With the May 8 primary a little more than seven weeks away, the Republicans seeking their party's nomination to run for the 98th District House of Representatives seat have begun efforts to get their message out to the voters.

The five candidates — Dover Council President Shane Gunnoe, New Philadelphia businessman Greg Ress, Uhrichsville Law Director Brett Hillyer, Mark Behrendt of New Philadelphia and Larry V. Hawthorne of Mineral City — are seeking to replace state Rep. Al Landis, R-Dover, who is ineligible to run again because of term limits.

The 98th District includes all of Tuscarawas County and a portion of Holmes County.

On Monday, Gunnoe held an event at Republican Party headquarters in Dover where he received the support of Ohio Speaker of the House Cliff Rosenberger and state Rep. Ryan Smith, R-Gallipolis, who is a candidate to replace Rosenberger as speaker.

"One of my main jobs is to look for and recruit candidates who can bring integrity and honor to the Statehouse, and I think Shane is one of those good candidates who is able to do it," Rosenberger said. "Plus, with his local experience and ability as council president, he knows firsthand the legislative process, but more importantly, what his community's pulse is, and that's what we need in Columbus."

Added Smith, "He (Gunnoe) checks a lot of boxes. He's an elected local government official. He's got the business experience. He's served on the mental health side of things, which is extremely important in the middle of this opiate epidemic" Gunnoe serves on the board of Community Mental Healthcare in Dover.

"Many of the things he's worked on for years without planning or thinking about this position shows us that he's committed to making this area as strong as it can be," Smith said.

Also on Monday, Ress received the endorsements of Holmes County Commissioners Joe Miller and Rob Ault.

"I’ve known Greg a long time, and I want to say upfront I strongly, strongly support him," said Miller. "We’ve talked politics; we think alike as both very fiscally conservative, social conservative. I don’t like career politicians, I like people who have been in the business world, like (Greg) has. There is something about making a payroll and employing people and understanding them, that’s why I strongly support him."

Hillyer kicked off his campaign on March 6 with an event in Uhrichsville that attracted more than 70 people. He has also sponsored a bankers luncheon and is planning a luncheon with Realtors later this month.

Behrendt participated in a firefighter's forum and Hawthorne has begun advertising on local radio stations.

The involvement of Rosenberger and Smith in the campaign has drawn criticism from some of the candidates.

"What's going on is the state party is meddling in local primaries," Hillyer said. "That really irks me. To me, the Republican Party should stay out of the primary and spend money wisely to elect Republicans."

Ress said, "I feel that we'll let the local voters decide who is going to win the election, and not the Columbus bureaucrats. I feel better getting the local endorsements than the Columbus endorsements."

Gunnoe said in response, "I appreciate the support I have received from conservative leaders throughout Ohio, including the Speaker of the Ohio House, Cliff Rosenberger and Finance Chairman, Ryan Smith. However, my top priority has always been on our local community members.

"I am grateful for the support my campaign has received both locally and throughout Ohio. Whether at one of thousands of doors we have already knocked on locally, or at community events, the residents of our district are responding positively to my message. I plan to continue talking with our area voters, listening to their concerns, and fighting hard to earn their support in the upcoming election."

Early in-person voting for the May 8 primary begins April 10 and includes the Saturday, Sunday and Monday before Election Day.

 

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

On Twitter: @jbakerTR