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David Skolnick

Gov. DeWine has a knack for vetoing Thomas’ bills

It’s become almost a running joke with state Rep. David Thomas that every time he comes across Gov. Mike DeWine he is met with a veto. DeWine, a Republican, vetoed five property tax reform items on July 1, 2025, that Thomas, R-Jefferson, had sponsored in separate bills that were put into the state budget. The state Legislature overrode one veto and after making some minor changes; the General Assembly approved the others with the governor signing them into law Dec. 19. Then, DeWine vetoed a Thomas bill on June 24. The bill would have created consumer protections for those who pay ...

Moreno doesn’t hold back on Democrats

When U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno spoke to a crowd at the Mahoning County Republican Party headquarters, he didn’t hold back. Moreno, a Republican, took direct aim at Democrats. That included Democratic Congressional leadership in Congress — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — as well as a few Democratic candidates for federal office. Moreno also targeted Sherrod Brown, who he defeated in the 2024 election and is running in this year’s Senate race against Republican Jon Husted, and Amy Acton, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate who ...

Taking a deeper dive into Trump Reflecting Pool mess

There are two variations on an old saying about the Mahoning Valley and news. One is “All roads lead to the Mahoning Valley,” and the other is “There’s always a Valley connection.” While it’s certainly not the case, it does happen considerably more times than you’d expect — ...

Legislature won’t answer call to abolish death penalty

Gov. Mike DeWine’s call to end capital punishment in Ohio doesn’t have a chance of passing the state Legislature, which won’t even consider it at this point. But DeWine’s long-awaited and expected announcement Tuesday at least renews the conversation. There’s been a de facto ban ...

Infighting among Trumbull Republicans on full display

The dysfunction, discord, disharmony and division plaguing the Trumbull County Republican Party was on full display during its recent reorganizational meeting. Practically every person who spoke at the meeting either addressed the infighting that splits its members into two factions or got into arguments over it. But, at least for now, the faction led by Denny Malloy, who lost reelection in the Republican primary for his county commissioner seat, and political consultant Regina McManus controls the party as their candidates, most of them running unopposed, were elected to officer ...

Tressel reflects on enormity, complexity of his state post

Gov. Mike DeWine surprised many people when he announced Feb. 10, 2025, that he was nominating Jim Tressel, the retired Youngstown State University president and a former football coach at YSU and Ohio State University, to be lieutenant governor. While a longtime Republican like DeWine, Tressel had never held or run for elected office before the selection. During Tressel’s time as lieutenant governor, DeWine repeatedly said he had the utmost confidence that he would do a great job and if something happened to the governor, he was certain Tressel could run the state. A couple of days ...