After yesterday’s announcement that Rich Cordray was leaving CFPB, reaction among his potential rivals for the Democratic nomination for Ohio Governor was swift and surprisingly harsh.
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley and former State Representative Connie Pillich both took issue with Cordray for leaving his post as chief consumer advocate, which will now be filled by a Trump appointee.
Through a spokesperson, here’s Whaley:
Pillich took to Twitter herself:
State Senator and former Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni was more subtle, allowing his comms director to note Cordray’s lack of enthusiasm and prior statewide loss by posting a clip from the Plain Dealer:
So far, nothing from former Congresswoman Betty Sutton, who many in Ohio think would make a great running mate for Cordray.
Personally, I’m with Joe on this. Cordray only had a few more months at the Bureau. Trump wasn’t going to reappoint him. But Cordray is frankly boring as hell. He’s super smart and listens well and I would trust him implicitly to govern the state responsibly. But he is not great at retail politics. If he becomes the nominee, selecting Betty Sutton or Nan Whaley as his running mate, both of whom are much more magnetic in person, couldn’t hurt.
In a fun bonus twist, the former Press Secretary for the Ohio Dems took a shot at potential candidate, State Supreme Court Justice Bill O’Neill, who previously promised to stay out of the race if Cordray got in and got a Twitter like from none other than Rich himself, who has long been inactive on Twitter:
Buckle up. It’s gonna be a fun year for Ohio dems!