Potential governors come to Athens

by Matt Hutton
State Senior Writer

With the general election one month away, candidates are entering the final stretch of their campaigns. And so far one candidate said he thinks Athens is one of the key stops along the way and made good on that statement yesterday.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tim Hagan said if Athens County Democrats do not come out with a big vote he will lose the general election. And in the past week, two of the three gubernatorial candidates have visited Ohio University in hopes of reaching students.

Hagan is traveling to each state university to reach students convince them they have a chance to make a difference in the state. “Ohio University has a great tradition of real involvement by the students,” Hagan said.

Athens County City Councilman Dale Tampke, D-at large, said Hagan’s visit shows he pays attention to his base of support.

“Whenever there is a visit from the top of the ticket the message is we’re important,” Tampke said.

OU College Democrats came out to support Hagan, and organization president Toby Fallsgraff said he is optimistic about Hagan’s chances.

“Gov. (Bob) Taft does not stand up to Tim Hagan,” Fallsgraff said.

Hagan said to win the election, he needs to win Athens County, urban counties such as Cuyahoga, Franklin, Hamilton— Taft’s home county—, Lucasville, Mahoning, Montgomery, Stark, Summit and Trumbull counties, and the Appalachian counties.

He admits it will be tough but is not concerned with polls that indicate trails Taft by 10 percentage points.

“The Taft name in Ohio has been prominent for the last 100 years,” Hagan said. “I would say they were good in the 20th century, unfortunately for Bob Taft, we’re in the 21st century.”

Hagan, who received national attention for his “Taftquack” Internet commercial (www.taftquack.com), said he thought Taft’s Internet commercial (www.governortaft.com) featuring “Taxin’ Tim” and a snickering duck, was a good commercial.

“It was a better representation of myself than I could do myself,” Hagan said. “I don’t take any of this personally. I’m known as ‘Taxin’ Tim’ in some areas because I chaired every mental retardation and health and humans services levy in Cuyahoga County and I’m proud of that.”

Another rally for Democrats is planned next Wednesday, and it will include Hagan’s wife, actress Kate Mulgrew, and Frances Strickland, wife of Rep. Ted Strickland, D-Lucasville.

John Eastman, the Natural Law Party candidate for governor, was also in Athens last week.

Despite having a similar platform, Hagan said he is not worried about Eastman taking any votes from him.

Eastman was invited to attend one of the three scheduled debates between Hagan and Taft, said Orest Holubec, a spokesman for Taft’s campaign. Eastman might be invited to another debate in Columbus, but the decision on who to invite was left up to the sponsors. Eastman was not invited to the Dayton debate.

Hagan said he would have had nine debates if Taft had agreed.

“But Taft is unwilling to defend the indefensible, and that is the last four years he’s governed,” he said.

While Taft’s campaign schedule only is planned out a few days in advance, chances are good that he will make another appearance in Athens before the election, Holubec said.