Despite considering himself politically active and engaged, Bernie Moreno says he never thought he would run for public office.
That changed last week when the Cleveland-area businessman and dealership owner launched his bid for a seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Rob Portman in 2022.
With 30-plus years of experience in the auto industry, Moreno said if elected he’ll work to ensure public policy and regulation create an environment for businesses to grow.
Moreno joins a crowded field of candidates vying for the GOP nomination to represent Ohio. His challengers include former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Jane Timken and former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel.
“Businesspeople weigh risk, reward, benefit implications: If this happens, what are the possible consequences of my decision?” Moreno, 54, told Automotive News. “As a car dealer, having to live through that, you have to make these economic decisions every day.”
The Bogota, Colombia, native said a “deep concern” about the direction of the country prompted him to enter the race.
By running for office, he plans to “stop socialism in its tracks,” while defending the legacy of former President Donald Trump.
His campaign platform includes support for term limits and firm action on China as well as a commitment to not accept corporate political action committee, or PAC, money.
Moreno said he wants to bring the perspective of entrepreneurs and businesspeople, including auto dealers, to Capitol Hill. That perspective includes sustaining a fair playing field for businesses and ensuring vehicle safety and emissions regulations are “reasonably attainable.”
“The idea that you say, OK, tomorrow every car you make has to be electric — that’s just not feasible in a capital-intensive business like the auto industry,” Moreno said. “We have to make certain that we have a mix of reality with the theory of good public policy.”
Moreno developed his business acumen at an early age.
When he was 14, the businessman-to-be sent a letter to late General Motors Chairman Roger Smith with his suggestions on how to improve the company, such as burglar-proof doors, aluminum engines and a merger of Chevrolet and Pontiac.
The high school freshman also had big dreams of eventually leading the Detroit automaker.
“It’s not often I receive a letter from someone who is planning to take over my job,” Smith wrote in his response to Moreno, dated Oct. 25, 1982.
Today, Moreno owns half of the Cleveland Motorsports dealership in North Olmsted, Ohio, which sells new Aston Martin, Bentley and Rolls-Royce vehicles. He plans to purchase the other half of the business this month. If he wins the nomination and midterm election, Moreno said he’ll transfer the dealership to his son.
Moreno also owns a 60 percent interest in Infiniti of Coral Gables in Florida but is expecting his partner who operates the store to buy the majority stake this summer.
His other ventures include Ownum, an incubator for blockchain startups such as CHAMPtitles and Drive Options.
“Car dealers are probably the most ultimate, adaptable entrepreneurs that exist — I mean, look at COVID,” Moreno said.
“Any other industry would have been devastated, as we saw. But during COVID, car dealers pivoted really quickly.”
Still, he said that running a dealership is “complex,” with operations ranging from sales and service to finance and insurance.
“That’s why a lot of car dealers are so politically active. … They have to be,” Moreno said of the myriad policies and regulations dealers must follow.
As a U.S. senator, Moreno said he’ll lean on the skill sets he’s acquired as an auto dealer.
“It’s just like when a client walks in my showroom door, and I know who’s in charge and who the most important person is in that building, which is the client,” he said. “For me, it’s understanding every single day that the most important person is the voter and doing things that really affect their lives.
“That to me, that will be a victory for me.”