HCP endorsements: Anneka Collins and Brad Wenstrup

After considerable deliberation, The Highland County Press has committed to two political endorsements for the 2012 general election.

They are:

• Highland County prosecuting attorney candidate Anneka Collins; and,

• Second Congressional District candidate Lt. Col. Dr. Brad Wenstrup.

Since being sworn in by the Hon. Judge Kevin Greer as Highland County's first female prosecutor, Counselor Collins has performed her duties as Highland County prosecuting attorney with the highest standards of professionalism and personal ethics in public office.

Former Highland County Press managing editor Brandy Chandler – who covered Highland County courts more thoroughly than any other journalist in the past 20 years – often called the counselor "the hardest-working public official in Highland County."

Whether that's an overstatement that may not hold up in court, is not relevant.

What is relevant is this: Since accepting the position of prosecuting attorney following the mid-term resignation of former prosecutor Jim Grandey, Counselor Collins has proved more than capable of leading this crucial government office.

And talk about trial by fire.

In addition to being responsible for all felony criminal prosecutions in Highland County, the prosecutor also represents the county in the prosecution of juvenile delinquencies and in all appeals filed in the Fourth District Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court.

In her first (partial) term in office, Counselor Collins has had the unenviable task of working to resolve a lengthy contract dispute between the city of Hillsboro and many local townships regarding future fire and EMS coverage.

She's advised county officials (a few of whom have actually listened, but that's another column) on Ohio's open meetings act and public records law.

She has found herself vitally embroiled in a few conflicts – none of her making – between public officials and private citizens. In each case, she has offered sound legal advice and a measure of equally sound common-sense suggestions.

(Sometimes people listen. Sometimes they don't.)

Suffice it to say Highland County has been well represented by Counselor Collins. Yes, she is a "workhorse."

In fact, she probably works too hard – and that's not something often said about public officials.

She has a genuine passion for the job. She seeks justice for victims of crimes. She's not intimidated by "putting 12 in the jurors' box" and going to trial.

After all, she's worked hard to be prepared to do battle with local defense attorneys (and they know it).

Local law enforcement professionals speak well of Counselor Collins, as do those in local legal circles.

Moreover, she doesn't treat the office as an entitlement, but as an opportunity to serve. That's how it should be.

Having witnessed, firsthand, her considerable efforts on behalf of the citizens and taxpayers of Highland County, The Highland County Press respectfully and sincerely endorses Anneka Collins for prosecuting attorney in the 2012 general election.

* * *

Wenstrup for Congress

This past February, The Highland County Press was the only regional media outlet which endorsed Lt. Col. Dr. Brad Wenstrup in his March 6 Republican primary campaign against incumbent Congresswoman Jean Schmidt (along with candidates Fred Kundrata, Tony Brush and Joe Green.)

As a practicing physician, Dr. Wenstrup brings 25 years of private-sector business experience to the district. In addition, he is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. 

In 2005, he deployed for a year of active duty in Iraq where he served as a combat surgeon with the 344th Combat Support Hospital. For his service and actions in Iraq, Dr. Wenstrup was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge.

A resident of Hamilton County at the western edge of the Second District, Dr. Wenstrup also is familiar with the eastern section of the district, which now includes Highland County, parts of Hamilton, Ross and Scioto counties, and all of Adams, Brown, Clermont and Pike counties in southern Ohio.

For a local reference, Dr. Wenstrup has owned property in Highland County's Rocky Fork Lake State Park area since 1998.

"I bring a set of skills that very few in Congress have," Dr. Wenstrup told The Highland County Press during an interview at the newspaper office. "I have owned my own business. I have almost 25 years in health care and almost 14 years in the military. Everything I do in my adult life is about leadership. So few in Congress have real-world experience."

The officer also talked about the core values associated with leadership, saying, "The Army has an acronym for 'leadership:' Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage (LDRSHIP)."

When we first met Dr. Wenstrup, he said: "I'm not looking for a job or going from one election to the next. If I'm going to run, it's going to be something where I can make a difference. We rise to the level of our expectations. We need to have higher expectations. We need to remember our Constitution begins with 'We the people," not 'We the government.'"

Indeed.

Yes, our Constitution begins with "We the people," not "We the government." Wouldn't it be nice if all public officials recognized this simple truth?

In discussing business and economic development, Dr. Wenstrup shared the story of former U.S. Senator and 1972 Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern, who wrote about his dismal private-sector business experiences after leaving Congress.

Sen. McGovern had purchased a hotel in Connecticut, only to watch the business sink into bankruptcy. Writing for The Wall Street Journal, the senator admitted he had felt the heavy hand of government – put there by the very laws he had helped pass. "I wish that during the years I was in public office, I had had this firsthand experience about the difficulties businesspeople face every day," Sen. McGovern wrote. It "would have made me a better U.S. senator."

Dr. Wenstrup has that private-sector business experience. He has the experience, the education, the record of service to his country and the conservative commitment to bring jobs back to Ohio's Second District and work toward a balanced budget in Washington.

Moreover, on at least two recent congressional votes, Dr. Wenstrup said he would have gone against the GOP majority and his (primary) incumbent opponent. 

He said he would have joined Ohio Republican Congressmen Mike Turner and Jim Jordan and voted against increasing the federal debt ceiling by more than $2 trillion and he opposes the "indefinite detention" provision in the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.

Second District voters supported Brad Wenstrup in the primary election and they should give him the opportunity to make good on these promises.

As we said last winter, for Ohio's Second Congressional District, one thing is crystal clear: Lt. Col. Brad Wenstrup is the class of this campaign season. 

He is a scholar, an officer, and a gentleman.

Without reservation, The Highland County Press endorses Dr. Brad Wenstrup for Congress.

– Rory Ryan, owner, The Highland County Press