Chairman’s Update 11-10-19
Good Evening,
Last week, we saw Republicans across the state win some great races. Republican incumbents in Hamilton, Lucas, Franklin and Cuyahoga counties nearly swept seats in urban county judicial races. Five candidates in those counties won re-election in districts that voted overwhelmingly for Democrats at the top-of-the-ticket in both 2016 and 2018. We even saw success in the suburbs, which the Democrats like to say have become liberal strongholds, within Hamilton County.
Now that the 2019 election is behind us, it’s time to really gear up for 2020. The support for President Trump is clearly palpable across Ohio and the country as a whole. I am confident the enthusiasm of our voters will lead to another Trump victory and I’m excited to ramp up our efforts to get there. Let’s continue to work hard to ensure we get another four great years of President Trump’s leadership.
Sincerely,
Jane M. Timken
Chairman, Ohio Republican Party
Portman Visits Youngstown Air Force Reserve Station, Discusses Current Wing Mission with Commander
On Friday, U.S. Senator Rob Portman met with the Youngstown Air Force Reserve Station (YARS) Commander Colonel Joseph Janik, members of the Wing Command and representatives from the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission to discuss the importance of YARS to the Youngstown community and to our country. The focus of their discussion was on the current Wing mission, potential for upgrades to the C-130 fleet and future vision of the aerial spray mission.
Governor DeWine Honors 20 at Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
On Thursday, Governor DeWine attended the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. There were 20 Ohio veterans inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame Class. Those selected for induction were Ohio veterans who have honorably served their country through military service, and have continued to serve, and inspire fellow Ohioans with their deeds, and accomplishments throughout their lifetime.
Husted Tours Southeast Ohio, Promotes Economic Development
Last week, Lt. Governor Husted spent an entire day traveling Southeast Ohio, promoting workforce, economic development and investments in infrastructure. The Lt. Governor celebrated Apprenticeship Day with students at the Tri-County Career Center, offered the keynote address at the Impact Ohio Southeast Regional Conference, and traveled to the University of Rio Grande for an announcement about rural broadband expansion in the area. Lt. Governor Husted’s InnovateOhio continues to lead efforts to draft a statewide broadband expansion strategy for Ohio.
AG Yost, Lawmakers Unveil New Legislation to Combat Human Trafficking
Attorney General Dave Yost joined members of the Ohio House and Senate last week to unveil major legislative initiatives in the fight against human trafficking. The proposed legislation would separate the buying and selling of sex in Ohio into different criminal offenses, establish a new criminal offense for knowingly receiving proceeds from a prostitute, and create a public registry for arrests of johns, pimps and traffickers.
“Our goal is to reduce the demand and in return rescue victims from this modern-day slavery,” Yost said. “Making that a reality starts by unmasking and penalizing those who buy sex or profit from human trafficking.”
Sen. Tim Schaffer is sponsoring legislation in the Senate, while Reps. Jena Powell, Rick Carfagna and Cindy Abrams are sponsoring bills in the House.
LaRose Oversees Successful November Election
This week, Secretary of State Frank LaRose oversaw his first general election as the state’s Chief Elections Officer.
“Another successful election is in the books. About 35,000 poll workers helped Ohioans vote at nearly 3,700 polling locations on the issues & candidates that will be impacting their communities,” said LaRose. “I want to thank each and every election official for the long hours and dedication to civic duty. As the world turns its eyes to Ohio in 2020, we’ll utilize the lessons we’ve learned this year to continue running the secure, accurate, and accessible elections Ohioans deserve.”
This election saw new voting machines being utilized in many of Ohio’s counties and served as a test of Ohio’s readiness for the 2020 election.
Auditor Faber Talks Cyber Security 
Auditor of State Keith Faber was in Sidney this week talking to business and community leaders about the threats posed by cyber terrorists. As he has traveled the state, Auditor Faber has heard from local government officials that every day attempts are made to steal money or information. Most of these attempts fail because of sound internal controls. Auditor Faber reminded everyone present to test their cybersecurity systems and their backups to prepare for a possible attack.
Treasurer Sprague Announces Effort to Help Families Navigate the Adoption Process
On Wednesday, Treasurer Robert Sprague held a Statehouse press conference to announce his new Family Forward initiative. Under the plan, prospective parents seeking to adopt may qualify for reduced interest rate loans to help them in managing the expenses associated with the adoption process.
“Across Ohio, there are families wishing to open their hearts and homes through adoption,” said Treasurer Sprague. “But the financial barriers they face are daunting and enough to deter even the most compassionate of prospective parents. Through Family Forward, we hope to chip away at these financial stressors and provide families with much needed relief.”
State Rep. Jon Cross (R-Kenton), who joined Treasurer Sprague at the press conference, will soon introduce legislation to make Family Forward a reality.
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