Politics, pasta and planning ahead
By Pat Lawrence
Highland County Democratic Party
Highland County Democrats and over 80 participants welcomed four state candidates for an evening of politics and pasta, Monday, April 13 at Hillsboro’s Hi-TEC Center.
Featured speaker Allison Russo, four-term Ohio representative and candidate for Ohio secretary of state, was joined by former Ohio House Rep. Adam Miller, candidate for Ohio's new 15th Congressional District, community advocate Amy Wright from Fayette County, looking to take the Ohio House District 91 seat and former corrections officer, Brian Deer of Ironton, running for Ohio State Senate District 17.
“The job of Secretary of State is to advocate for voters no matter what issue or what party you support," Russo said. "The job description involves affecting how language on the ballot will either lift the will of the people or bury it. Bending the rules, switching language and fixing the system means voters don’t have the final say. And, when Ohioans must provide private information to participate in our democracy, they deserve confidence their data will be safeguarded, not shared.
"When detailed voter registration data for nearly 8 million Ohioans was shared with the U.S. Department of Justice, it included sensitive voter information like the last four digits of Social Security numbers and driver’s license or state ID numbers. I believe Ohio has a fundamental obligation to election integrity that does not undermine privacy, enable manipulation, or erode confidence in our elections. I will fight for that.”
Miller, outgoing and straightforward about his hopes and objectives for the state, addressed a wide range of issues, including accountability in diminishing veterans services, how increased diesel costs are affecting farmers as well as groceries, and the pressing need for character and integrity in elected officeholders. The retired U.S. Army colonel also promotes state support for special education, mental health care and promoting the arts and artists of the state.
Asked how he plans to overcome obstructionists in state government, he answered, “We’re going to outwork them.”
Wright has spent 20 years working as a mental health counselor for children, adult and geriatric clients and volunteering for outreach projects in Fayette and Highland County.
“Serving my community is just what I am, what I believe in," Wright said. "We’ve had a single party government since 2011, and the state’s rankings have dropped in essential areas like economy, health care, natural environment and education. We can’t let vouchers take valuable resources from our public schools. We need to restore balance in the statehouse. Our communities deserve equal, fair representation that’s good for people, not corporate interests, not big money donors, our people.”
Deer said his years of experience in corrections, and later as a teacher, coach and sheriff, have led him to believe education is the fundamental issue that ultimately touches everyone in an important way.
“I have a passion for basketball. However, I have a greater passion to be a positive influence on the lives of young people," Deer said. "My wife is a teacher, and my father was, too. Listening is as important as talking, and I am willing to listen. We can all learn from each other. We may not agree on everything, but it doesn’t mean we can’t work together. We have to take the opportunity and get started.”
All four candidates stressed the importance of voting, agreeing it is especially important this year. Russo, who served on the Ohio Redistricting Commission while in the legislature said, “It's easy to say what your values are when you don’t show up. We all need to show up. The most successful voter suppression is people who believe their vote doesn’t count. Believe me, it counts.”