Democratic candidate for Governor Nan Whaley continues touting what she calls an inflation rebate for Ohioans feeling the pinch of higher prices.
Speaking at a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum on Wednesday, The former Dayton mayor said her $350 rebate for 鈥渆very working family鈥 would be funded with federal money.
鈥淎bout 89% of Ohioans to really help with the squeeze on gas and groceries. This isn't a liberal idea. This is an idea that Florida and Indiana have done,鈥 Whaley said.
Whaley also said she'd also make an executive order in Ohio to stop price gouging.
Whaley said her competitor, incumbent Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, has failed to stand up to his own party in the state and bends to what she calls an illegitimate Statehouse because of redistricting maps ruled unconstitutional.
鈥淲e will redraw these lines come this next year, regardless of who the governor is and the governor sits on the redistricting commission. So, this race is important not just for the economic issues but for the future of democracy in this state,鈥 Whaley said.
DeWine was invited to the Wednesday forum, but declined to participate. In an email, a campaign spokesperson wrote 鈥渨ith just 20 days to Election Day, our campaign schedule is prioritizing meeting with and hearing directly from Ohio voters across the state on the campaign trail.鈥
The most recent poll from USA TODAY and Suffolk University gives DeWine a 56% to 38% lead over Whaley with less than three until election day.