When the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, which considers itself a leading advocacy group for business in the Buckeye state, broke with tradition and endorsed John Kasich for governor, there was no question that repercussions would follow. …

Gov. Ted Strickland, not surprisingly, took a dim view of the endorsement of his Republican challenger. He blamed the chamber’s decision on “a limited number of Republican-connected individuals” within the chamber, adding, “in my judgment, they do not represent the business community of Ohio.” …

What is troubling, however, is his statement that the Ohio Chamber of Commerce “has made themselves irrelevant to any future legitimate work with me and my administration.” …

Ted Strickland is going to need to work with Ohio’s business community if he remains governor for the next four years. And regardless of how he feels about its actions in this election, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce will be far from “irrelevant” in his interactions with the business community.

Whether the chamber should have made a partisan endorsement is academic at this point. If there is a second Strickland administration, we hope both sides will be able to put their differences aside for the good of Ohio.

Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier