County Republicans push early voting at fall dinner

By Thomas Clapper

CCM Reporter

The Carroll County Republican Party held its 2024 Fall Dinner at the Diamond Lake Event Barn in Scio Oct. 10. 

The message for the evening was clear, encouraging early voting and a No vote on Issue 1. 

The evening featured guest keynote speaker National Military and Mother of the Year Brook Harless and a special surprise visit from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. 

Carroll County Common Pleas Judge Michael V. Repella, II was master of ceremonies and in charge of the special recognitions. 

Carroll County Commissioner Robert Wirkner gave the invocation and Commissioner Donald Leggett, II led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Carrollton High School Senior Ivy Slutz sang the National Anthem prior to the dinner, catered by Kathy’s Catering. 

Following the dinner, Repella conducted the special recognition of officials and guests including: Carroll County Recorder Patricia Oyer, Commissioner Robert Wirkner, Engineer Brian J. Wise, Sheriff Calvin Graham, Judge Repella, Commissioner Christopher Modranski, Auditor Lynn Fairclough, Commissioner Donald Leggett, II, State Senator Al Cutrona, State Rep Monica Robb Blasdel, Carson Cook, Representative for Bernie Moreno and Prosecutor Steven Barnett.

“This is a beautiful venue and a real diamond in the rough,” said Cutrona. “It has been an honor to serve. I ask that you vote early to bank your votes because we know natural disasters can happen like have been happening around the country.”

“Thank you to the volunteers who made tonight possible, it is a beautiful evening,” said Monica Robb Blasdel. “It has been a true honor to serve you in the Ohio House for the last two years. It has been an honor to get to know you and county officials and trustees at a local level. I would love to continue serving you and your conservative values, please vote.”

Carson Cook, Representative for Bernie Moreno spoke on the importance of the Ohio senate race and noted it is the most expensive senate race of this election cycle at approx. $310 million between both sides. 

Keynote speaker Brook Harless took to the podium to share her courageous, sometimes heartbreaking but tremendous life story of perseverance, tenacity and triumph. 

Harless described her childhood, being born to a mother who was trafficked by a motorcycle gang and fled to Arizona. She was in and out of homeless shelters, lived in abandoned cars and under highway bridges. She was taught by her drug addict mother to steal, manipulate, be a diversion for her mother to steal and several other negative skills. 

Her aunt and uncle took her in and ended up providing her with the foundation to succeed, all the while carrying the stigma of being her mother’s daughter. 

“I gained my first friends, saw my first snow, it was out there I learned to dream and think outside the box,” Harless said.

She was good at hurdles in high school and received a scholarship to Baylor University. She then joined the army.

“I was going to prove that I was not like my mother,” she said. “I joined the army and felt like I belonged. Even in the army I was told no and had to prove everyone wrong.”

She decided to go into politics because she wanted to help people the way she and her aunt were helped after a vicious knife attack. 

“I never knew the Red Cross could help someone the way they helped me after I was attacked with my aunt,” said Harless.

She worked with the Stark Hunger Task Force and Red Cross Board that had helped her and was able to provide things she was also unable to get.

“The Republicans are about hand up and not hand out, I believe in working hard and determination,” said Harless.

She is currently a Plain Twp. Trustee and one of her early actions was getting sidewalks installed. The township needed sidewalks because she saw several people couldn’t get to school safely and nearly got hit by cars. Her son had trouble going to wrestling practice.

She was able to find grants and programs that made this happen. 

“As I reflect what I have gone through, I think of Lincoln who has faced adversity at every turn and never wavered. We Republicans have to have the same determination we must embody today.”

Carroll County Republican Party Chairperson Patricia Oyer gave remarks and went over programs throughout the year as well as future events.

“This is such a wonderful facility, we are thankful to be here and thank the owners who had us,” said Oyer.

She noted the Republican Christmas celebration is set for Dec. 11 at Century Farms.

“We are grateful to those who contribute in some way or another over the year,” said Oyer.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose made a guest appearance at the end of the night and spoke about the integrity of elections in Ohio.

“My job is to keep the elections honest in Ohio, it means we enforce the law and fight and win activist lawsuits,” said LaRose. “We check IDs in Ohio, it is not racist or foolish we have to show who we are when we vote. We want to make sure only American citizens vote in Ohio elections.”

LaRose said Ohio has electronic and paper voting and they have to match up. During the last couple of elections has seen the accuracy rate climb from 99.98 to and 99.99. 

“All forms of voting are secure, and I encourage early and absentee voting,” said LaRose. 

Commissioner Chris Modranski closed the night’s events with the benediction.