Ohio Governor John Kasich's State of the State address on Tuesday was three times longer than an average Sunday sermon, lasting an hour and a half.
Kasich and state lawmakers met in the building shared by Steubenville High School and Wells Academy, the number one performing school in Ohio
Kasich, a Republican, said together with the legislature, Ohio has erased an $8 billion budget shortfall in six months, and created 43,500 new jobs over the past year.
"Ohio is the number one job creator in the Midwest today as we sit here. Number one," Kasich said. "Manufacturing is coming back. Encourage your people, your kids. If God made them to make things, let them make things."
Kasich also at times pleaded with the legislature to set aside partisanship and cross the aisle to work together to continue this positive growth in Ohio. He told lawmakers to steer clear of what he called "mindless partisanship" and find common ground.
Kasich's fellow Republicans control the state Legislature. The GOP holds a 23-10 edge in the state Senate, and a 59-40 advantage in the House.
The governor told state lawmakers to look at the bitter battles happening in Washington. He asked: "Do we want to be like them?"
Local Democratic leaders were quick to criticize what the Governor had to say, with many believing he is taking credit for what his predecessor had already set into motion. They also claim the governor is nowhere near as bi-partisan as he claims to be.
"Credit needs to be given where credit is due. Former Governor Strickland, as well as President Obama and the efforts of the Recovery Act absolutely did have a positive impact on the expansion of V & M Star. I will say the same for General Motors in Lordstown," said State Sen. Capri Cafaro, D-Hubbard.
"I've attempted multiple times to work with his office. One incident where we tried to get unemployment compensation extended for people in need. Everybody said come to his office, work with him, you couldn't even get in the door," said State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, D-Canfield.
Reaction to the governor's address was largely mixed along party lines, with local Democratic lawmakers following their leadership in thinking the address was largely an upbeat message, but it was short on specifics.
"It seemed much more like a retrospective of the last year rather than a prospective on what's to come as far as policy initiatives," Cafaro said.
Of particular concern was the governor's message concerning the future of transportation in the state, especially the Ohio Turnpike.
"The turnpike issue made me a little nervous. You know, he talked about it as if it's something that he's very interested in at least looking at," Schiavoni said.
"I think he should walk away from it. It's an asset of the State of Ohio. If there are other ways that he wants to use the turnpike, bring that to the General Assembly, let's talk about it. But leasing it or selling it, the people of Northern Ohio are against that," said State Rep. Ron Gerberry, D-Austintown.
On the other hand, Republican leaders in the Ohio House and Senate said they were very satisified with the Governor's address. Speaker of the House William Batchelder called it one of the best State of the State addresses in his memory.
"It seems to me that we are touching on things that have to be studied before we do anything with them and obviously there's going to have to be legislative input," Batchelder said.
"This was a State of the State. You talk about what exists today and as part of that, you talk about what the vision is for the future," said Senate President Tom Niehaus.
In the end, lawmakers from both parties agreed that the key will be creating more economic development in the state and getting jobs for more Ohioans.
While the Governor was inside getting set to deliver the State of the State, protesters were standing outside Steubenville High School delivering a message of their own.
Around 30 demonstrators from the Valley boarded a bus Tuesday morning and met up with protesters from across Ohio to voice their concern. Among their top issues was the Kasich administration's handling of oil and gas drilling in the state, and the threat it may pose to the environment.
"We're tired of being poisoned. We are tired of money being put before us, profit before people," said Bristolville resident Elaine Mastromatteo.
"The citizens of Ohio would like their quality of life, clean air, water, and soil," said Youngstown resident Susie Beiersdorfer.
State Rep. Bob Hagan, D-Youngstown, estimates around 250 protesters were on hand. Hagan helped lead the demonstrators and he also financed the bus that brought the 30 or so Valley activists to Steubenville.
"And I am so glad that so many people from Youngstown showed up," Hagan said. "We're not happy with the governor. We are not satisfied with the direction he is taking this state. We are worried about our security, we are worried about our incomes, we are worried about jobs, we are worried about whether this state can survive environmentally."
Leaders and protesters are hopeful for a change in policy and that the governor will act on some of their demands
"We are just hopeful that this administration will just move back to the center and start governing from at least the center and not from the far right," Gerberry said.
"Talk is cheap. We need to see some action. So he can get up and say a whole lot of things, but unless it is backed up with action, what does it mean?," said Youngstown resident Rev. Monica Beasley-Martin.
