By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Local Republicans kicked off the campaign season by holding a meet-and-greet at the Whistle Stop Diner Saturday in Galion.
Beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting through noon Ohio House candidate Jeff McClain, Crawford County auditor candidate Joan Wolfe, and Crawford County Common Pleas Court judge candidate Sean Leuthold met with the public while enjoying breakfast.
“Today was the first time that candidates can put signs out, and so we thought we would meet over here, answer any questions that the public might have, and then hand out signs, put signs and yards, and start getting to talk with people in Galion,” Leuthold said.
The event was organized by 2013 Crawford County Republican of the Year Michael Bear.
“It is always the way you campaign in a district like ours,” McClain said. “You know we don’t have television stations, so you got to go out and talk to the folks, get to know them and what issues are important to them.”
“We attend a lot of pancake breakfasts,” Wolfe added.
Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary, who was also at the event, explained that events like the meet-and-greet help restore the political parties in Galion.
“We have been in a local government in a non-partisan arrangement for over 25 years under the charter,” O’Leary said. “So as we move into the next municipal election the statewide and countywide candidates willing to come over here, and help us rebuild the party has been a real asset. So under the next municipal elections instead of running non-partisan candidates we will be filing and running as Republicans and Democrats for the most part, and that helps build that awareness.”
“The Republican Party organized it and chose here. They figured it was a new restaurant, a lot of people congregate here, and it was a nice place to start, but we will be going to other places and meeting other folks. We are not just going to confine it here,” Leuthold said.
The candidates said that this was the first stop, that they will be making appearances in Bucyrus, Crestline, and New Washington, as well as township meetings as well throughout the campaign season.