By suing nearly two dozen pharmaceutical companies, distributors and pain specialists, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley has set the pace for declared and undeclared Democrats hoping to recapture the Office of Governor of Ohio next year.

Now a declared candidate, Whaley’s lawsuit alleges the defendants “caused the opioid crisis that has killed thousands of Ohioans, drained public resources and wasted taxpayer dollars,” according to a report by the Dayton Daily News.

“We believe the drug companies made this mess, and it is time they stop passing the buck to Ohio’s taxpayers and started paying to clean it up,” Whaley said. […]