By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
As the video bombshell dropped Friday showing Donald Trump’s raunchy talk and treatment of women, his running mate Mike Pence was stumping for votes in Wood County. Introducing Pence was the county’s state representative, Theresa Gavarone of Bowling Green.
Gavarone’s sweet role of introducing Pence during his Rossford visit quickly soured as the video started circulating of Trump talking about forcing himself on women and using vulgar terms to describe his actions.
This latest crude behavior made some local Republicans feel even more uncomfortable about their party’s presidential candidate. Some further distanced themselves from Trump, some still voiced support, and some did not return repeated phone calls.
Gavarone responded in text messages, saying “As a woman and a mother of two daughters, I can tell you there is nothing funny about what Donald Trump has said. It’s disgusting and offensive. I do not stand by Donald Trump’s comments and I am extremely disappointed and outraged by his rhetoric.”
When asked if she regretted her role introducing the Trump-Pence ticket Friday in Rossford, Gavarone texted, “As state representative, I was welcoming the governor of our neighboring state yesterday, and nothing more.” Pence is governor of Indiana.
Also at the rally Friday was Beverly Hirzel, of the Wood County Republican Women’s Party. The release of the Trump video did not diminish her support.
“I can only speak for myself,” Hirzel said, stressing that she was not speaking on behalf of the organization. “It hasn’t changed my opinion. What he’s done personally, on his own time in the last 15 years, is his business.”
While unpleasant, his language was not shocking, she said.
“I’ve heard worse language on the street,” Hirzel said.
Even more disappointing is the trickle of negatives that keep dogging Trump, she said. “I think it’s unfortunate that this keeps coming out. I think we just need to focus on the real issues.”
Despite the awkward timing of his visit, Pence’s visit to Wood County was positive, Hirzel said. “We support what it is they are trying to change in Washington.”
The leaked video of Trump also did not weaken the support of Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn.
“It has not changed my feelings,” he said. “What someone said 20 years ago in a private conversation” is not relevant.
Though Wasylyshyn backs the GOP candidate, he did add that Trump is “the lesser of two evils.”
But Bowling Green Mayor Dick Edwards had little patience for Trump’s type of politics.
“I am not a Trump enthusiast,” he said. And the latest news just cemented those feelings. “Anything where you denigrate people, I think is disgusting.”
“The less said, the better about The Donald,” the mayor said.
Two Republicans reached said they could not comment on the presidential race. Tim Brown, former state representative and current executive director of the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, said his job does not permit him to discuss politics. Matt Reger said he could not comment on political issues since he is a candidate for Wood County Common Pleas judge.
U.S. Rep. Bob Latta did not return repeated phone calls. He did release a statement on Twitter, saying, “As a father of two daughters, a husband, and a son, I find that Trump’s reprehensible statements are offensive and degrading to all women.”
Fellow representative Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, was one of the first Republicans in the House to withdraw his endorsement of Trump when the tape came out.
Chaffetz was Latta’s guest earlier this year at the annual Lincoln-Reagan Day Dinner at BGSU for area Republicans. Though neither Latta nor Chaffetz openly stumped for Trump, they both talked of the need to take back the White House.
During his appearance in Bowling Green, Chaffetz attributed Trump’s success with voters to the nation’s demand for change. Latta agreed, saying his constituents want something new. And Trump fits that bill. “Nobody’s like Donald Trump,” he said. “People just want something different. He’s a total outsider. A lot of people think he’s viable.”
After the videotape came out on Friday, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges reportedly gave state GOP officials permission to drop their support of Donald Trump without fearing repercussions from the party.
Borges was a supporter of Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the primary but has helped Trump during the general election. According to the Associated Press, Borges would not say whether he plans to drop his support for the nominee, but said his wife “wouldn’t let me put a Donald Trump sign in my yard.”
