Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman said today that he is endorsing Democrat Ed FitzGerald for governor against Gov. John Kasich, the Republican whom Coleman has publicly complimented.

Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman said today that he is endorsing Democrat Ed FitzGerald for governor against Gov. John Kasich, the Republican whom Coleman has publicly complimented.



In a phone interview with the Dispatch this afternoon, Coleman called FitzGerald, the Cuyahoga County executive, "Kennedyesque."



�He sort of reminds me of a young Bobby Kennedy,� Coleman said. �Scrappy, idealistic, well-meaning.�



Coleman, who waged a short-lived campaign for governor in 2006, said his views on issues such as access to voting, women�s rights and gun control, align with those of FitzGerald, not Kasich.



Coleman would not commit to raising money or turning out voters for FitzGerald�s campaign, opting to �decide that as (the campaign) goes, like I do with everything.�



�My number one priority is running the city of Columbus,� he said. Calling himself a �loyal Democrat,� he said his role in statewide elections will be �appropriately supportive.�



Coleman�s endorsement comes after he complimented Kasich publicly � while also accepting praise from Kasich � for his help in improving Columbus� public schools, sending money to the city through the state capital bill and other initiatives.



�He�s a formidable candidate for governor and he�s viewed by both Republicans and Democrats as a very strong opponent,� Coleman said of Kasich. �He�s going to be hard to beat.�



Asked if the endorsement will affect his relationship with Kasich, Coleman said: �It shouldn�t . ... It would be inappropriate for him and inappropriate for me to be partisan in the governing of our state or our city.�



Kasich never asked for his endorsement and always expected him to endorse FitzGerald, Coleman said.



Coleman also said his endorsement for FitzGerald comes earlier than usual for him; he didn�t endorse former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland during the 2006 campaign until that summer.



�I like Ed and I like John,� Coleman said. �(FitzGerald�s) a good man. He�ll make a good governor. I am also going to continue to work with Gov. Kasich because I cannot allow partisan politics to interfere in governing.�



The 14-year Columbus mayor is one of the last high-profile Democrats in the state to endorse FitzGerald, coming after U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.





Will Drabold is a fellow in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Statehouse News Bureau.

@WillDrabold

