Retiring Republican

George Voinovich is the consummate politician. He has gone from the grassroots level, to mayor of a major city, to governor and to the U.S. Senate. Along the way, he has built a solid bipartisan base of constituents who supported him because he was genuine, caring and non-abrasive. We got to meet him personally a year ago. He stopped at The Times Leader, talking to Mike Schuler and myself about his opposition to a casino ballot issue in Ohio. He is a down to earth man, with no pompous or arrogance. He was very easy to talk to and he would listen, sincerely caring about what you were saying. He was simply a nice man. It was refreshing to see and hear a politician with such redeeming qualities. Voinovich will retire in 2010 after 44 years of public service. I, for one, wishes he would continue on in the Senate.