COLUMBUS, OH, JANUARY 20, 2010: Yesterday, in an e-mail to Republican supporters, Kevin DeWine, the Republican State Party Chairman, ridiculed Governor Strickland’s choice for Lieutenant Governor, Judge Yvette Brown. In an attempt to demean Judge Brown, Mr. DeWine said, "He [Governor Strickland] had nearly a year to make this selection, and the best he could come up with in the face of an unprecedented fiscal emergency is a social worker with no experience in public finance or state government."

Judge Brown has been a strong advocate for children and families in Central Ohio as an attorney and judge. By profession, she is not a social worker. Therefore, Mr. DeWine used the title ‘social worker’ in an attempt to discredit Judge Brown’s competence for the position of Lieutenant Governor. In doing so, Mr. DeWine demeaned the profession by declaring social workers unfit for public service.

For over 100 years, social workers have been active in shaping public policy at the local, state, and federal government levels. Social workers are qualified to hold public positions through their training and experience. All social workers have earned a bachelor's, master's or doctoral social work degree with curriculum that includes coursework on public policy, finances, and budgeting.

In a time, as Mr. DeWine states of ‘an unprecedented fiscal emergency,’ 22,000 licensed social workers in the state of Ohio are tirelessly working to improve communities and the lives of individuals with less resources and more obstacles. It is a profession that should have the respect of Mr. DeWine and should not be used disparagingly for political gain.

NASW Ohio Chapter demands an apology from Mr. DeWine to the social workers he offended and for him to take the time to gain an accurate understanding of the profession of social work.

Contact: Cindy Webb, MSSA, LISW-S, Executive Director of NASW Ohio Chapter, Phone: (614) 461-4484, Fax: (614) 461-9793, E-mail: info@naswoh.org