Since the state legislature has until December 7^th of this year to redraw the legislative districts in Ohio, it appears that next year's Primary Election will be pushed back until May 8, 2012.  Shortly after next year's Primary Election, the Montgomery County Republican Party will hold a re-organization meeting to elect a chairman and other party officers.  Current Chairman Greg Gantt is please to announce his intent to run for a second full-term.

Greg has been chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party since January 2007.  Greg is also currently chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Elections.  He has been active in the local party for the past 25 years.  Over the years, Greg has held the following positions: chairman of the Central Committee, legal counsel for the local party, local legal counsel for the Ohio Republican Party, campaign manager for numerous campaigns, and chairman of the Judicial Screening Committee.

"This is a critical time for the Republican Party at the national, state, and local levels," said Greg. "Our local party needs experienced leadership that is up to the challenge of standing up to the opposition."

"Chairman Gantt has played a lead role in supporting the efforts of Republicans in Montgomery County.  As we gear up for the 2012 election cycle, his work will continue to make a difference for our candidates," said Congressman Mike Turner.

Greg and his wife Amy have been married for 16 years.  They have two children, Michael (13) and Alison (11). Greg is a partner with the law firm of Allbery Cross Fogarty.

"We Need You" 

Chairman Gantt is looking  for a few good men and women to run for office.  Please send an email to greg@montgop.com if you are interested in running for public office.  The results of a recent Gallop Poll found that 42% of registered voters say they are more likely to vote for the Republican candidate  as opposed to 40% for Obama,  and the remaining 14% are undecided or would vote for another candidate.  The Repbulican Brand is strong, and our current Republican leaders are providing great leadership during difficult times.

On Thursday, June 9th, a swearing-in ceremony was held for Dennis Adkins as Judge of the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.

Governor John Kasich appointed Dennis to fill the open seat vacated by Judge Michael T. Hall, who was elected to the Second District Court of Appeals in November of last year.

Congratulations!

I am now a full six months into my first term in office and after going through my first state budget I now feel like a veteran legislator. The legislative process can be very slow (at least in the eyes of this businessman) yet in such a short period of time the House has passed collective bargaining reform, criminal sentencing reform, Medicaid reform, regulation reform, election law reform, construction reform and overhauled the Department of Development with Jobs Ohio.  Some of these items were included in the budget yet most of the work was done in day after day of committee hearing hours and hours of testimony. 

The budget for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 was nearly 5,000 pages with almost 500 pages including actual budgetary items.  If there is one think I learned about the budget is that it is not only about income and expenses, debits and credits, but a compilation all the policy changes and rules legislators want to enact without going through a standalone bill.  This may seem a little like going through the backdoor but the legislative calendar is already overwhelming and adding a few hundred more items would be unmanageable.

Some of the more controversial issues included in the budget are prevailing wage, teacher performance pay and charter schools.  The Governor included changes in all of these topics and the House either cleaned up or strengthen them, but then came the Senate.  Although they did clean up some of the language with regard to oversight of charter schools, the Senate removed the teacher pay section and took the teeth out of the prevailing wage provision.  Now all we can do is hope the conference committee can find a workable solution for all parties. 

The Senate also inserted a 5% pay cut for all legislators in the budget.  Many have pointed out that for a "part-time job" we might be overpaid and since we are asking everyone else to sacrifice...  I won't address the pay part of that equation but I assure you this is not a part-time job.  I typically leave my house every Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:00am and return around 10:00 pm.  Thursdays are much lighter and I return in the middle of the afternoon.  I try to visit a couple of city council, township trustee or Board of Ed meeting each week as well as holding office hours in local libraries twice a month.  Even when I am in the district much of my time is demanded by constituent meetings, local government officials as well as the occasional lobbyist. All this makes balancing a business and being a legislator a challenge. 

Although my schedule may have been turned upside down and I have lost much of my private life I will be anxious to get back to work after our summer break.  There is a lot of work to be done to get this state back on the right track and I love that I am part of the fix.

GOLF OUTING IN SUPPORT OF

STATE REPRESENTATIVE JIM BUTLER

Monday, July 11, 2011

PINS FOR PEGGY IN SUPPORT OF STATE SENATOR PEGGY LEHNER

2011 MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOP PICNIC IN THE CITY

2011 MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOP

GOLF OUTING 

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