By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Kelly Wicks went into Thursday evening with the campaign groundwork, unused funds, and leftover campaign signs. He ended the evening with the backing of the Democratic party.
The Wood County Democratic Central Committee voted to put Wicks on the November ballot as the Democratic candidate for the state representative seat vacated by Republican Tim Brown. Wicks received 18 votes from the committee, while Daniel Gordon received 6 votes.
The meeting room for Democrats Thursday evening was packed with party members wanting to hear the “job interviews” for Wicks and Gordon. Brown’s resignation has given the underdog Democrats hope at gaining the seat that has not been held by a Democrat since 1938.
Wicks will now face off against the candidate yet to be chosen by the Wood County Republican Central Committee. Northwood Mayor Edward Schimmel has announced his interest in the Republican nomination. Perrysburg Township Trustee Bob Mack has initially expressed interest then decided to withdraw his name.
Kelly Wicks talks after being selected for ballot.
Wicks, who owns the Grounds for Thought business in downtown Bowling Green, promised his party that he would hit the ground running if selected.
“With your support, our campaign will start now,” he said.
Wicks criticized current state leadership of being pro-big business, pro-coal, and pro-charter schools, while being anti-worker and anti-women. His focus would be on job creation, public education, infrastructure, transportation, clean energy and worker rights.
“We still need to make sure we’re fighting for workers,” he said.
Wicks also vowed to work across the aisle. “Everybody’s tired of the bickering and the fighting,” he said. “We have an opportunity to stand together. I’m someone who will work together for all we can achieve.”
Gordon, in his third term on Bowling Green City Council, came in to Thursday evening with the endorsements of 54 elected officials and the urging of the Ohio House Democratic Caucus.
“They heard from other folks that I’m the real deal. I care,” he said.
Daniel Gordon makes pitch for state representative seat.
Gordon said unlike most college graduates who move away, he dug in. “I didn’t leave. I doubled down on Bowling Green.”
Like Wicks, he criticized state leaders who have “attacked working people” and “crippled our state.”
“We’ve received so many cuts from Columbus,” Gordon said. “I see the effects of these consequences every day.”
But unlike Wicks, Gordon touted his winning record of unseating a Republican then securing two more terms on city council. “I’ve demonstrated the ability to win an elected office and keep winning an elected office.”
Once on council, Gordon said he pushed for revitalizing East Side neighborhoods, which is now council’s top priority. “So many people in my neck of the woods felt voiceless,” he said.
He also worked to create Ridge Park, the only park area in the First Ward. “That was the happiest day of my life so far,” Gordon said of the day the park was opened.
“There’s nothing that prepares you for elected office, except holding an elected office,” Gordon said, promising to campaign tirelessly and bring along the young voters who supported him in the last election.
But Wicks pointed out that while Gordon has won elections, Wicks has secured far more votes in his race for mayor in 2016 and state representative in 2012. He started out as a definite underdog in the state race, initially polling down by 21 points.
“We went to every pancake breakfast, baked steak dinner and chicken barbecue,” he said, and ended up losing by just over 6 points.
“We were able to convince 26,000 residents in Wood County” to vote for him, Wicks said.
That groundwork will come in handy with a shortened 120-day campaign season, he added.
After the roll call vote was taken, Wicks asked all the Democrats to support him in the state race, and thanked Gordon. “I appreciate Daniel for putting up a great fight.”
