CLEVELAND — Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Renacci, who’s been a vocal critic of Gov. Mike DeWine and his COVID policies, named Dayton-area filmmaker Joe Knopp as his running mate on Thursday.
Renacci is the leading challenger to fellow Republican DeWine – who has not formally announced a re-election bid. The primary is in May.
Renacci described Knopp in a press release as a “conservative Christian businessman and filmmaker,” who experienced homelessness as a child. Knopp served in the U.S. Air Force at Ohio’s Wright-Patterson Air Force base. He is the producer of the anti-abortion film Unplanned, which achieved mainstream attention and box office success in 2019.
In an interview with 3News, Renacci said Knopp’s life story and business experience complement his own business experience and “outsider” status.
Renacci is a wealthy businessman and former mayor of Wadsworth and congressman. He lost a bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in 2018.
Renacci also fielded a number of questions about Cleveland and the pandemic. He said he would encourage the closing of Burke Lakefront Airport to better utilize the lakefront. He said he opposes the wind turbine projects on Lake Erie.
Asked whether he would encourage Ohioans to wear a mask and get the coronavirus vaccine, he parsed his answer, saying that’s a decision left to individuals and their doctors.
To watch his interview on YouTube. Click on the video below.
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