Ross County Fairgrounds — The annual spring dinner of the Ross County Democratic Party featured the state party’s minority leader, as well the Democratic slate for Chillicothe and Ross County.
About 120 attended the event in the Multipurpose Building at the fairgrounds, with tables set with blank protest signboards and markers to make custom signs. Chillicothe has seen many such signs recently, especially with opposition to Chillicothe Council’s recent legislation on homeless camping and a cannabis facility moratorium.
State Representative and Minority Leader Allison Russo, representing the 7th District of Ohio (Upper Arlington in Central Ohio), was the guest speaker. She lamented what she described as antics of state Republicans, especially after the 2021 conviction of Larry Householder, speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives.
Russo said during the current biennial budget process, the Republicans have been cutting finding for schools, healthcare, and public assistance. But, she complimented the effort that she said scared them into restoring funding to libraries.
Russo mentioned that she is at the end of her term limits. At the end of the event, her aide said she did not have the time for an interview.
Dona Meyer, chair of the Ross County Democratic Party, emceed the on April 24th event and led each candidate to introduce themselves. The slate of candidates is set now after the filing deadline for the two major parties. Hear the list in her own words (though with my interruptions) in the below interview video.
The slate includes two candidates for judges of the Chillicothe Municipal Court, which actually covers the entire county. It was pointed out that most citizens will have more contact with that court than with Common Pleas, because the Municipal Court deals with lesser charges like traffic tickets.
Also hear from recent Chillicothe Council Democratic appointee Gunner Barnes in a related story.
