COLUMBUS, Ohio – Columbus’ two favorite pastimes — politics and Ohio State football — are headed for a collision as Gov. John Kasich’s inaugural gala coincides with the Buckeyes’ national championship game against Oregon.
TRAFFIC NOTE: E. Main Street and E. Noble St. will be closed between S. High St. and S. 3rd St. until 3:00 p.m. for the inauguration ceremonies.
For politics lovers, an inaugural ball is a luxury to be savored only once every four years, if you’re lucky.
For fans of Buckeye football, it’s been an even longer stretch since a national championship was in their sights. It was 2007 when the Buckeyes last competed for the national title. They last won one in 2002.
Kasich has made contingencies. Big-screen TVs will be on-site for die-hard Buckeye fans. The Ohio State graduate tweeted Friday that he had called the school’s president to wish the team well.
It was unclear whether one of Kasich’s special guests, New Jersey governor and potential presidential contender Chris Christie, would be able to maintain an ambitious travel schedule to attend Kasich’s celebration Monday. Christie’s plans included rooting for the Dallas Cowboys in Green Bay Sunday, attending Kasich’s ceremonial inauguration at the historic Southern Theater in downtown Columbus on Monday afternoon, then being in Springfield, Illinois, by evening for the inaugural dinner of Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner.
Weather could impact the production but c old and freezing rain didn’t deter about 200 people from attending Kasich’s formal midnight swearing-in ceremony in the Ohio Senate chamber at the Statehouse Sunday.
Kasich told onlookers who braved the weather Sunday night that every one of them was hand-picked because they were special to him.
Ohio’s elections chief is among the statewide officers slated to be sworn in for a second term on Monday.
Republican incumbents swept all statewide offices in the fall election to earn another four years.
Secretary of State Jon Husted will take the oath of office with Senator Rob Portman administering.
Auditor Dave Yost and Treasurer John Mandel also will be sworn in during separate ceremonies Monday at the Statehouse.
Attorney General Mike DeWine took his oath of office on Sunday.