ROCK SPRINGS — There’s one reason why John Kasich, R-Westerville, is running for governor — “I want this state to be great again.”

Kasich spoke before nearly 350 people who attended last night’s Meigs County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner, articulating his “new day, new way” campaign slogan to the GOP faithful.

Kasich, who is taking on Gov. Ted Strickland for governor, pulled no punches, saying Ohio had been drifting the last few years and is currently in a ditch.

“Thank God for the ditch or Ted would’ve driven us right off a cliff,” Kasich said to much applause.

As for why people in Meigs County should vote for him, Kasich spoke about his support of a common sense regulatory process that attracts and promotes industry, small government, less taxes and his experience in both the business world and as a former Congressman from Ohio. Kasich is a former chairman of the House Budget Committee in the US Congress which is one of the reasons why he feels he is competent to balance Ohio’s budget.

“We do not have the right to put our children into debt,” Kasich told the audience, citing his work on federal budgets which included a $250 billion surplus when he left office in 2000 to go back into private life.

Kasich hammered away at the Strickland administration, citing 300,000 jobs lost in the last four years and an exodus of Ohio families. Kasich spoke about politicians who need to take personal responsibility and not go “begging” to others “like this governor has done” when it comes to pulling Ohio out of its financial woes.

“If we can improve this environment, people will stay here,” he added.

Kasich then said the Republican Party needed to elect people from the courthouse to the statehouse and he hoped this election in November would be the beginning of a “revolution to save the state of Ohio.” He said getting elected meant it was time to get the job done.

After his speech, Kasich told The Daily Sentinel, his philosophy of a modernized and efficient government, lower taxes and a better regulatory process would benefit the people of Meigs County, not just the residents of larger areas such as Cleveland and Columbus. Kasich reiterated even if elected, “we’ve got to get the job done.”

Kasich was introduced by Meigs County Republican Party Chairman Dave Warner who noted various GOP elected officials in attendance. At the podium, Kasich noted State Sen. Jimmy Stewart (R-Albany) who was also in attendance. Meigs County Auditor Mary Byer-Hill, who is running for reelection in November, also spoke briefly.