.”

While Cordray was attorney general, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on a backlog of untested kits sitting at Cleveland police department, some since 1993. It was part of a national problem.

In response, Cordray started working on a statewide protocol for testing kits and submitting more of them to the state crime lab. Then, he lost to DeWine.

Since then, DeWine asked all police department to send kits to the state crime lab. He has reduced the backlog. The result has been more convictions for cases that had languished for years.

Trump

Talk of Trump was missing from much of the hourlong debate. But talk of the polarizing president appeared about three-fourths of the way through.

Cordray said he supports Trump’s plans to improve roads, bridges and other infrastructure. But the president hasn’t followed through, Cordray said.

He also challenged DeWine to call Trump out when he disagrees with the president.

“When I think Donald Trump is wrong, I say it,” said DeWine, adding that he opposed Trump’s initiative that separated families at the border.

Still, DeWine likes Trump’s conservative appointees to the U.S. Supreme Court and reduced regulations. DeWine pointed out that a working relationship with the president would benefit Ohio.

ECOT

The state’s largest online charter school, the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, closed in January 2018 after overcharging the state by overcounting students.

ECOT founder Bill Lager was a major contributor to GOP politicians, who ran state government. Democrats decry a lack of oversight on ECOT, which took money for students who might otherwise attend a traditional public school.

DeWine said he was now suing ECOT. "We have a bulldog of a lawyer and we're going after their money," DeWine said.

“Your record on ECOT has been unbelievable, Mike,” Cordray said. “That’s not a 'protect Ohio' lawsuit, that’s 'an I’m running for governor' lawsuit.”

Medicaid expansion

Kasich's signature legislation, expanding Medicaid to lower-income Ohioans, had been a key topic in the governor's race. Both now say they would keep the Obamacare program, which is becoming increasingly expensive for the state's coffers.

"We're for Medicaid expansion. So is Richard. The only difference is he is for the status quo," DeWine said. "We think it could be better."

DeWine has proposed a work requirement for certain Medicaid recipients. Cordray questioned DeWine's commitment to Medicaid expansion after DeWine sued over Obamacare shortly after taking office in 2010.

WATCH | WKYC carried the debate on Facebook Live

Before You Leave, Check This Out