It’s an interesting choice by Gov. John Kasich to conduct his State of the State Address in Steubenville on Tuesday at 1 p.m. rather than the tradition location of the state’s capital in Columbus.

During his term in office as leader of the state, Kasich has been one to do it his own way, sometimes regardless of what consequences follow.

He’s not afraid to ruffle feathers that’s for sure, and in making his decision to make the speech at a school surely is unconventional as the Associated Press reports it’s believed to be the first time a State of the State has been made outside Ohio’s capital.

Kasich’s spokesman Rob Nichols said the administration wants to spotlight a different part of the state that in the past hasn’t always received positive attention.

Another reason, is probably because the governor will talk about the issue of drilling for oil and gas wells through the process known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking for shale that is increasingly more prevalent in the region.

The potential economic benefits of this method of drilling could be enormous, as it could bring much-needed investment and revenues to the area.

However, the potential negative environmental impacts could be loom just as large especially as concerns about recent earthquakes in the Youngstown are still fresh in people’s mind and whether this newer method of drilling is safe for groundwater and other environmental concerns.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: newsheraldjah