COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is reaching out to a national audience in defense of the city of Springfield.
The governor authored an op-ed in Friday's New York Times. In it, he responded to false claims amplified by former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, about Haitian immigrants in Springfield eating pets.
10TV talked with DeWine about the message he is sending about a place close to his heart.
"Springfield is the place where my future wife, Fran, and I, when we were in high school and we were dating, we would go to the State Theater or Regent Theater," DeWine said.
With deep childhood ties to Springfield, and now being the leader of the state, DeWine is sending a message.
In his New York Times op-ed, the governor wrote, "as a supporter of former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance, I am saddened by how they and others continue to repeat claims that lack evidence and disparage the legal immigrants living in Springfield."
"I think the rhetoric is hurtful. I think it's hurtful to everybody in Springfield," DeWine said. "The reality is the Haitians who are there came to work."
DeWine said he has not talked to Trump or Vance about the rhetoric but has talked to people with the campaign about stopping it.
"It's just not helpful, and you know, I wish they would," DeWine told 10TV.
DeWine stressed that the Haitian immigrants are legal immigrants and wishes Trump would focus on what's going on at the southern border. He says the Haitians are helping the Springfield economy.
"I had one employer actually look at me and he says, I don't think I would be in business today if it wasn't for the Haitians I've been able to hire," DeWine said.
He also said the words on the campaign trail are not only hurtful but also a distraction from what is really happening and what needs to happen in the town.
"The task at hand is how do we accommodate not just the Haitians but everybody else in the community."
DeWine has this hope for what happens after the Nov. 5 election:
"I think after Nov. 5th, people across the country stop paying attention to Springfield, and that's OK," DeWine said. "And we can get about the business, and the mayor can get about the business and city, and the people who employ people without, frankly, this distraction. That will happen and we will move on."