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Ohio Sen. Mike Rulli says the economy is a big part of his priorities in seeking re-election. He hopes to grow new jobs, and also improve the quality of life in our Valley. We know he has created a good working relationship with leaders at the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber, and as a longtime businessman, he can speak the language with a good understanding of how business works.
After nearly four years in office, Rulli is proud of the work he's done in Columbus to develop and grow electric vehicles. He should be, because the developing technology stands to have a significant effect on manufacturing jobs in our Mahoning Valley.
For these reasons, we endorse Rulli to keep his seat in the Ohio Senate for four more years.
Rulli, 53, a Republican from Salem, will face Democrat Robert Hagan, 73, of Youngstown, in the Nov. 8 race for Ohio Senator.
Hagan tells us he will support a state budget and tax policies that create opportunities for all Ohioans and work to provide quality public education to all Ohio children, including fighting for a new educational funding formula for Ohioans.
Also, a big part of Hagan's campaign focuses on returning reproductive rights to Ohio women. Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court, Ohio's Republican-led legislature adopted a heartbeat bill placing stringent limitations on abortion in Ohio.
Hagan is adamant these decisions and reproductive rights in general should remain with women and their health providers. Government should have no role in setting any limits on abortion, he said.
"Doctors are afraid to make decisions (on abortion) now," Hagan told us. "They are trying to make these decisions, and now they have to get an attorney in the room."
Hagan served as a state legislator in Columbus from 1987 to 2014. He served as state representative from 1987 to 1996 and 2007 to 2014. He also served as state senator from 1997 to 2006. Hagan is the spouse of outgoing state Rep. Michele Lepore Hagan who took over her husband's seat when he was term limited in 2015. She is not seeking re-election due to term limits.
Rulli, on the other hand, says he's not a politician. We believe him when he told us that he never really planned to do this for the rest of his life.
Rulli also told us that when he first sought his seat in the Ohio Senate in 2018, it wasn't about party politics; it was about representing the people of the 33rd district. We don't doubt that since Rulli has demonstrated that he is not afraid to make hard decisions based on his beliefs, and that he doesn't always feel obligated to walk the Republican Party line in Columbus.
In our opinion, that's very important, especially considering our nation's ongoing political divide and the importance of working across party lines.
Rulli said he is adamant about the value of human life, and that's why he says he is pro-life and also now opposes the death penalty. In fact, Rulli co-sponsored legislation that would repeal Ohio's death penalty.
These very controversial issues -- his attempt to repeal the death penalty and his pro-life, anti-abortion stance -- have drawn much ire among his constituents. Still, he stands by these positions, saying due largely to his relationship with God, he cannot go against these strong opinions.
We would be remiss if we did not point out that during Rulli's first term in office, we have heard from some constituents frustrated that his responses to their needs have been slow or, in some cases, even non-existent.
This cannot stand. We urge Rulli, if re-elected, to make improving constituent services a high priority. Residents don't call or email their elected officials unless they truly need assistance. As an elected official, it's Rulli's job to do that or to ensure that his staff is tending to the needs of the people whom he's elected to serve.
Still, we believe Rulli's business sense and his work on developing new technology and new jobs here have earned him a return to his seat in Columbus for another term. Further, with a Republican super majority that is expected to continue in Ohio's legislature, we believe a Republican Senator would stand to be more successful in achieving goals for our region.
We endorse Mike Rulli for re-election to the Ohio Senate.