Article: Governor hopeful boasts of being a fiscal, political, Christian conservative

	"But school-choice ``empowerment'' is playing well in cities, where black children have been the main benefactors of charter schools and the Cleveland voucher program." (They sure have, Kenny - that's why the charter schools have shirked their "empowerment" responsibility to test them! - John) ``I am an advocate for open enrollment, alternative schools, vouchers and charter schools,'' Blackwell said." Posted on Mon, Nov. 28, 2005
	Blackwell backs up religion in politics By Doug Oplinger Beacon Journal staff writer In late summer this year, about 500 conservative pastors gathered at a closed-door session of the Texas Restoration Project to talk about mobilizing values-driven voters. A priority for the meeting, held in Austin, was passage of a Texas constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, according to news reports. All the way from the Buckeye State were two speakers: Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell and the Rev. Rod Parsley, leading advocates of a similar constitutional amendment Ohio voters had approved in 2004. Parsley, a suburban Columbus evangelical pastor, is a rising star in the national fundamentalist movement. At religious rallies, he may denounce Islam, homosexuality and abortion, then finish with a call for voter registration. Blackwell wants to be Ohio's next governor. He has the strong support of Parsley and an infantry of more mainstream Patriot Pastors across the state -- ``allies on the battlefield of issues of importance,'' as Blackwell defines them -- who urge Christian activism in Ohio politics. Eight years ago, the former Cincinnati mayor and then-state treasurer might have been described the Dennis Kucinich of the Republican Party: Aspiring to higher office but too close to the fringe to make the cut. He delayed his gubernatorial aspirations to make way for Bob Taft. Since then, much has changed. Blackwell has built a national following and emphasized, rather than shied away from, his position as a fiscal, political and Christian conservative. His religious fervor, attention to raising money, networking with national leaders and focus on the governor's mansion have moved him from the fringe to the position of viable -- if not feared -- candidate. Several polls give him the early lead over Attorney General Jim Petro and Auditor Betty Montgomery in a Republican primary. His overriding theme -- get control of government spending -- is playing well in those same statewide polls. Limiting state spending If Blackwell makes it to the November general election, he would be on the ballot with a constitutional amendment he is helping to shepherd -- along with Akron businessman David Brennan -- that would impose growth limits on state spending. ``Government should be very limited,'' Blackwell said in a recent interview. ``Government should be empowering of individuals and communities'' to make their own choices. For a candidate who wants to become governor -- the first black governor, too -- smaller government may sound like a threat to urban voters. But school-choice ``empowerment'' is playing well in cities, where black children have been the main benefactors of charter schools and the Cleveland voucher program. ``I am an advocate for open enrollment, alternative schools, vouchers and charter schools,'' Blackwell said. ``A wide range of options for education consumers is what serves our interests,'' he said. ``It breeds best practices. It establishes an appetite among consumers to demand better performance.'' He has a ``65-cent plan'' for schools. On average, he said, the nation's schools spend 65 cents of every education dollar directly on classroom instruction. Ohio spends 57 cents. By eliminating some education services and redirecting tax money into the classroom, Ohio can add at least $1.2 billion to its direct instruction, he said. Likewise, he testified before a state Medicaid task force that Medicaid recipients need to have more options than nursing homes. They should have a variety of in-home choices that could save the state money. Changing obstacles A year ago, Blackwell's biggest obstacle was money. That may be changing, too. He became a national figure in 2004 when he co-chaired the Ohio Bush-Cheney campaign and backed the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. At the same time, he was responsible for assuring all votes were cast and counted fairly. He was vilified, or honored, depending on who was talking. Nonetheless, he rose in name recognition, and his fund raising took on new life. In July, when Republican gubernatorial candidates filed their six-month campaign reports, Blackwell had raised $1.2 million in the period vs. $1.1 million for Petro and less than $700,000 for Montgomery. However, because Petro and Montgomery started the year with more in the bank, Blackwell remained in third place for cash on hand. Petro had $3 million, Montgomery $1.5 million and Blackwell $1.1 million. Since then, Blackwell hired one of Ohio's most successful campaign fund-raisers, Jessica ``Scottie'' May, who has worked for Bush-Cheney, Gov. Taft and the Ohio Republican Party. While the party worries about the potentially destructive effects of a costly fight among Petro, Montgomery and Blackwell, the secretary of state remains steadfast. The party base, he said, is ``frustrated by candidates who run like Ronald Reagan,'' then govern like a liberal Democrat. ``I don't propose to sort it out any other way than to say that I am running in the primary,'' Blackwell said. ``I will win on the basis of the issues I've advanced and the causes I've led.''