Political club to hold initial meeting

VW independent staff/submitted information

PAULDING — The Paulding County Libertarian Club is officially holding its first meeting at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 25, at the Paulding Pancake House. Paulding County and surrounding area residents are invited to attend the social gathering to begin forming the club.

“Paulding is ready for a new political party to reach the roughly 8,000 voters who didn’t vote in this year’s primary election,” said organizer Christopher Elder, who is also running for the Ohio House District 82 seat.

Less than 25 percent of Paulding County’s registered voters cast a ballot for a political party in 2026. In the 2024 US Senate race, five percent of Paulding County voted for the Libertarian candidate, who was Putnam County resident and current Ohio gubernatorial candidate Don Kissick.

“This is an enormously positive development in the fight to restore liberty in Ohio, especially here in the northwestern region,” Kissick said. “Mr. Elder has been doing a lot of great work, and I am eager to support him in this endeavor.”

Kissick is expected to attend the meeting later this month.

The executive director of the Libertarian Party of Ohio, Michelle MacCutcheon, also commented on the formation of the Club in Paulding.

“Coming together in our communities and building a connected and grassroots movement will be what makes Ohio stand out among all the States,” she said.

Elder noted that the task ahead is not an easy one.

“We’re not going to grow a huge roster after just one meeting,” he said. “But we are continuing something that has already started in our region. I hope my fellow community members here in Paulding realize Libertarians are not a threat, rather, we are an opportunity.”

The Paulding County Libertarian Club welcomes everyone to attend the meeting and to order a meal from a local favorite restaurant. Inquiries about the meeting or club should be directed to Elder by calling or texting 419.670.1831.

Ohio law allows small, social political clubs to meet, advocate, and make limited contributions without registration or campaign finance reporting.

A political club must stay primarily social, have no more than one hundred members, hold regular meetings, and elect officers. The treasury must stay below $2,500, and yearly contributions to candidates, parties, or committees must not exceed $1,000. Staying within these limits keeps the club exempt from PAC status and financial filings.

Each club should elect a chairperson, secretary, and treasurer. Optional positions such as vice-chair or membership coordinator can be added later. Elections should be announced 10-14 days in advance, with one third of members present and a majority vote deciding each office.