CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley unveiled her blueprint for Appalachian Ohio in a visit to Chillicothe on Wednesday.
In her visit with the town’s mayor, Luke Feeney, Whaley said she will work with and invest in all of Ohio’s communities and will prioritize several key policy areas to invest in Appalachian Ohio.
“I’ve worked with Nan for years and know that when she says she’s going to invest in all of Ohio’s communities, she means it. For too long, we’ve had state office holders that ignore our part of the state. Nan knows that our region needs real investments – whether it’s in jobs, broadband, opioid response, or care for our veterans – and she has a plan to do it. I’m proud to stand with Nan today as she unveils her blueprint for Appalachian Ohio and even prouder to endorse her to be Ohio’s next governor,” said Feeney.
Also in attendance was Athens Mayor Steve Patterson.
Whaley added that blue collar working opportunities are a cornerstone for her bid for the Governor’s Mansion.
“Ohio’s communities are second to none. That’s why I believe it’s so important that we invest in all of them, from our largest cities to our smallest towns. No matter what part of Ohio you call home, you should be able to find a good job and live in a community you can be proud of. When I’m Governor, that’ll be my focus,” said former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley.
As Governor, Whaley said she would make it a priority to work with the region, making sure there is a partnership between the state and local governments.
According to her team, the plan has four key areas that will ensure real investment in the Appalachian region of Ohio:
- Fulfilling the broadband promise: universal broadband in Appalachia by 2028;
- Addressing the opioid crisis;
- Building a powerful base for Appalachian jobs and innovation;
- Supporting our veterans.
You can see details for each of those priorities and read the full plan HERE.