Gov. John R. Kasich and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor made a campaign stop in Mansfield on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at the Gorman-Rupp Company. The event was attended by local and state dignitaries, business owners and citizens, as well as students and representatives of Ohio Teenage Republicans (TARs).
Jessica Stoner, a Shelby High School sophomore, and Trenton Ratliff, a junior at Norwalk High School are working with Ohio Teenage Republican Chair Tristan Justice to launch a Richland County TARs Chapter.
“I’d like to raise awareness,” said Stoner when asked what she hoped to accomplish with the group. “Most of my peers just don’t really care, and I’d like to get them to understand that it’s important,” she added.
Ratliff added that he’d like to dispel the stereotype of the rich, white, male Republican. “I’d like to raise awareness that there are young people and people of different races and different cultures that are republicans.”
“We’re reaching out at a grassroots level to get more young people involved,” said Justice, noting that the TARs chapters have spread throughout Ohio. “This election year is really exciting for us,” he added.
“It’s always exciting when we have our state reps and state government here,” said Shelby Mayor and Richland County Commissioner candidate Marilyn John. “So it’s exciting to have Governor Kasich and Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor in town and to see what their plans are for their next term.”
Crestview Middle School Principal Eric Yetter accompanied Crestview Middle School social studies teacher Jerry Wright and approximately 30 8th-grade students to the event. “It’ll be a good experience; it’s all about the process,” said Yetter. “It’s a great opportunity. We’re glad to have the chance to be here.”
Wright agreed this was a good opportunity for students to learn the political process as well as the ideals of each political party.
Prior to Kasich’s address, Senator Larry Obhof, State Rep. Mark Romanchuk, and Taylor addressed the group. Kasich was greeted with a standing ovation from the crowd.
During his address, Kasich interacted with the students in the crowd and encouraged them to seek help when needed, whether with school issues, such as math, or life issues, such as drugs.
“I believe that every person is put on this Earth by God to perform certain things, and everyone that has been put on this Earth has certain skills and talents that are unique to you. You’ve been made special,” Kasich said, addressing the 8th-graders. “The real key is to know that…as you get older, it will become clearer and clearer to you what your purpose is.”
Kasich also touched on the issues of mental illness, heroin, and Ohio’s economy, as well as the growth of small businesses in the state.
Obhof noted, “I think the governor and lieutenant governor have been working very hard, as have many people in the legislature, and we’ve turned Ohio around. I hope the voters will give us another four years to continue moving the state in the right direction.”
