Gratitude for your support, School Levy Insights, Primary Results, and Navigating Party Challenges

Honored to Serve Again: Thank You for Your Continued Support

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your overwhelming support during the March 19^th primary election. Despite facing strong opposition, the Republican voters of District 5 made it clear they want me to continue serving for another term. Before deciding to run again, I had asked God for guidance and provision. I knew the sacrifices involved both in terms of time away from family and facing a well-funded opponent. Not only did God grant the victory, but the voters reaffirmed their desire for me to continue representing them.

It should give every voter pause to consider the money that was spent to defeat me and other conservative candidates, with some households receiving up to four mailers compared to my one, all for an unpaid position. Additionally, in the final days leading up to the election, texts were circulated featuring an unflattering image and accusing me of being a “lunatic” and a “feminist crack pot liberal,” urging voters not to support me. When I saw the text, I couldn’t help but laugh because I knew that even those who didn’t favor me would recognize it as a blatant fabrication. What the opposition intended as harmful, I witnessed God turn into two significant advantages for the voters of District 5 and myself. These ridiculous texts served to inform voters about the Republican State Central Committee position, something the establishment would prefer to keep quiet. Furthermore, due to the outlandish nature of the texts, many of you conducted your own research on the candidates and ultimately chose to support me.  

Who orchestrated and funded the texts?

It's alleged that top party leaders and elected officials, potentially including the Governor's office, collaborated to work against me and other conservatives within the RSCC. For a moment, let’s consider the possibility that they did coordinate against conservatives on the committee. Why? Why would they invest so much time and resources to defeat members of the conservative caucus on the Republican State Central Committee? The answer is simple: there is a small minority among us dedicated to exposing the corruption threatening to destroy the Ohio Republican Party. Our party has been infiltrated by those who would sell the party to the highest bidder, they are willing to compromise its principles for personal gain. Instead of strengthening county parties and expanding our Republican voter base, the state party has prioritized catering to special interests and elites who provide financial support in exchange for steering the party away from its core principles and values.

Additionally, many have been led astray into thinking they must rid the party of the “hard-core pro-lifers.” A former senate candidate confessed that he now believed we should avoid discussing abortion entirely. When I asked for clarification, he explained that he believed talking about abortion and taking a pro-life stance would “lose Republican elections.” Another point I've previously mentioned is that statewide executive candidates like DeWine, Husted, LaRose, and others actively support their chosen individuals in elections to secure their endorsements for the primary.

The effort to undermine conservatives on the Republican State Central Committee reveals a deeper struggle within the Ohio Republican Party. This battle is not just about political positions but about the soul of the party itself. A faction within has prioritized personal gain and allegiance to special interests over the party's foundational principles and the broader Republican base. This shift risks not only alienating core supporters but also compromising the party's integrity and future success. It's a poignant reminder that the fight for the party's direction is not only about policy but about preserving the core values that define us as Republicans.

Why did more than half of all school levies fail in the March 2024 Election?

According to statistics compiled by the Ohio Association of School Boards, only 45 out of 93 levies in Ohio were approved by voters this year, with a failure rate of over 50%.

In Miami County, Tipp City voters approved the 8.68 mil bond issue with 53.7% voting for the levy and 47.22% voting against. The passage of the bond will include funding for new school and improvements to existing structures.

Voters OK Tipp City bond issue, other Miami County levies fail

In Elizabeth Township, voters rejected an additional levy with 78.83% opposed and 21.17% in favor. Similarly, voters also rejected the Bethel Local School District tax levy (63.865% against, 36.14% in favor) and the Milton-Union Exempted Village School District income tax levy (61.17% against, 38.835% in favor).

I had the opportunity to speak with several West Milton residents who opposed the levy. When asked why they voted against it, residents explained that they are grappling with many financial pressures, including the cost of raising children, high mortgages, and increasing rates for water, gas and electricity, in addition to commuting expenses. Many expressed ongoing frustration with the superintendent and school board’s handling of finances, feeling they need to continually remind these officials that the funds belonged to the community and were not their personal property. Additional frustrations included a perceived prioritization of staff and administrative comfort over student needs. There was also sentiment that the teachers’ union is primarily focused on securing benefits for its members rather than ensuring that the students receive a quality education. Some regular attenders of the board meetings expressed dissatisfaction with the district’s fiscal management, often feeling pressured into providing more funding under the threat of negative consequences for students.

I also had the opportunity to ask Bethel residents why they voted against the recent levy. One resident explained that her decision to vote ‘no’ stemmed from learning the levy was permanent, not annual. She noted Bethel already has nine levies, with more than half being permanent. Several residents attributed the levy’s defeat to a small group of community members who informed voters through postcard mailers about the implications of a permanent levy, explaining to them that it was essentially removing their future voting rights on the issue.

Other reasons cited by residents were feeling fatigued by ongoing taxes and the uncertainty of whether the new board will address changing the restroom policy, which currently allows for students identifying as the opposite gender to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with. Several residents stated that they would continue to vote no on giving the school money until the restroom policy changed to reflect biological sex.

In addition to record high inflation, Jack Windsor, President & Editor-in-Chief at The Ohio Press Network, discusses the reasons behind Ohio’s failed school levies, using Olentangy schools in Delaware County as an example. He points out that residents are already contributing to school funding through property taxes and that the recent budget increase passed by the Ohio House further aids schools. Windsor argues that accusations of taxpayers not supporting schools are misleading and false. For more details, refer to his March 21 interview on the Windsor Report.

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Senate District 5 March 19 ORP Primary Election Results

Below are the March 19 Republican Primary and Issue results for Senate District 5, covering Miami, Preble, NW Montgomery, S. Darke, and N. Butler areas.

* Denotes the winner of the election. Please note that although Barbara Carter won Butler and Preble Counties, Melena Siebert won the election for 12th District Court of Appeals in a closely contested race spanning Preble, the majority of Butler County, Warren County, and several areas to the south and east. According to the Ohio Secretary of State's Office, Siebert secured 50.4% of the vote, with Carter closely behind at 49.6%. Carter, Siebert run for Appeals Court judge for Warren, Butler, Preble counties

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President Trump Clinches Ohio Republican Primary Win

Donald Trump secured victory in the Ohio Republican primary on March 19, 2024, gaining an estimated 79 delegates, all of which are winner-take-all. The primary was open, allowing participation from all registered voters. The Republican National Convention, scheduled for July 15-18, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will determine the party's presidential nominee. Prior to the convention, states, Washington D.C., and five U.S. territories will conduct primaries, caucuses, or conventions to allocate delegates. Primary debates began in August 2023, with Milwaukee hosting the inaugural event. Donald Trump clinched the majority delegate threshold on March 12, 2024, becoming the presumptive Republican nominee.

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Moreno Secures the Victory in the ORP Primary

Bernie Moreno secured victory in the Ohio Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, defeating Matt Dolan and Frank LaRose with 49.1% of the vote, compared to Dolan's 32.9% and LaRose's 17.9%. Moreno will face incumbent Sherrod Brown (D), who is seeking a fourth term, in the upcoming November election. United States Senate election in Ohio, 2024 (March 19 Republican primary)

Examining Bernie Moreno's Victory in Senate District 5

As you can see from the results below, Moreno secured a resounding win, surpassing a 50% margin in each of Butler, Darke, Miami, Montgomery, and Preble Counties.

Butler County

Darke County

Miami County

Montgomery County

Preble County

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Addressing the Party’s Future Challenges

Now that the primary is behind us, our focus shifts to supporting Republican candidates for the upcoming election in November. The turnout for the March 19 Primary was alarmingly low, with only 22% of registered voters participating statewide, a stark contrast to the 49% turnout in November 2023. During a recent townhall meeting with the ORP chairman, concerns were raised about the low turnout and strategies to improve it for November. The chairman attributed part of the problem to internal party conflicts. While I agree with the chairman regarding infighting being a contributing factor, I believe the root cause lies deeper in voter apathy, stemming from distrust fueled by internal corruption, betrayal, and mismanagement of party resources. It's challenging to inspire enthusiasm for a party marred by ongoing scandals and cover-ups.

Ohio March 19 primary election by the numbers: Voter turnout and more

To move forward, we must confront these issues openly and eradicate corruption from within. It's crucial to address the elephant in the room and rebuild trust by holding ourselves accountable and promoting transparency within the party.

For example, House Speaker Jason Stephens' actions have significantly harmed the Republican Party by effectively handing control of the Republican House to Democrats. This maneuver has impeded the enactment of conservative policies and involved the misuse of over $3 million from the Ohio Republican Alliance Fund. These funds, intended to support all Republican candidates, were instead used for attack ads benefiting only Stephens' select group, the "Blue 22," who collaborated with him and Democrats for personal gains, such as committee positions and financial backing from special interests and unions. This has led to substantial setbacks and losses in conservative policy advancement. In my next newsletter, I’ll share about a recent initiative to curb such misconduct in the future. Additionally, I’ll introduce my proposal to hold Stephens accountable by advocating for his disaffiliation from the party.

Furthermore, we have to address the ongoing financial reporting issues that have been plaguing the ORP since 2019, which initially led to $100k in FEC fines due to accounting errors. In a recent interview with Jack Windsor, Mark Bainbridge, a CPA and former Republican State Central Committeeman, criticized past leadership. He stated that “former Chairman Jane Timken, and former Chairman Bob Paduchik and former treasurer, Dave Johnson, did not learn from the mistakes that came out of that prior audit. Now the Republican Party is being audited by the federal government again related to the same stupid mistakes.” The full interview can be accessed here.

The recent events surrounding House Speaker Jason Stephens and the ongoing financial reporting issues within the Ohio Republican Party emphasizes the critical importance of cultivating integrity, transparency, and fiduciary responsibility within the party. As we move forward, it’s imperative that we not only work hard to get our Republican candidates elected, but also to prioritize honesty, openness, and responsible stewardship to restore trust among voters and maintain the foundational values of the Republican Party.

In Upcoming Newsletters…

• DeWine’s Veto of House Bill 68 and Subsequent override by the House and Senate

• Ohio's Intel Investment: Economic Boost or Political Maneuvering?

• First Energy Scandal Updates

• Letter to the ORP Treasurer & Assistant Treasurer

• Will the ORP choose to hold Stephen’s accountable for his actions?

• April 26 Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee Meeting

• Feds investigating GOP Treasurer charged with wire fraud of $1million