Senate candidate gives local Republicans issues pep talk

Rob Portman, the Republican candidate for retiring U.S. Sen. George Voinovich's seat, addressed a packed audience at the annual Athens County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner on Friday.

The event featured an array of foods, beverages and conversations about the shape of both the state and national economy and government.

During a social hour, many attendees at the dinner had the opportunity to speak with various Republican candidates and office-holders including Portman; state Sen. Jimmy Stewart, R-Albany; candidate for Ohio attorney general, Mike DeWine; Athens County Auditor Jill Thompson; Athens County Commissioner Larry Payne; Fred Dailey, Republican candidate for Congress in Ohio's 18th District; and other representatives from the regional Republican Party.

The topics of discussions included the overall state of America's health-care system, the national economy and how it's affecting small business in areas of Ohio, and issues with the controversial cap-and-trade legislation.

Portman, who will face either Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher or Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner in November, said prior to his keynote speech at dinner that these are the issues he hopes to tackle if he's elected to the U.S. Senate. Referring to an experience he had earlier that day when he visited a nearby sawmill, Portman said it's clear many small business owners are worried about the effects health-care reform and other economic issues are having on their opportunities for expansion.

"What I'm hearing is, 'Rob, I'm not interested in investing in business or expanding,'' he said. "Why am I hearing that? Well, it's because they're worried."

Portman, a former congressman and high official in the administration of President George W. Bush, said small-business owners' worries relate to legislation and regulations being implemented nationally by Washington. Portman argued that health-care reform, as currently conceived in Washington, will end up costing small business owners such as the sawmill owner more, as will the cap-and-trade bill, which will tax energy-consuming and producing industries.

All these issues, Portman said, are a "classic example of the federal government overreaching," and are negatively affecting Ohio's job market.

Portman cited his experience, including service in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented southwest Ohio for 12 years. Portman left Congress in 2005 to serve as U.S. Trade Representative for President Bush. Later, he served as director of the federal Office of Management and Budget, and said during his speech that in these positions he worked with Republicans and Democrats alike, following a conservative approach to "get stuff done."

"I'm proud of my service," Portman said in a conversation after the event. "During my time I cut spending, I created more opportunities for exporting, and while I was in Washington, unemployment was half of what it is today."

Participants of the dinner applauded Portman's speech, and many commented on their support for Republican approaches to these issues.

Shirley Strickmaker, a supporter of the Athens County Republican Party, said she "was pleased with the turnout and is glad to know what the politicians' issues are and what they want for the country, area and state."

Along with Strickmaker, Helen Swaim, 88, said she's been a Republican for 70 years. She said she was attending the event to discuss issues of health care and the economy and hear what the politicians had to say relative to overall problems with today's government.

Also present were many members of Ohio University's College Republicans. During the event, members of the campus political club were recognized for their dedication to the party, and given the Ronald Reagan Award. Each year the award is given to a person at the Lincoln Day Dinner, and the winner receives a red, white and blue ribboned bowl filled with President Ronald Reagan's trademark red white and blue jellybeans. This was the first time a group has received the award.