Ohio House of Representatives candidate Bill Young spoke to the Seneca County Democratic Executive Committee about the success of his campaign and thanked them for their support Thursday evening.
"This has been a pretty incredible journey from the start," said Young, a Democrat from Green Springs. "It's been amazing the people we have run into. The response we've gotten from our campaign has been absolutely great."
Next Tuesday Young and his opponent, Rex Damschroder, R-Fremont, are to field questions prepared by Heidelberg University professor John Bing, and students from the university. The forum is to be filmed and aired live.
"I know when I get in front of a group to talk, I try and just be me. I'm not a professional politician, by no means. I taught school for 38 years, and I'm always going to be a teacher. That's never going to leave. I'm always going to be open to listening and finding out things, and teachers learn. That's one thing about teachers, we do that."
Young also said the public needs to be educated more about Issue 2.
"We need to make sure everybody understands that this time we're voting yes on Issue 2," Young said about the law to reform redistricting.
He said according to the Republican House Caucus, there are only four competitive races.
"That's how much they've gerrymandered this election," Young said. "That is wrong. How can you be against something that is nonpartisan?"
Young said Damschroder spoke to a forum that took place earlier this week, and had said the school didn't receive funding cuts.
Young said he had spoken to two superintendents since the forum, and he said both of them said they have faced cuts and one superintendent may have to lay off 20 teachers.
Young is to spend time campaigning in Fostoria this weekend.
"You have this wonderful community that has lost eight factories since 2002, and has gained four dollar stores," he said. "That's not good."
Young also said he has received an endorsement from the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police.
"I've had a lot of endorsements, but that one meant a lot," he said. "We have a great police force in Tiffin, here. I cannot believe the number of guys I've talked to, coming out of their cars saying, 'you're our guy,' it makes you feel really good."
In other news, State Senator Nina Turner, D-District 25, is to be the keynote speaker at the Jefferson-Johnson Dinner at 6 p.m. Oct. 25 at New Riegel American Legion Hall on 20 E. South St.
"If she's anything like what we see on 'The Ed Show,' it's going to be unbelievable," said Tom Smathers, chairman of Seneca Democrats, referring to a show on MSNBC. "You're going to be walking out of there with your hair on fire, seriously. She is something else. I've never seen anybody as dynamic as her, in terms of a speaker."
In other news, Mary Puffenberger, chairwoman of the Seneca County Board of Elections, said more than 3,600 absentee ballots have been cast, by mail and in-person at the board of elections.
Also at the meeting, the Seneca Democrats gave commissioner candidate Paul Shoemaker, who is running as a nonpartisan, their support. Shoemaker is running against Republican Holly Stacy.
"He's a very nice man," Young said. "He is really committed to small business, and I think he deserves your vote."
In other news, Karl Erbland, committee member, presented the updated
website for the Seneca Democrats, www.senecademocrats.com.
