Sen. Mike DeWine chats with Joyce and Frank Filipovitz of Bay Village during a campaign stop at Joe’s Deli in Rocky River Saturday morning. (Photo by Kevin Kelley)

DeWine looks for votes at Joe’s Deli
Senator emphasizes record of bipartisanship, tax cuts
By Kevin Kelley
Rocky River
Published Sept. 20, 2006

Behind in the polls in his race with Rep. Sherrod Brown, Sen. Mike DeWine continued to stress his record on taxes, national security and bipartisanship as he visited the Republican stronghold of Rocky River Saturday morning seeking votes.

The two-term U.S. senator spoke with breakfast diners at Joe’s Deli, a popular restaurant on Hilliard Boulevard.

DeWine said he finds that Ohio voters are concerned with a variety of issues.

“It kind of depends on the day,” the senator said in an interview with West Life. “People talk about jobs and talk about health care. They talk about the war — pretty much what you would expect.”

As he has been saying in his television commercials, DeWine criticized Brown for voting to increase taxes.

Sen. Mike DeWine

“I voted for tax cuts, and they were tax cuts that affected real people,” DeWine said. “He voted against the tax cuts. These were tax cuts that gave every family that had a child a $500 tax credit — an additional tax credit.”

The senator also listed what he called significant differences with his opponent over national security and intelligence issues. Brown was one of only 66 House members to vote against the Patriot Act, DeWine noted.

“The Patriot Act gave our law enforcement agencies the same power to fight the terrorists, the same tools to fight the terrorists, as law enforcement has historically had to fight the drug dealers and other criminals,” DeWine said. “It also broke down the barrier between the FBI and the CIA so they can now share information. It used to be they couldn’t share information. Sherrod Brown voted against that.”

DeWine also said Brown voted 10 different times to cut intelligence spending. 

The incumbent senator also emphasized his experience working with Democrats to pass important legislation.

He specifically mentioned his work with Connecticut Democrat Chris Dodd in passing legislation to help local fire departments and get more children’s medical research done.

“I have a proven record of working with Democrats,” DeWine said. “My opponent does not have a record of working across the aisle in a bipartisan way.

“The problems that we face in the future are only going to be solved by people who can work with members of the other party to solve the problem.”

According to a USA Today/Gallup Poll in late August, Brown led DeWine by 6 percent, although the poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent. A Wall Street Journal/Zogby poll, also done in August, had Brown leading by 8.5 percent. A Rasmussen Reports poll had Brown up by 3 points.

When asked if he was behind in the polls because of the lagging Ohio economy, DeWine said he was in a tight race because of Ohio’s traditional status as a swing state.

“It’s not an easy year for any Republican in Ohio with the scandals in the statehouse. But in the end, we’re going to win because it’s not a referendum on the president or on (Gov.) Bob Taft or on anybody else. It’s a race between Mike DeWine and Sherrod Brown. And people will have to choose who best represents them and who really has the vision for the future of the state of Ohio.”

While chatting and shaking hands with customers at Joe’s Deli, DeWine handed out recipes books compiled by his wife, Fran. The 24-page booklet, entitled “Fran DeWine’s Family Favorites,” includes cooking instructions for items such as hot chicken wings, roasted carrot sticks and all-Ohio corn chowder.

“Fran’s done one of these cookbooks for every campaign since I ran for the state senate in 1980,” DeWine said. His favorite recipe? Apple pie, the senator said without hesitation.