Kulewicz, Blackwell pitch Democratic vision during Steubenville stop
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STEUBENVILLE -- For John Kulewicz, Thursday’s Democratic campaign event in Steubenville offered a chance to look back.
“I remember as a little boy going to Martins Ferry and it was loud and noisy and busy,” Kulewicz said while speaking about his father’s hometown. “Now, it’s all quiet and nice, but I miss a lot of what used to be there. It’s impossible not to go out and miss that. We can’t bring it back, but I’m dedicated to doing everything I can to make lives good for people here.”
Kulewicz who is running to become Ohio’s next attorney general, was joined by Annette Blackwell, who’s seeking to become the state’s next auditor, at the forum-style appearance held as part of his campaign’s Transparency Tour.
An attorney and resident of Upper Arlington, where he has served on City Council since 2020, Kulewicz said he wants voters to know he will stand up for them.
“I want to make the economy of Ohio work better for everyone,” he said during an interview before the start of the forum in the Kyle N. Brown Auditorium at IBEW Local 246. “In more than 40 years as a lawyer, I’ve worked on a lot of financial cases and learned what we need to do to make sure people get paid for their work, get protected from fraud and can buy and sell in a competitive market.”
His opponent in the Nov. 3 election will be Republican Keith Faber, who is currently serving as Ohio’s auditor and is prevented by term limits from running for re-election to that office. The state’s current attorney general, Andy Wilson, was appointed to the post June 8 after Republican Dave Yost stepped down from the position.
Kulewicz said an internal poll taken by Tulhin Research showed the race as being very close.
“We did a poll, and what it showed was that 73 percent of likely voters do not know my opponent, although he has been in an office for 26 years,” Kulewicz said. “And, when we go head-to-head, we are tied -- we are neck-and-neck at 34 percent each. So, it’s a close race.
“I think the reason for that is the people in Ohio know that we need to do something differently, because the way we are doing things is not working,” he added.
Faber’s campaign disagreed with that position.
“Ohioans have proven again and again at the polls that they want Republican leadership,” Matt Dole, a Faber campaign adviser, said Thursday evening. “I understand Democrats trying to speak fever dreams into reality, but it’s not a winning strategy. Ohioans know that Keith Faber will be a great attorney general focused on protecting Ohio families, supporting law enforcement and defending our Constitution.”
An accomplished long-distance swimmer and a certified lifeguard, Kulewicz said he used the water to help him meet people and swam in each of the state’s 88 counties. His stop in Jefferson County was at the pool in Mingo Junction’s Aracoma Park. He said that tour was important.
“It was the most wonderful experience of my life, because I met a cross-section of people from around the state, of all races, creeds, colors, jobs, ages and education,” he said. “Two things came through really clear to me -- people feel like nobody’s listening to them, and the thing that people want from state government is for it to just do its job so we can go on and live our lives the way we want.
“As attorney general, my job would be to make sure the state government follows the law, protects our rights and freedoms as individuals and makes our economy work well for everybody,” he added.
Kulewicz said he wanted Ohioans to know that he is concerned about them.
“The one thing I want people to remember about my campaign is that I care about their paycheck,” he said. “I care about every aspect of a paycheck. I care about our ability to get the training and the education we need in order to get a job. I care about there being enough jobs for all of us. I care about our ability to be paid a fair wage. I care about our ability to be working in a safe workplace. I care about our ability to spend our paycheck in a market with competitive prices and without fraud and deceit. The one thing that sums it up -- he cares about my paycheck.”
Blackwell, who serves as the mayor of Maple Heights, said Ohioans are looking for change.
“I believe that people in Ohio are looking for something different. They want to believe again. They want to trust the game. They want to believe there’s a return on their investment when they put tax dollars into the system,” she said before the forum. “They want to know someone’s going to take care of them, someone’s going to stand up against fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement. We’re going to give Ohioans a chance to be proud again.”
She’s running against Republican Frank LaRose, who is currently Ohio’s secretary of state and is prohibited by term limits from seeking re-election to that post. Libertarian Aiden Jeffrey also is seeking the post.
Blackwell said her experience as mayor makes her the right person for the position. In the 10 years she has served there, the city has gone from a spot on the state’s fiscal watch list and fiscal distress to a place where it has received Clean Audit Awards from the state.
“I’m very familiar with audits, and I understand how important it is for those cities to have a chance, and understand what the challenges are, so they can produce good audit reports and really ensure a return on the investments of those taxpayers,” she said. “We’re catching bad actors and holding people accountable.”
Blackwell and Kulewicz said the Democrats have assembled strong candidates heading into the fall.
“I am extremely proud to be on this ticket -- there are some very talented people,” Blackwell said, pointing out that Kulewicz is a Yale graduate and has had a long and successful career as an attorney.
“We have people who have been in local government serving people for many, many years and have been effective and successful. We have a proven track record,” she added.
Kulewicz agreed.
“We are offering the voters fresh faces. We each have substantial experience in doing what we do,” he said. “We are new to the statewide offices, and that’s a plus this year because more of the same will not do it.”
Stops like the one in Steubenville are important for the candidates, Blackwell said.
“It means connecting with the people, and letting people see who I am beyond Annette Blackwell,” she said. “It’s about making connections, putting myself in front of people and making myself known. I am hoping they will believe enough to support me.”
Eddie Abdalla, chair of the Jefferson County Democratic Party, said it’s critical for voters to be able to hear directly from candidates.
“I am very happy that statewide candidates are willing to visit the eastern part of the state because we don’t see them very often. The fact that they are here says a lot -- that they want to hear from the voters of the county and the area to see what’s important to them,” he said.
An attempt to reach the LaRose campaign was unsuccessful.