Former mayors John Cranley and Nan Whaley meet in Ohio gubernatorial primary debate: Analysis

By Leigh Barr

Published March 30, 2022 at 1:45 PM EDT

John Cranley and Nan Whaley on stage with moderator Lucy May in Voters First 2022 Democratic Gubernatorial Debate at Central State University. [Meg Vogel / Ohio Debate Commission]

Ohio voters will have a number of decisions to make in 2022.

Besides United States Senator, voters will choose a governor and the other statewide officers. Governor Mike DeWine will face a primary challenge from fellow Republicans: former Congressman Jim Renacci, farmer and business owner, Joe Blystone and former state representative Ron Hood. Democrats will choose between two former southwest Ohio mayors: John Cranley of Cincinnati and Nan Whaley of Dayton.
The Debate Commission of Ohio—of which Ideastream Public Media is a part—put together primary debates for the United States Senate and Ohio gubernatorial races. But Republican voters will not hear from those GOP candidates. The commission canceled the GOP debate after DeWine and Renacci declined to take part.

Democrats however did get to hear from Cranley and Whaley. The two debated last night at Central State University in Wilberforce. Lucy May, Host of Cincinnati Edition from Cincinnati NPR affiliate, WVXU moderated the debate.

We begin today's program with an analysis of the debate between Cranley and Whaley.

Later, iIt's time again for the annual Cleveland International Film Festival. This year marks the festival's return to in-person screenings as well as its move to Playhouse Square after years at the now-closed Tower City Cinemas. The festival opens tonight for 11 days of screenings in Playhouse Square followed by eight days of online streaming. To get a taste of some of what's showing, Artistic Director Mallory Martin sat down with Ideastream's Managing Producer of Arts and Culture Carrie Wise.

After the in-person screenings in Playhouse Square, about two thirds of those films will stream online. The screenings begin today and continue until April 9th in Playhouse Square. The online viewing runs from April 10th through April 17th.

Tom Sutton, PhD, Professor of Political Science, Baldwin Wallace University
Matt Cox, Founder & President, Capitol Partners
Ifeolu Claytor, Treasurer, Northeast Ohio Young Black Democrats
Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio
Mallory Martin, Artistic Director, Cleveland International Film Festival
Carrie Wise, Managing Producer of Arts, Ideastream Public Media