In a well-attended event held on Thursday, the Adams County Republican Party opened its doors to the public for an informative session with candidates set to feature on the March 19th Republican primary ballot. The venue of choice for the evening was the newly inaugurated Adams County Training Center, available for public rental.
Congressional Contenders Address Crucial Issues:
A notable highlight of the evening was the presence of several Congressional candidates vying to succeed the incumbent US Representative Brad Wenstrup. Among them, Former Hamilton County Commissioner Phil Heimlich emphasized the importance of gas lines in rural Ohio and advocated for improved broadband access. Charles Tassel, former Chairman of the Clermont County Republican Party, outlined his commitment to balanced budgets and securing the border.
Kim Georgeton, another contender in the race, pledged bipartisan efforts toward infrastructure and welfare reform. David Taylor, owner of Sardinia Ready Mix, expressed his intent to leverage his business acumen to reinforce border security and advocate for the return to Trump-era policies. Concluding the Congressional candidate presentations, Shane Wilkin, the current State Senator, addressed recent legislative actions, including overriding Governor DeWine’s HB68 veto, border security, child trafficking, and the preservation of Second Amendment rights.
State Representative Race:
In the State Representative race, incumbent State Rep. Justin Pizzulli, endorsed by Adams County Republicans for his unwavering commitment to conservative values, faced competition from Tim Wheeler and Gina Collinsworth. Wheeler discussed the challenges faced by small businesses due to state bureaucracy, while Collinsworth reiterated her platform centered on faith, family, pro-life stance, support for the Second Amendment, and a commitment to the conservative agenda.
Pizzulli, a realtor and train conductor, appealed to the crowd as a common-sense conservative, emphasizing his work on legislation to expand gun rights and address pricing concerns at high school athletic events through increased accountability of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Sheriff and County Commissioner Races:
In the Sheriff race, candidates Shawn Cooley, Bob Reubush, Kenny Dick, and Donnie Edgington presented their visions for the department. Cooley highlighted the need for a K9 drug unit, Reubush emphasized his extensive law enforcement background, Dick shared his experience with the Coroner’s and Prosecutor’s offices, and Edgington expressed concerns about homelessness in the county, pledging to address the ongoing drug and homeless problem head-on.
The County Commissioner race featured incumbent Diane Ward and challenger Jason Hayslip, who spoke about his ability to manage budgets effectively. Barbara Moore, another incumbent Commissioner, faced competition from Calvin Robinson and Jeremy Caldwell. Ward gave an update on strategic moves the county is currently working on while Moore updated the crowd on the debate around solar farms and updated those in attendance regarding the demolition of blighted properties in the county. Robinson conveyed a straightforward message of “power to the people,” while Caldwell, currently a school resource deputy, emphasized the importance of public input in Commissioner decisions. Another candidate, Troy Dotson of Tranquility is running his campaign based off of God, guns and family.
The Adams County Republican Club announced upcoming events, including a Presidents Day breakfast and the Lincoln Day Dinner, providing voters with additional opportunities to engage with candidates and understand their positions.
Note: Candidate for Sheriff Sam Purdin was absent from the event, as was candidate for Commissioner Tony Hawes. Other candidate for Sheriff Mike Estep was present, however, left before questions were asked of the Sheriff candidates. There were also several Congressional candidates not present due to the district being over 15 counties with various events to attend.
