For Immediate Release
March 21, 2013
Contact:
Seth Morgan (937) 371-9032
Tom Zawistowski (330) 592-1848
Lori Viars (513) 403-9288
CONSERVATIVE LEADERS REJECT CURRENT
DIRECTION OF STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY
Columbus, Ohio – A statewide coalition of social and fiscal conservative leaders in Ohio
today announced a rejection of the current direction of the state Republican leadership.
While signers of this statement put emphases on different policies, all the signers believe that
Ohio is best served with limited government and low taxation, affirm the definition of marriage
as one man and one woman as specified in Ohio’s Constitution, stand for the right to life for
unborn children, and believe that the State Republican Party Chairman should reflect and fight
for these values.
In recent months, Ohio has seen Governor John Kasich propose a “tax shift” unfairly targeting
certain landowners and creating a drag on energy exploration, recommend the expansion of a
failing Medicaid program, and propose an increasing budget.
Senator Rob Portman has reversed course, defying one of the key planks of the Republican
Party Platform to take a position in support of same-sex marriage. This dismisses the views of
roughly 3.3 million Ohioans who in 2004 voted for a Constitutional Amendment defining
marriage as one man and one woman.
Finally, this week, the elected statewide Republican officials declared their support for Matt
Borges to replace Bob Bennett as Ohio Republican Party Chairman. Dismissing other
potential candidates for the chairman’s position, these statewide Republican officials endorsed
Borges, a man who plead guilty to a misdemeanor for improper use of public office in a bribery
investigation and served as a lobbyist for the liberal homosexual activist group, Equality Ohio.
This statement of rejection is not personal – the individuals above have reasons and
explanations for their actions. Nor is this statement designed to elicit a specific response. This
statement is merely to inform the public that we have not moved on these issues important to
our fellow Buckeyes and we will not accept this leadership which is inconsistent with the
principles of the Republican Party.
Tom Zawistowski, President of the We the People Convention and Executive Director of the
Portage County TEA Party, said, “The leaders of the Republican Party in Ohio have chosen to
separate themselves and the party from the wishes and values of their support base. Not just
liberty group members and social conservative voters, but rank and file registered Republican
voters who overwhelmingly voted for the Ohio Healthcare Amendment. With this letter we put
the party bosses on notice that we reject their betrayal of the party platform and our
conservative values. We will not support them going forward but will instead support those
who are true to our cause.”
“With sadness I put my name on this statement,” said Seth Morgan, former State
Representative and Conservative Coalition Leader. “Never have I been more concerned for
the direction of our state and country – largely due to a failure in leadership. Why would our
Republican leaders put themselves at odds with sound public policy and the platform of their
own party?”
“Some of our Republican officials seem hell-bent on alienating conservative voters and
volunteers, which reduces voter turnout. They ignore the GOP platform, choosing to put
themselves outside the mainstream of our party base,” said Lori Viars, Vice President of
Warren County Right To Life, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Warren County Republican
Party.
The signers below call on like-minded conservative Ohioans to organize and prepare for the
challenges we and our neighbors are facing.
The initial signers below are represented in their personal / individual capacities. Titles and
organization are listed for identification purposes only.
Seth Morgan, Former State Representative and Conservative Coalition Leader
Tom Zawistowski, President, We the People Convention; Executive Director, Portage County
TEA Party
Lori Viars, Vice President, Warren County Right To Life
Bobbi Radeck, State Director, Concerned Women for America
Linda Harvey, Radio Host and President, Mission America
Don Birdsall, President, Dayton TEA Party
Joseph Platt, Esq., Board Member, Family First
Andrew Pappas, Leader, Anderson Tea Party
Pastor Andy Douglas, Director, Christians for Constitutional Awareness
Linda Reidelbach, Former State Representative; Delaware County Republican Central
Committee member
Tom Brinkman, Jr., Former State Representative; Chairman of C.O.A.S.T. (Coalition Opposed
To Additional Spending & Taxes)
Mark Stevenson, Founder, Ohioans For Educational Freedom
Sue Hardenbergh, Hamilton Co. Republican Central Committee Member
John McAvoy, Board of Directors, NW Ohio Conservative Coalition
Janet (Folger) Porter, President, Faith2Action; Former Republican State Central Committee
Member
Ryan Bolyard, Wayne County, Ohio; President, Hillsdale College Republicans
Paula Bolyard, Doylestown, Ohio; Conservative Blogger
Roseann Siderits, Board Member, Family First
Pastor J.C. Church, President of 3 Cord Alliance, Crawford County, Ohio
Marianne Gasiecki, State Co-Coordinator (OH), Tea Party Patriots
Wendy Sizemore, Leader, Pickaway County 9-12 Project Liberty Group
Glenn Newman, Founder, Marietta 9-12 Project
Randy Wilson, National Director, Watchmen on the Wall
Thea Shoemake, Homeschool Leader; Former Vice Chair of Clermont Co. Republican Central
Committee
Ralph Spampanato, Director, Stark - Tusc 9-12
Pastor Norman R. Perkins, Reaching for Success, Dayton, Ohio
Dana R. Adams, President, Akron Tea Party
Jim Green, President, North Central Ohio Conservatives, Inc.
Amy Brighton, Co-Founder & Co-Coordinator, Medina Tea Party Patriots
George & Darla Lee, Steering Committee Member, Auglaize County Patriots
Linda S. Barry, Steering Committee Member, Auglaize County Patriots
William E. Barry, Steering Committee Member, Auglaize County Patriots
Nelson Hack, Founder & Coordinator, Morrow County Tea Party
John Rhoad, Fayette County Coordinator, Ohioans for Healthcare Freedom
Connie Thompson, Athens, Ohio 9-12 Project
Margaret W. Hunt, Secretary, Geauga County Tea Party
Duane A. Plessinger, Director, Wayne County TEA Party; Member, Wayne Co. Republican
Executive Committee
Anna Rehl, Founder, Licking County Organizing for Freedom
Patricia Eshleman, Leadership Team, Preble County Liberty Group
James W. Hellyer, Chairman, Licking County Tea Party
Judith L. Guju, Hamilton County Republican Central Committee
Mike Snead, President, Beavercreek Liberty Group
Andrew E. Russ, Esq., Counsel for Ohio TEA Party & Patriot Groups
Sharon Blocher, Stark - Tusc 9-12 Patriots
Van Pratt, President, Clinton County Tea Party
Mark Haverkos, Butler County Republican Central Committee
Beth Cox, Preble County Liberty Group
Richard Geyer, President, Society of Conservatives, United for Independence, Representative
Republic, Equality & Liberty (SCUIRREL)
George Momirov, Director, Upper Arlington 9-12 Group
Ethlyn Kennedy, Treasurer, Lorain County 9-12 Tea Party
Jeff Malek, Founder, Wadsworth 9-12 Group
Bonnie Arnold, Marietta 9-12 Project
Linda Studer, Director, Wayne County Tea Party
Jon Eells, Marietta, Ohio 9-12 Project
Bob Longshore, Committee Chairman, Portage County TEA Party
Amanda Suffecool, President, Portage County TEA Party; Director, REALIZE Firearms
Awareness Coalition
Mary Lou Cook, Co-Organizer, Voices of Liberty, Marion, Ohio Tea Party
Pastor Bob Tarasiak, Family Fellowship Church, Conneaut, Ohio
Linda Bishop, Committee Member, Findlay 9-12 Group
Carol Bicking, Gahanna Freedom Alliance
Larry Heller, Leader, Miami Township Tea Party; Steering Committee, Clermont Co. Tea Party;
Clermont Co. Republican Central Committee
Jim Horton, Committee Member, Northwest Ohio Freedom Alliance
Karl W. Vonvaltier, Leader, Delaware County 9-12
Ken Kay, Executive Director, The Coalition of Freedom
Kirsten Hill, Chairman, Lorain County TEA Party
Mark Lucas, Director, Hilliard-Galloway Tea Party; Leader, Northwest Columbus 9-12
Emily Harris, Warren County Republican Executive Committee
Robert Lloyd, Director, Knox County 9-12 Project
Mary Gam, Director, Knox County 9-12 Project
Dan W. Offineer, Representative, Knox County 9-12 Patriots
Roger Baxter, Vice Chair, Clermont County Tea Party
Kirk “Shovel” Goings, National Road Captain, Sons of Liberty Riders
Joe Daly, Hamilton County Republican Central Committee
Sharon Poe, Secretary, Warren County Tea Party
Thomas Reynolds, Founder & Past President, Top of Ohio Patriots
James E. Burkholder, Vice Chairman, Top of Ohio Patriots 9-12
Kay Clymer, President, Zanesville Patriots
Kathy Freudenberger, Leader, Bethel Tea Party; Secretary, Clermont Co. Republican Party
Rev. Katherine Marple, Founder, Keep Life Legal Ministries
Ralph King, State Co-Coordinator (OH), Tea Party Patriots; Co-Founder Cleveland TEA Party
Patriots
Carol Greenberg, Conservative Blogger; NW Ohio Conservative Coalition
Virginia Mack, Chairman, Putnam County Ohio Patriots
Jane Deeter, Leader, Huber Heights Liberty Group
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