Pathways to Excellence Event
Feb. 15, 2007

PREPARED REMARKS
Introduction for Gov. Ted Strickland
of
Ronald Alexander, OCSEA President

Now I have the privilege to introduce our Governor.

Ted Strickland did not come to public service as a lawyer or an investor but the son of a steelworker.  His journey to the statehouse gives him a unique perspective of the needs of Ohioans and the role of government.

Professionally, Governor Strickland has served as a minister, a psychologist, and a college professor. He was an administrator at a Methodist children’s home, an assistant professor of psychology at Shawnee State University, and a consulting psychologist at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility.

Because of his background in the ministry and social service the Governor has remarked that government is at its best when it’s guided by the heart and a good dose of common sense.  It is this grounding that resulted in a veto his first day in office yet we also see someone who is deliberative as he is doing a lot of listening and asking a lot of questions.

One goal of the Pathways to Excellence events is to share knowledge about the different pathways to effective government – and to individually and collectively commit to providing quality services to Ohioans.  The Governor is guided by his Turnaround Ohio plan, which focuses on the unbreakable link between economic growth and educational achievement. It is also about accountable government where government provides valued services to its citizens. This, of course, is the over arching goal of our quality journey.

His attendance today reflects an underlying belief in the value of government and the importance he places on the services we provide. We appreciate very much the Governor accepting our invitation to make a few remarks.

Please welcome Governor Ted Strickland

See Related

Strickland encourages quality activists; Speaker shares reinvention experiences

Prepared Remarks of Barbara Young, BWC Chief HR Officer