By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The Democratic candidate for Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District brought his “Tacos and Transparency Tour” to Bowling Green on Tuesday evening.
Brian Shaver talked with constituents at El Zarape, chatting with local residents at one table over chips and salsa, then pulling up a chair at a booth of people there to hear his platform as they ate their taco salad and tortilla soup.
Shaver has been traveling to the nine counties in the Fifth Congressional District, to meet with people who are tired of not being able to meet with their current congressman – who hasn’t held a town hall for more than a decade.
Shaver was born and raised in Fostoria, where he still lives on a small family farm with his wife and daughter. He is the current president of Fostoria City Council and teaches social studies at Fostoria Junior/Senior High School, where he also serves as union president.
He advocates for reforms such as campaign finance limits, term limits, stronger checks and balances, transparency in legislation, and clear guardrails to prevent elected officials from profiting from their positions.
The idea for the taco town halls started the weekend before the primary election when he and his wife were eating at a favorite Mexican restaurant in Findlay.
“There are really good taco places in every county in my district,” Shaver said. “Plus this is an underserved population.”
Shaver said he is willing to sit down and talk with anyone at his taco town halls, regardless of party. The last time his opponent, Republican Bob Latta held a town hall was 2015, Shaver said. And “telephone town halls” don’t count, Shaver added, since only vetted questions are accepted by the congressman.
On Tuesday evening, he heard from local residents about the proliferation of data centers, the lack of affordability, the loss of due process, the need for campaign finance reform, gerrymandering, the legislative branch bowing to the executive branch, and the overall lack of integrity.
Shaver pitched his primary beliefs that elected officials must put people before party, and his commitment to the three “A”s – affordability, accountability and availability.
As a social studies teacher who covers the U.S. Constitution, Shaver said he has to wonder if most members of Congress have even read the Constitution or the Federalist Papers.
“Sorry, I get nerdy sometimes. But they should,” he said. “This is our chance in history to reaffirm that document.”
“I’m truly concerned about the fabric of our nation,” he said. “I’m sick of the corruption. I’m at a loss when my students call it out.”
Cathy Masin, of Bowling Green, stopped by El Zarape Tuesday to meet Shaver. She has been disappointed in Latta’s lack of listening to constituents. “He’s not meeting the people. He’s not understanding local issues,” she said.
Jane Allison, also of Bowling Green, shared the same sentiment.
“He’s never here,” or when he is, it’s at a choreographed event like a pancake breakfast, where he is not gathering input from local constituents. “He’s very protected at those,” she said.
Melissa Petrea, a Middleton Township trustee, also attended the event at El Zarape.
“I want to learn more about my potential future congressman,” Petrea said. “I’m looking to get back to the place where Congress honors and protects the Constitution.”
Shaver said he plans to be at the Wood County Fair next week, to talk about his values and listen to local citizens’ concerns.
