The Blackwell spin

From the Blackwell campaign

BLACKWELL SETS CLEAR GOALS FOR EDUCATION REFORM IN DEBATE
Strickland Lacks Specifics & Ducks Substantive Discussion

CLEVELAND - The second gubernatorial debate was a study in contrasts. Confident and passionate Secretary of State Ken Blackwell focused on his specific proposals for reform while Congressman and former prison psychologist Ted Strickland offered few specifics and sought to avoid substantive discussion.

“Today, I have been clear and specific on ways to cut waste in education,” Blackwell said. “Mr. Strickland has dodged giving details. I have been clear and specific on how to bring more accountability, flexibility and choice to education. Mr. Strickland has taken a pass on those specifics.”

“Just as a teacher needs a clear and specific lesson plan when teaching, a governor needs a clear and specific plan when leading Ohio to the education reform it critically needs,” Blackwell said.
Blackwell reiterated the major points of the comprehensive education reform proposal he unveiled yesterday. He focused on specific solutions to revamping and reforming Ohio’s education system. Blackwell discussed developing a primary and secondary education funding system that shifts reliance away from property taxes. He emphasized the importance of linking funding directly to students.

“Mr. Strickland is willing to serve a bureaucracy. I am willing to serve our students,” said Blackwell.

Strickland offered few specifics and made only vague references to how he would address deficiencies within Ohio’s education system. He continued to duck how he would pay for a laundry list of unimpressive but costly tweaks to education. Also, Strickland continued to criticize Ken Blackwell’s comprehensive plan, offered no more than ‘sideline sitting’ and empty comments.

“Time in and time out, whether talking education or the economy, my opponent only offers vague generalities,” Blackwell said. “Slogans are not a strategy. Empty platitudes are not a plan. And Mr. Strickland, vague promises are a runaround, not a turnaround.”

Blackwell’s primary and secondary education reforms center on developing a more equitable school funding system and examining innovative solutions such as pooled benefits, statewide purchasing, streamlined service delivery structures and developing a student-centered funding structure. His higher education initiatives focus on making college degrees more accessible, strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs, improving cooperation between the Ohio Board of Regents and the state Department of Education, reducing redundancies among public universities and developing a student-centered funding structure.
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