Candidates provide campaign information

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A number of candidates for local and state office spoke Tuesday evening during a Candidates’ Night sponsored by local Tea Party group, the Heart Land Patriots.

The event, held in Trinity Friends Church’s Family Life Center, featured all six candidates for the two Van Wert County commissioner terms, as well as state representative candidate Tony Burkley, U.S. representative candidate Bob Wallis of Convoy and Angela Snyder, who is running for the Republican State Central Committeewoman’s position.

The six candidates for two open county commissioner seats, 9-1-1 Coordinator Kim Brandt, local attorney Todd Wolfrum, York Township Trustee Bill Evans and Willshire area resident Phil Baxter (all running for Gary Adams’ seat, which takes office January 2, 2013), and Sheriff Stan Owens and local farmer and airport volunteer Denzil Wortman (both seeking Clair Dudgeon’s seat, which takes office January 3, 2013), had various reasons they felt they would make a good commissioner.

Brandt, Sheriff Owens and Evans all spoke of their governmental experience, which they felt would transfer well to the commissioner’s position. Brandt also has experience as a school board member for both Parkway Local Schools and Vantage Career Center, while Evans has operated his own business and also farmed — both of which he felt provided business experience that would be an advantage for a county commissioner — and Sheriff Owens, who has been in office for more than two decades, talked about his experience creating budgets in the current economic climate, as well as the skills he has learned while helping run the family farm.

In addition, Brandt, the only woman in the field, felt her unique perspective as a member of that sex would also be a plus in the county’s top job.

Wolfrum, a Middle Point area resident and practicing attorney, stressed his conservatism and his ability to create a successful one-man law practice, and also talked about how he would work to bring a community college or technical college to the area to help combat what he said was a local “brain drain” caused by area young people moving to other areas following their graduation from college.

Baxter talked about his education and his ability to turn around a local engineering firm as reasons why he would make a good county commissioner.

Wortman said it was time for a change in the way county government was run and also had some ideas on improving economic development opportunities in the county.

Nearly all of the six candidates said job creation and economic development was important, although not all were equally excited about the 1,600-acre Jobs Ready Site located north of Van Wert.

Sheriff Owens and Brandt said they felt the megasite would be a major plus for the county when work is completed, while Wolfrum noted that, while the site could be a plus in creating jobs, there was no guarantee the project would be successful, adding that county commissioners need to move forward with other projects to help improve the local economy.

Evans especially was less than enthusiastic, noting that many local farmers saw the site as more of a loss of farmland than as a major economic development opportunity. He also said the site could also lead to major changes in the Van Wert County community, noting that any major employer locating here would bring change.

Burkley, a Paulding County commissioner for the past 16 years, talked about how his experience as a county commissioner and also in owning two businesses in Paulding would be a plus as a state representative. Burkley, a Republican, is running unopposed for that party’s nomination for the 82nd Ohio House District seat — a new district created through redistricting.

Wallis, a Convoy resident who is seeking the Fifth District Congressional seat currently held by Bob Latta, got the crowd fired up more than any candidate, noting his support for term limits, repealing “Obamacare”, and his opposition to the outsourcing of American jobs to foreign countries.

He also promoted nuclear energy and was opposed to “green” energy alternatives, such as wind and solar energy. Wallis said he also felt that the federal government should give the green light to oil and natural gas exploration on public lands.

Wallis’ presentation did elicit one bit of humor, though. After noting his support of term limits and pledging to serve only six years in Congress if elected, Wallis later railed about the fact that members of Congress who serve six years receive 100 percent of their salary as a federal pension.

That prompted one member of the audience to chide him by asking if that’s why he wanted to serve six years.

Snyder, a Van Wert County native and former employee of Van Wert County Hospital, as well as having substantial political campaign experience, stated her wish to provide an alternative choice for state committeewoman.