From the Chillicothe Gazette:

Former Ohio politician and television personality John Kasich announced he is interested in getting back into Ohio politics and exploring the possibility of a gubernatorial bid in 2012.

Kasich’s announcement came Monday night at the Ross County Republican Party’s Annual Lincoln Day Dinner.

“I think the state is in trouble, and I don’t think we have the dramatic leadership we need,” Kasich said, adding he had hoped for more job growth under Gov. Ted Strickland. “I was hoping we’d see it out of the governor, and we haven’t really seen it yet. So I’m very seriously looking at running in the governor’s race.” Kasich is currently a best-selling author and contributor to Fox News, and has served as chairman of the House Budget Committee during his 18 years in congress representing Ohio’s 12th District.

Strickland wasn’t the only one Kasich voiced disapproval with. He said the Republican party had to make some changes in order to reclaim their seats in congress and voiced disdain over what had happened to the Republican party since he left office in 2001.

“We became the epitome of the people we fought for 40 years to replace,” Kasich said. “This party is about less government, not more government. We’re about less taxes, not more taxes.”

Kasich said too many politicians had become corrupt with power.

“I’m going out the door and I’m seeing this happen,” he said. “And that’s why I’m think about getting back into politics and running for governor.”

A lot of what Kasich is doing is flying under the radar, especially as John McCain and B. Hussein hold campaign rallies in Ohio. But Kasich has spoken at far more of these rubber-chicken dinners than any other 2010 hopeful. If Ohio conservatives are depressed about John McAmnesty as their party’s presidential nominee, they have a folksy and solidly conservative gubernatorial candidate to look forward to.