Republican candidates make pitch to voters at party forum

More than 50 people attended a candidate forum held by Butler County Republicans at the Washington Event Center in Hamilton on Oct. 15. More than a dozen Republican candidates running for office in Butler County, including many in uncontested races, spoke during the event.

During the first hour of the event, which ran from 6-8:30 p.m., each candidate briefly addressed the crowd, beginning with a representative for Congressman Warren Davidson’s campaign. Davidson himself was unable to attend, the representative said.

Last week, six Democrats in contested races spoke at a forum open to candidates from both parties, though no Republican candidates took part. In interviews with the Oxford Free Press, State Senator George Lang said he had a conflict with a previously scheduled family event, while Butler County Commissioner T.C. Rogers said he was advised not to attend due to a potential conflict of interest. The forum was held by the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and Miami University’s Menard Center for Democracy, and the commissioners have recently approved millions of dollars in funding for a manufacturing hub Miami is involved in.

Much of the discussion during the Republican event centered on tax policy. Lang, who represents most of Butler County including Oxford, said his primary goal if reelected is to eliminate the state income tax.

Lang also advocated for Don Dixon, a Butler County Commissioner who has served since 2007 and had a previous term in the 1980s. Dixon is facing a contested race for the first time, with Oxford Vice-Mayor Chantel Raghu opposing him. During the Oct. 7 candidate forum, Raghu accused Dixon of contributing to a toxic work environment at the county and said he took part in discussions regarding an interchange despite a conflict of interest because he owns property nearby.

During his time, Dixon addressed his race directly, a move which no other candidates in contested races made throughout the night.

“Democrats aren’t laying down,” Dixon said. “I’ve got one that’s accused me of about everything that there is to be accused of, and I’ll deal with her after the election … If they can take me out, or T.C. out, they then will control the [Republican] party and where it goes.”

Several other candidates also took time to praise Dixon and Rogers for their work as commissioners, including County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser and County Treasurer Michael McNamara, who called them the most conservative commissioners in Ohio.

Multiple candidates including Diane Mullins, who is running to represent the 47th District in Ohio’s House of Representatives which includes Hamilton and Oxford, also discussed national issues like border security. Some also encouraged attendees to vote for people like U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno and J.D. Vance, Donald Trumps vice-presidential pick who grew up in Butler County.

Republicans have a strong majority in Butler County, with no Democrats winning countywide office since 1998, according to the Journal-News.