By Tom Prusha
Record-Courier staff writer
The two candidates for Ohio governor came to Portage County Tuesday and in a rare moment during this campaign, they appeared together.
Republican Ken Blackwell and Democratic Ted Strickland appeared before the Ohio Federation of Conservation Clubs Inc. at the Goodyear Hunting and Fishing Club in Suffield.
They didnt talk about taxes, schools, the economy, jobs or any other of the normal campaign issues.
They talked about guns, hunting, and fishing.
Both said they are strong supporters of the Constitutions Second Amendment, which gives Americans the right to bear arms.
Both said they love the outdoors, hunting, and fishing.
Each found their love for the outdoors in a different way.
Blackwell said he was raised in an urban area and joined the Boy Scouts and the YMCA.
I learned to enjoy the outdoors, fishing, hiking and camping. I am a member of the Ohio Gun Collectors Association, he said.
He said he enjoys shooting clay pigeons in trap and skeet as a family activity with his wife.
Strickland grew up and hunted in Duck Run, Siota County.
He talked about hunting with his hound dogs.
Im not going to tolerate anyone saying I am against my heritage. No member of the House of Representatives supports guns more then me, he said.
A Strickland campaign aide, Anthony Trevena later said Strickland hunted rabbits, squirrels, and raccoons.
They hunted to eat. Those were tough times. There were nine kids. Their house burned down and they had to live in a chicken coop, Trevena said.
Blackwell said the state should look for more private/public partnerships to make sure it can acquire and assemble land.
Strickland agreed saying the state parks and streams are valuable resources.
I dont want to turn this over to the private sector. It should be used for the public. They can be utilized in ways that can bring great returns to our treasury.
For instance the Ohio Department of Natural Resources stocks steelhead trout in rivers that are not easily accessible to the public. Strickland said he wouldnt want private property owners to sell their river front land against their will.
Both agreed citizens defending themselves against deadly force should be not have to face criminal or civil prosecution.
I support that unequivocally, Blackwell said.
Strickland said he voted in Congress that people have a right to defend themselves.
Blackwell jokingly prided himself for being a Rhodes Scholar, not the scholarship recipient from Oxford University, but of getting his political education from former Ohio Governor James A. Rhodes.
Both said they were proud of their A rating from the National Rifle Association but Blackwell pointed out Lee Fisher, who is running as Lieutenant Governor with Strickland, received an F rating while Blackwells running partner, Tom Raga, got an A rating.