Lincoln Day Dinner

The Guernsey County Republican Party held its annual Lincoln Day Dinner Wednesday evening February 22^nd, at the Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center. Over 125 persons were in attendance to hear Congressman Bill Johnson (OH-6).

            Chairman David Bennett welcomed the crowd and remarked that even though it was the annual Lincoln Day Dinner, they were also celebrating George Washington’s 280^th birthday on this day.  Pastor William Worcester provided the invocation and Republican Club President Rich Oster led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Bennett recognized the following elected officials in attendance: Tom Orr, Mayor of the City of Cambridge, Suellen Johnson, City Auditor, Bill Cowgill, President of Council, Tim Evancho, Councilman at Large, “Skip” Gardner, Ward 3 Councilman, Jack Marlin, Ward 4 Councilman and Municipal Court Judge John Mark Nicholson. County Officials in attendance included Colleen Wheatley, Recorder, Jim Caldwell, Treasurer, Tony Brown, Auditor, Teresa Dankovic, Clerk of Courts and Dan Padden, Prosecutor.  State elected officials included State Senator Troy Balderson, State Representative Andy Thompson, State Representative Brian Hill, Fifth District Court of Appeals Judge John Wise.

            Chairman Bennett also recognized Kent Moore, District Director for United States Senator, Rob Portman, Rachel Williams, Eastern Director for Attorney General Mike DeWine, Marilyn Ashcraft, Southeastern Regional Representative for Lt. Governor Mary Taylor, Nick Gatz representative from Governor John Kasich’s office and Tim Kraft, representative from State Auditor Dave Yost’s office.

            Bennett noted that during this Presidential Election year all Republicans needed to support the Republican nominee for President in order to put our fiscal house in order and get America back to work.  Bennett recognized local, state and federal candidates up for election this year. They included Randy Mercer, candidate for Guernsey County Commissioner, January 2^nd term, “Skip” Gardner, candidate for Guernsey County Commissioner, January 3^rd term, Teresa Dankovic, incumbent Clerk of Courts, Dan Padden, incumbent Prosecutor, Del George, incumbent Engineer, Colleen Wheatley, incumbent Recorder, Jim Caldwell, incumbent Treasurer, Dr. Sandra Schubert, candidate for County Coroner, Brian Hill, State Representative 97^th District, Andy Thompson, State Representative 95^th District, Troy Balderson, State Senator 20^th District, Judge John Wise, Fifth District Court of Appeals, Jeanette Moll, candidate for the Fifth District Court of Appeals, Bill Johnson, United States House of Representatives, 6^th District and Victor Smith, candidate for United States House of Representatives, 6^th District.

            Bennett introduced Congressman Bill Johnson.  Congressman Johnson is serving his first term in Congress representing the 6^th Congressional District.  Congressman Johnson’s District begins in Mahoning County and ends in Scioto County.  It is the largest Congressional District in Ohio, and because of redistricting, now includes Guernsey County.   Congressman Johnson indicated that Washington was broken with too many taxes, too many regulations and too many roadblocks for businesses to put Americans back to work.  Johnson believes that too many officials in Washington are worried more about their own jobs and not everyday American’s jobs.  The Congressman believes that President Obama and the Democratic Senate are piling up mountains of debt without any thought of the consequences for future generations.  He indicated that even though the Republican House of Representatives have passed budgets, the United States Senate has gone over 1000 days without passing a budget.  The Congressman believes that, just like ordinary Americans in difficult times, the government needs to tighten its belt and live within its means.

            Bennett closed the meeting by emphasizing the need of all Republicans to stand together and work diligently to elect our candidates for the future of this county.