STRICKLAND

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By FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

Former Gov. Ted Strickland continues to be energized with several projects, including being named a co-campaign manager for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, and he now says he is not ruling out the possibility of another run for the governorship.

“I am not ruling it out as a matter of fact,” Strickland said. “I closed out my Governor’s Financial Account — made sure all the bills were paid — and all of that. That didn’t mean I wasn’t going to run for office again. It just means I didn’t want my treasurer, a volunteer, to have to fill out these periodic reports. So he just brought it to a close. You can always open stuff up again. You want to make sure you meet deadlines and all that. So it’s easier to have it closed out.”

Strickland set a time for making the decision as to whether to run.

“Probably it would have to be the latter part of this year,” Strickland said. “I would think that being a couple of years out, that there are obviously other people that are going to have an interest in running. Just in my own mind I don’t want to necessarily close any doors, but I don’t particularly want to open any doors now either.”

Strickland said it is the first time in nearly 20 years that he has not been in office, and he is enjoying his other endeavors.

“It’s kind of nice to be a little more free in the things I do and the things I get involved in,” Strickland said.

One of those things is performing a fellowship at the Kennedy School at Harvard University.

“I’ll be here until the end of April,” Strickland said. “I’m teaching a course, I’m participating in forums and panels, speaking to different student groups, individual students. It’s time limited and I’m glad it is. I have a little homesickness for Ohio, but you handle that by staying busy, at least I do.”

Strickland said his wife, Frances Strickland, is expected to come up with him for the last month of his tenure at Harvard. And he said he is returning to Ohio for a couple days this weekend.

Strickland is also working for the Bipartisan Policy Center, a think tank, created by two former Republican U.S. Senate Majority Leaders, and two former Democratic U.S. Senate Majority Leaders, looking at health care issues.

Strickland said he is specifically working with Bob Dole, Howard Baker, George Mitchell and Tom Daschle. Strickland said when the four left the Senate they saw a need for bipartisan work to accomplish goals, and formed the group. Strickland said he is working with former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

“They got together and said nothing’s going to get done if we’re not willing to try and do it together,” Strickland said.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com