OTTAWA, Ohio — Two Republican candidates made a campaign stop in Putnam County Wednesday evening to meet with voters and pass out chicken dinners with the local Republican Party at the Putnam County Fairgrounds.
Derek Merrin, the Republican nominee for Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, and Colleen O’Donnell, the Republican nominee for the Ohio Supreme Court, both pitched their platforms ahead of the upcoming election.
Merrin is challenging longtime incumbent Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who has held the seat since 1983. Following a recent redistricting, the 9th District was expanded to include most of Putnam County. Merrin, who narrowly lost to Kaptur two years ago, is looking to voters in the area as November approaches.
"We need term limits. You know, our founding fathers never wanted someone to serve in Washington for over 40 years. We need people that are going to serve the people, not worried about always getting re-elected. We need to put America first. We need to lower taxes. We need fiscal responsibility. We need someone that holds our values. We don't need women men playing women's sports. Marcy Kaptur supports that. It's completely ridiculous. You know, I have the same values as people in Putnam County and Northwest Ohio and that's why we're going to be successful this November," Merrin said.
O’Donnell, a former Franklin County Common Pleas judge and federal immigration judge, highlighted her courtroom record as key preparation for the state's highest court.
"With more than 10 years of prior judicial service in the Common Pleas Court, I tried well over 100 cases to verdict and put hundreds of felons behind bars. And then I heard asylum cases on the immigration court, and I never granted asylum a single time. All of those prior judicial experiences will be helpful for me if I'm fortunate enough to earn a seat on the Supreme Court of Ohio," O'Donnell said.
The general election is Nov. 3.
