It didn’t take long.
There were only two questions on the ballot where I paused:
The Erie County Commissioner’s race between Mindy Kayl and radio newsman Commissioner Steve Shoffner.
The 89th House District race between Easton Retzke and Caleb Stidham.
Except for those two races, voting was a breeze. It was a long pause. I wanted to vote straight blue, right down the line.
There’s a blue wave coming. It feels like something of enormous proportions. A re-alignment. My prediction: It will be a tsunami. I’m putting that out there. I might be wrong, but I refuse to stop hoping.
I’m hoping for a bloodless revolution.
I’m hoping it creates a world in which U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (remember him) is no longer able to get away with defining who is a real American and who isn’t.
I want to see a world in which my dear daughter’s rights and the legacy her grandmother’s fight and the fight of every woman for bodily autonomy and full and equal rights are never compromised, sacrificed or disrespected again. Never.
I want a world in which bigoted, racist, homophobic rhetoric is rejected and politicians don’t use words like “illegals” or “tranny” to dehumanize whole populations and terrorize them.
I want an America that respects and protects the U.S. Constitution “against all enemies, foreign and domestic," the core principle to the official Oath of Office required for all U.S. lawmakers, service members, federal civil service employees and new citizens during naturalization.
I want an America where leaders don’t try to demonize people by saying they’re stealing their neighbors’ cats and dogs and eating them. An America that doesn’t strip entire groups of their legal right to be here, or take them from homes where they have been welcomed for years to send them back to a country where they will be brutally killed for being “too American.”
I want an America in which there are leaders with principles inspired to do great things and serve humanity, an America in which young people have heroes to admire and aspire to be like.
I want an America that recognizes white supremacy when it’s happening, that understands systemic biases, that welcomes DEI initiatives and revels again in its diversities and its status as a nation of immigrants.
Like I said, I might be wrong about the blue wave, the blue tsunami. But I’m not willing to give up hope.
In those two local races I did pause, for what seemed to be a long time. I filled out every oval, except those. In the end, I decided to do what I always do: vote for the best choice.
Here’s how I voted
U.S. Senate: Sherrod Brown
Not even a close call. Sherrod was an effective Senator in so many ways. His opponent, John Husted, is an empty suit and a Donald Trump enabler.
Husted and Ohio’s other senator, Bernie Moreno, another enabler of Trump’s corruption, should be turned out of office as soon as possible. They both voted to defund veterans benefits, Medicare, and the ACA. They also tacitly condone masked ICE agents murdering U.S. citizens and tormenting legal immigrants.
9th U.S. House District: U.S Rep. Marcy Kaptur
Here again, not even close. Kaptur has been an effective representative for our area in too many ways to count. Her opponent, Derek Merrin, is a total tool who sought Trump’s endorsement—begged him for it—a lap dog who supports the criminal abuse that is occurring and will do nothing to stop it is he is elected.
89th House Ohio House District: Caleb Stidham
Stidham has a destiny to become the Ohio House 89th District representative. He works hard and works smart and he always has voters top of mind. He will not become governor of Ohio, however, as a Republican, if the party is unwilling to reform and stop supporting criminal behavior in its state and national leadership.
Stidham’s opponent, Easton Retzke, is a worthy candidate with a grounded sense of purpose and determination. He needs more experience before he’s ready to enact that vision. I hope he is a candidate next year for Sandusky City Commissioner.
Erie County Commissioner: Steve Shoffner
As a radio newsman, Shoffner has an advantage with me. He’s powered the local broadcast news here for three decades, so when he speaks I listen. But past the affection for a colleauge, Shoffner has the experience to make the important decisions that get made on commission. He understands the budget and the infrastructure challenges far better than his opponent and has been an effective commissioner for two terms.
Here again, Shoffner’s opponent, like Retzke, is a worthy opponent. Mindy Kayle also should consider a municipal run next year.
Sandusky Schools Issue 2
I voted for Issue 2, keeping my perfect record of voting for every school levy on every ballot I ever cast. Sandusky Schools deserve the support of residents.
Please vote ‘YES’ on Issue 2
