Vivek Ramaswamy visits area, campaigns for votes

HURON TWP. — Speaking before more than 500 Republicans at a Tuesday night Lincoln Day dinner at the Sandusky-area Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, Republican candidate for governor Vivek Ramaswamy promised to revive the American dream in Ohio. Ramaswamy and other Republican candidates spoke at the dinner, organized by the Republican parties of Erie, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca counties. Endorsed by President Donald Trump, Ramaswamy faces two lesser-known Republican candidates in the May 5 primary: Heather Hill and Casey Putsch. Democrats will get a chance to see their candidate in a few weeks. Amy Acton is the Democratic Party's nominee for governor. The Erie County Democratic Party announced on its website that Acton will campaign in Erie County at 5:30 p.m. on May 21. The location wasn't revealed, but the local party said more details will be released soon. Libertarians also have a candidate for governor, Don Kissick. Run-up to May 5 election Early voting has begun in Ohio at local election boards. People can visit their local county election board for early voting hours. Voters also can request an absentee ballot or show up at their precinct on May 5. Ramaswamy, a billionaire businessman from Cincinnati, and Acton, Ohio's health commissioner for much of the COVID-19 epidemic, haven't waited for the primary to pass before attacking each other. Ramaswamy labeled Acton a "socialist" during his speech, and Acton's spokeswoman replied that Ramaswamy is a liar. Ramaswamy told the crowd he wants to eliminate the state income tax, unleash energy production and bring down property taxes. He explained that his parents were immigrants from India and name-checked President Ronald Reagan, noting Reagan's famous statement in 1988 that, "Anyone, from any corner of the world, can come to live in the United States and become an American." Candidates trade barbs Ramaswamy described the fall election as a choice between Ohio's most conservative governor, ever, and a "socialist," claiming that Acton "shut down our economy" and led Ohio "to be the first state to shut down our public schools." Acton's spokeswoman, Addie Bullock, fired back. "Dr. Acton is not a socialist and Vivek Ramaswamy consistently resorts to lies and baseless smears to distract from the fact that he believes Medicaid and Medicare were a mistake and his plans would raise costs for Ohioans while gutting public schools and police departments," Bullock said. Caleb Stidham, the chairman of the Erie County Republican Party, said the dinner drew a crowd of 540, up from about 520 at the party's Lincoln Day dinner last year. Stidham said working with the three other local parties was a "great experience" but said he didn't know if multi-county Lincoln Day events will continue. Many other Republican candidates also showed up Tuesday night and some of them were allowed to give brief speeches. Few of those politicians left early. Instead, figures such as Ninth District U.S. House candidates Madison Sheahan, the former deputy director of ICE, and state Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Township, stuck around to chat with voters.