On Wednesday, I was “called out” by one of your letter writers. It has become fashionable for people to make politics personal now, including personal attacks on officeholders and others, which is one of the reasons I have not been chairman of our Wood County Republican Party for about five years. It is also the primary reason why it is so difficult to recruit good candidates to run for office.
Specifically, your letter writer wondered how I could continue to support Bob Latta as our Congressman. I don’t feel like I owe your letter writer or anyone else an explanation, but it struck me that it might be worth a response given that letters and comments on politics only seem to be critical of people.
I have supported Bob Latta over the years, and continue to do so, because we have been friends since we were young boys. In fact, we worked together on a summer job when we were young as both of us grew up in Bowling Green.
Later in life when I was our local political party chairman I was looking for a candidate to run for County Commissioner. After numerous attempts, I was able to convince Bob to leave a successful banking career and run for that office. Later, when we had a State Representative leave office, I was able to convince Bob to move on to that position.
When Paul Gillmor passed away, I and others convinced Bob to face what would be a terrible primary onslaught and put himself in a position to be our congressional representative. On each occasion Bob said yes. On each occasion, Bob did a terrific job. On each occasion he ran campaigns about himself.
I know Bob to be a very generous and considerate person in every respect. We attend the same church. We support the same charities. We devote a lot of time to try and make Bowling Green and Wood County a better place to live. We do that while under the constant scrutiny of people like your letter writer. Some people in your pages are critical of Bob’s availability, but I see him all the time whether at church, or in Ben’s or at downtown restaurants, or riding his bike all over town.
Bob is a wonderful father, and with Marcia has raised two outstanding daughters. While in Washington, his is the first office open before dawn, and the last to turn out the lights late at night. That’s because he sleeps on the floor! He works all the time for crying out loud.
There are many politicians of both parties that hold views different than mine, but I know of very few who aren’t trying their best to improve our community, our state and our nation. Most are good people who put themselves “out there” to try and make a good life for all. Both parties are full of good ideas, good candidates, and good officeholders.
When I was a party chairman tasked to recruit candidates, the main piece of advice they got from me was “talk about yourself”. You don’t see negative Latta ads, his are upbeat and they talk about him and his record. Your letter writer might learn a little from that approach.
Michael J. Marsh
Bowling Green
