While disappointed with results from the presidential and U.S. Senate elections, the North Central Ohio Conservatives celebrated Republican victories on the local and state levels Thursday evening.
President of the organization, Jim Green, called the meeting a "victory celebration party," as he read the results of the election to members of the group.
"We had complete Republican, conservative victories in those offices," he said.
He also spoke about Mitt Romney, who lost the presidential election to President Barack Obama.
"I do believe he would have been a great man, I believe he's a good and honorable man," he said. "He would've been somebody we really need right now."
Green said if Romney would have won Ohio, U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel also would have won.
Green said there were many registered Republicans who failed to vote, but Seneca County was still in the top 5 percent of voter turnout in the state.
John Matthews, District 26 Republican State Central Committee member, said he was a little disappointed, but said "Republicans are strong, and conservatives will lead again."
He said Marion County had similar results in the election as Seneca County.
Matthews spoke against early voting, and said there were 1.7 million early ballots cast in Ohio.
He said some Democratic groups in Marion County would host events and then take busses to the board of elections to vote early. He said Democrats took up 70 percent of the early voters.
"Why in God's green earth do we need to have in person voting at the board (of elections)?" he said. "It's absolutely ridiculous. Unfortunately we're not sure what's going to happen with that."
Matthews said he spoke with State Senator Dave Burke about election reforms, and there have been three bills developed to fight election reforms.
Matthews also spoke about the backlash against Gov. John Kasich, and that Democrats already are planning ways to make sure he does not get re-elected in 2014.
"They've fixed their crosshairs firmly on Kasich," he said. "My hope is that Gov. Kasich will continue to build his popularity back And he will continue to do things to help Ohio return to prosperity, and buck the trend that is going on at the national level."
Green said the conservatives had a great 2012, and has developed a list of possible items the group can work on in 2013.
He said he'd like to see the group concentrate on more local and state issues, and educate people about them. He also said he'd like to see more members attend city council and commissioner meetings.
"We had successes in this county," Green said. "I'm not unhappy about anything."
