A longtime elected official and political party leader in Allen County has died. Bob Holmes died on Saturday after a battle with cancer. Holmes was Allen County Republican Party chairman from 1974 to 1994. He organized five presidential and vice presidential campaign visits to Allen County, including the 1980 Ronald Reagan whistle-stop rally in Lima, rated by the Reagan staff as one of the best in the nation. He also served the GOP at the state level. Holmes served as clerk of the Lima Municipal Court from 1990 until his retirement in 2008. He spent 35 years at Holmes Realty.

With 92 days to go until voting day, the Allen County Republican Party has opened its election headquarters. Congressman Jim Jordan, State Treasurer Robert Sprague, and Representative Susan Manchester addressed local Republicans Monday at the opening of the Trump/Vance Victory Center. Voters can drop in to pick up information about early voting and all GOP candidates that will be on their tickets this fall, yard signs, and merchandise. Party officials are encouraging people to vote for every candidate on their ballot, not just the big ones, because every office from the city to the federal level will have an impact on policy for the next few years.

Three men running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate came to Lima to convince the local party that they are the candidate for the job.  

Allen County's new prosecutor is ready to get to work for the residents in the county. The Republican Party named Destiny Caldwell to replace Juergen Waldick, and she becomes Allen County's first female prosecutor.

   Caldwell has been practicing law since 2008 and has served as a prosecutor for more than 12 years.  She also served as Waldick's Chief Assistant Prosecutor until he was sworn in as a 3rd District Appellate Court Judge.  She says she is ready to continue to seek justice for the victims and hold the criminals accountable for their actions in Allen County. 

Waldick says, "It's a traumatic time for the victims so, yes we do develop relationships with them. Some of those relationships last to today. I've had some of the parents of the murder victims call me, talk to me, it's a shared trauma."

The bus pulled into the Allen County Republican Party Victory Center bringing some heavy hitters asking voters to vote yes on Issue One. Speaking today was Ohio's attorney general, 2 Ohio supreme court justices, and a handful of other officials in favor of issue one. It is a proposed constitutional amendment to state that judges shall consider the safety of the community when setting a bond. It is in response to the 4 to 3 vote of the Ohio Supreme Court rejecting the trial judge's decision to consider the victim's family's fear of retribution when setting bail in a homicide case in Hamilton County.

This year's keynote speech will be given by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Graham spoke at the Allen County Republican's last rally in 2019. US Congressman Jim Jordan will also be speaking at the event to show his support for US Senate candidate J.D. Vance. Due to the pandemic, the Allen County Republican Party has not held this rally in a couple of years, and Party Chairman Keith Cheney is thankful to have the BBQ Rally back.

In a unanimous decision, the Allen County Republican party Central committee;  officially naming a new county clerk of courts Thursday night. …

With the retirement of Margie Murphy Miller, the position is now open. Republican Chairman Keith Cheney says they are now accepting resumes for the position. The Allen County Commissioners will appoint an interim clerk of courts on September 1st. Once resumes are received, reviewed and interviews have been done a recommendation will be sent to the Allen County Republican Central Committee.