MOUNT VERNON — Area candidates for office had a chance to make their voices heard Monday evening at a “Meet the Candidates” event at the Ohio State University Extension Office, Knox County. The event was hosted by the OSU Extension Knox County Advisory Board with Wally Thomen serving as master of ceremonies.
Two candidates for the Ohio State Senate District 19, two candidates for Knox County Commissioner and one candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives, 90th District, each had 10 minutes to introduce themselves and expound on their plans if elected in November. A question-and-answer session followed each candidate’s speech.
The first speaker was current Ohio Rep. Kris Jordan, R, who is running for senator. Jordan is a lifelong Delaware County resident, two-term Delaware County commissioner and is also the assistant minority whip in the House of Representatives.
“Good roots and good grounding” are what Jordan said are the reasons for his success.
In addressing state issues and questioned on the $8 billion state budget deficit, “we need to make decisions to address this [deficit],” said Jordan. “I don’t think we can get there with tax increases. We need a balanced budget, and I think we can do it through education, medication and incarceration.
“We need to make cuts, make tough decisions and grow the economy,” said Jordan. “We need to imitate what successful states are doing in order to achieve this goal. As a matter of principles, I will not compromise; I will do what I think is right.”
The next candidate for Ohio State Senator was Neil Patel, D, a small-business man from Mount Gilead who has created 93 jobs through his own small business. Patel’s first priority would be “to support a fiber optic super highway which would expand our capabilities of business growth.” Without this, “we would not have broadband access, and business will not grow in this area,” said Patel. His projected plans are to bring more jobs to Ohio, provide more education and educate the small-business entrepreneurs.
“We need more math and science education to compete with other countries,” said Patel. “We need to make sure programs for these areas are in the legislature, and I would sponsor these.”
Following Patel were the candidates for Knox County Commissioner — Rebecca Jordan and Roger Reed.
