DeWine's Final Year Vision for Ohioans

CINCINNATI – As the year comes to a close, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine shared insights with Local 12 on several critical issues affecting the state. The conversation covered a range of topics, from education funding and public safety in Cincinnati to his plans for his final year in office.

Caption: As the year comes to a close, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine sits down with Local 12 to talk about various topics impacting people across the state. They discussed school funding, violence in Cincinnati, and his goals for his last year in office. (WKRC)

One of the key discussions centered on the ongoing efforts to address violent crime in Cincinnati. Governor DeWine highlighted the collaboration between the Ohio State Highway Patrol and local police departments. This partnership was formed following a high-profile downtown brawl that gained national attention after going viral online. He explained that state troopers, parole officers, and liquor control agents are working together to combat crime, along with the use of a helicopter for surveillance and support.

DeWine also mentioned that he recently spoke with Cincinnati's interim police chief, Adam Hennie, about the partnership. "These violent offenders are a small group of people, and if you want to alleviate the violence we're seeing in Cincinnati and other areas, you have to go get them," he said. "Each time you remove one of them, you're better off. It takes everyone involved—working patrol, the police to arrest them, the prosecutor to prosecute, the judge to sentence them, and the judge to set a decent bond so they don't come back out immediately."

Another major topic was the state's school funding system. Local 12 questioned DeWine about the criticism he and lawmakers faced this year regarding the budget and its impact on public schools. Many districts received less funding than anticipated. DeWine explained that school funding in Ohio is primarily based on two sources: local real estate taxes approved by voters and state income taxes distributed according to need. "No matter what you're talking about, there's never enough money to do everything you want to do," he said.

When asked about his goals for his final year in office, DeWine emphasized his focus on Ohio's youth. He expressed support for the science of reading initiative in schools and encouraged students to remain in the state after graduation. Additionally, he confirmed that he plans to endorse the Republican nominee for governor, likely Vivek Ramaswamy. DeWine has met with Ramaswamy three times and intends to continue discussions with him.

The governor also reflected on his past decision to support the reinstatement of Ohio's death penalty during his time as a state senator. He noted that he will discuss his current views on the issue in January, more than 40 years after making that decision.