The auto industry could start seeing a friendly face in Washington, D.C. come 2023. Successful dealer and technology entrepreneur Bernie Moreno will likely enter the upcoming Ohio Senate race, and seek the Republican nomination to fill the vacancy of retiring GOP Senator Rob Portman in 2022.
The Ohio-based luxury car dealer began to seriously consider joining the race after U.S. Representative Jim Jordan said he would not run for the U.S. Senate, however, a gubernatorial election is not out of the question. Moreno immigrated to the U.S. from Colombia with his parents and has lived in Cleveland since 2005.
In 2016, he owned as many as 15 car dealerships in Ohio, Kentucky, and Massachusetts. Prior to the sale of all of his dealerships except one, Moreno’s dealerships represented 30 brands that generated more than $700 million in annual revenue. His tech ventures include Ownum, CHAMPtitles, VitalChain, and Blockland Solutions.
Recently anchor Jim Fitzpatrick spoke to Moreno about his potential campaign and why he’s interested in running for a seat in congress. After taking a step back from the auto industry, Moreno came back to the business in a big way when he saw an opportunity to transform the retailing experience at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Today, Moreno shares his thoughts on how Ohio’s coal industry will cope with a shift to utilizing renewable resources, and what this means for the EV market. The pair also tackle the implications of increased direct to consumer retailing from manufacturers, and Moreno’s stance on COVID-19 recovery. We also find out his opinion on government stimulus packages, his thoughts on climate change, and much more.
Be sure to watch our entire interview above, you won’t want to miss it!
Did you enjoy this interview with Bernie Moreno? Please share your thoughts, comments, or questions regarding this topic with host Jim Fitzpatrick at jfitzpatrick@cbtnews.com.
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