Hillsboro business owner interviewed by BBC America

Hillsboro Uptown business owner Brent Huffman was interviewed by BBC America Sunday afternoon for a piece about the U.S. presidential election, scheduled to air this week. 

Huffman said the reporter wanted to interview him for a BBC World Service report and was interested in his perspective as a small business owner who voted for Obama in 2008 expecting change but has now turned back to his Republican roots.

The BBC is also scheduled to interview Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings on Monday. 

"I think they wanted to talk to a small business owner, about how business has been, my thoughts on the coming election," Huffman said. 

When Hillsboro residents and businesses were hit with huge electric increases by AEP in January, Huffman was a vocal opponent to the hikes after his bill went from $214 per month to $497. He attended the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio meeting on the matter and has been interviewed at his West Main Street store by the Ohio News Network (ONN).

Looking to the presidential election, Huffman told The Highland County Press on Sunday that when he was living in Chicago in 2008, he campaigned for Hillary Clinton and eventually voted for Barack Obama hoping for the change he promised he could bring. 

"I campaigned for Hillary," Huffman said. "I had been disappointed with the current administration, and I thought (Democrats) could do more for the economy and for jobs. Because in 2008, I lost my job. I thought 2009 would be better with a new president, but it just got worse and worse and worse, so I decided to come home (to Highland County).

Huffman started Beech Street Candleworks, and Brent Huffman Design Studio, and then opened his store, Beech Street on Main in May 2011.

"I think that jobs, the economy and the deficit are the three most important things," Huffman said. "I get (political) mailers and they are always talking about what the candidate believes in on this or that issue, or social issues. I think what people really want to know about is, 'Am I going be be able to pay my bills? Am I going to have a job?' And the economy is not going to improve with a huge national deficit." 

Huffman said that he grew up as a Republican, and although he voted as a Democrat in the last presidential election, he has returned to the Republican party. However, rather than looking at party lines and differences, he said that all elected officials need to look at working together. 

"I don't think it matters if you're a Democrat or a Republican. I think a lot of people are disenchanted with both parties," Huffman said. "What I want to see is a candidate who's going to get things done, to work together, and to lower these mandates by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). They're pushing everyone toward green energy, and I'm all for green energy. Our candles are eco-friendly. But that is why you're getting these huge price increases by AEP. When you have all these mandates, you're going to hurt small businesses. We can't take these huge increases."

Talking to the BBC reporter about why he chose to go back to the Republican party, Huffman said, "I saw so much about Obamacare and the focus on health care. That didn't help me pay my bills."

Huffman said that he considers himself a moderate, and while he did not specify his support in one of the presidential candidates, he said that they each seem to have their own areas of strength. But, he doesn't like it when politicians get caught up in social issues, which he considers private matters. 

"God gave you a mind, and you can make up your own mind and judgment on (social) issues," Huffman said. 

Speaking about Republican candidate Rick Santorum, Huffman said that he "is too focused on social issues and may not be able to work with the Democrats.

"The Republican candidate need to focus on the economy, prove to the American people they will change the economy, bring back jobs and lower the deficit."  

The BBC America piece featuring Huffman is scheduled to air Tuesday night.