Highland County Democrats hold annual dinner

The Highland County Democratic Party held their annual spring dinner March 28 at the Ponderosa Banquet Center in Hillsboro, with state and local candidates addressing the local party, and speaking about the importance of the coming elections.

Highland County party chairperson Dinah Phillips welcomed the group, and Highland County Commissioner Gary Heaton led the pledge of allegiance. Hillsboro Municipal Court Judge David McKenna gave the invocation.

Local Democratic elected officials were introduced, and several said a few words about their work, and about Highland County. 

Heaton noted this has been a difficult year for the county, with 30 percent, or $3 million, having to be cut from the budget. Heaton said that he and his fellow commissioners, Tom Horst and Shane Wilkin, both Republicans, put aside political affiliation and try to do what is best for the county. That is something, he said, all elected officials should keep in mind.

"When we're making a decision, it's not about who is a D or who is an R," Heaton said. "It's about doing what is right for the people of Highland County."

Several Democratic candidates who are on the ballot spoke to the group, including Maryellen O'Shaughnessy, candidate for Ohio Secretary of State, spoke on the importance of preserving and protecting Ohioans' right to vote, which includes making sure that more Ohioans are registered to vote. Rick Brunner, the husband of current Secretary of State and U.S. Senate candidate Jennifer Brunner, endorsed O'Shaughnessy, and then spoke on his wife's behalf.

Bill Horne and Laura Curliss, candidates for Ohio's 86th House District, and Justin Fallon, candidate for Ohio's 17th Senate District, also spoke.