MANSFIELD — A former member of the Republican Party will be guest speaker Aug. 27 during a Richland County Democratic Party pre-Fall Kick Off event.
Shelby County farmer Chris Gibbs, who organizers said spent 20 years in local Republican Party administration including terms as party chair and chair for the Shelby County Board of Elections, will speak during the event at the United Steelworkers’ Hall #169 at 376 W. Longview Ave.
Now the county Democratic Party chair, Gibbs has appeared on CNN and been featured in numerous media and news articles around the state and country regarding his change in political parties.
Gibbs is a first-generation farmer and rancher in west central Ohio. He retired from the USDA after 30 years of administering federal ag policy to farmers. In 2023, Gibbs became chairman of the Shelby County Ohio Democratic Party and organizers said he is focused on rebuilding the Democratic brand in rural Ohio counties.
(Below is an interview previously done by Chris Gibbs with CNN when President Joe Biden was still the Democratic Party candidate.)
The 64-year-old Gibbs, lives in Maplewood in Shelby County. He owns and farms 560 acres and raises corn, soybeans, and alfalfa hay. He and his son manage a 90-head cow/calf operation. They custom graze using a managed intensive grazing system on 135 acres of improved pasture.
The event will be from 6 to 8 p.m. and dinner will be served. There is no cost to attend, but donations will be accepted to help defray the cost.
Fore more information, contact Richland County Democratic Party Chair Larry Weirich at larry.weirich@aol.com or the organizer of this event, Vice Chair Venita Shoulders, at venitashoulders@gmail.com.
Reservations are welcomed by calling or texting Shoulders at 419-564-0486.