Taking the government to the people is what Ohio Gov. John Kasich has sought to do by moving his state of the state addresses to a different location each year.

Not only have the locations changed, but the general public has been afforded an opportunity to attend — and those are exactly the people who should be able to attend.

Up until three years ago, the governor would give the state of the state address at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. Since then, Kasich has spoken in Lima, Steubenville and this year will speak in Medina.

Those who want to attend the speech can enter a random lottery for tickets.

This is good news for anyone, Republican or Democrat, interested in the welfare of Ohio.

The opportunity to hear the governor address his constituents should not be available to only those who can afford it or those already sitting in government positions.

It is the everyday people who are impacted by the decisions of government officials and for that reason they should have the opportunity to see government at work firsthand.

Whether you agree or disagree with Kasich’s policies, the move to take the state of the state addresses to the people was a good move.

We hope future years will see the address moved closer to southern Ohio so the people of Lawrence County can see firsthand the state of their government.